Netflix Japan’s Collaboration With WIT Studio Offers Animation Scholarships

Last Updated on 2021-02-26 , 4:02 pm

Calling all weebs and animators! Have you ever wanted to learn animation from the best in the industry?

Netflix Japan is collaborating with WIT Studio to offer an all-inclusive scholarship for the six-month course, even promising to pay for living expenses.

Ever heard of Attack on Titan? (I mean if you clicked on this, you probably have) WIT Studio produced the first three seasons of the iconic anime series.

Note: The Writer is listening to Shinzo wo Sasageyo on loop as she types this.

The well-known studio has also produced other notables series such as Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Seraph of the End, The Ancient Magus’ Bride and Great Pretender.

If you’re a fan of “utaites”, you’ll also be glad to know that WIT Studio has worked on two of Eve’s music videos—“We’re Still Underground” and “This World to You”.

WIT Studio, sister studio of Production I.G, was founded by George Wada who was a former employee at Production I.G.

Later, several other former Production I.G employees joined as well.

These include animation directors Kyōji Asano and Satoshi Kadowaki, and director Tetsurō Araki.

Animation Course

As reported by SoraNews24, WIT Studio had recently announced the formation of WIT Animator Academy with training provided by the Sasayuri Video Training Institute.

The course will be conducted for six months from April to September, with classes five days a week.

For fans of Studio Ghibli, rejoice! The WIT animator curriculum is being formulated by Hitomi Tateno, an animation checker who worked for the aforementioned studio for 25 years.

She has worked on Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away and many others. Tateno will also be an instructor in the programme.

Those who pass the course will be subcontracted to WIT Studio, as well as Production I.G for a year to work on an original anime for Netflix.

Competition is going to be tough, as there are only 10 allocated places for the first batch of students.

Applicants must be between 18 to 25 years old and must have graduated from high school by March 2021.

According to Crunchyroll, Netflix will cover the approximately 600,000 yen (~S$7,523.70) tuition fees as well as 150,000 yen (~S$1,880.93) per month for living expenses.

Though the course is open to international applicants, they must be residing in Japan and be fluent enough in Japanese to hold daily conversations.

Applications close on 28 February 2021 and practical exams, interviews and the final selection of successful applicants will take place in March 2021.

Interested in making your animation dreams come true? Click here to apply!

Feature Image: Netflix