Global Anime Creator Program: AI-Driven Next Creators

【Nihon Kogakuin College (NEEC)】

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Project Objectives

Japanese anime is highly praised for its production and expression using a hybrid approach of 2D cel shading and CG. However, the Japanese anime industry faces a variety of issues including chronic labor shortage and slow adoption of generative AI due to the misunderstanding that it would degrade the compelling style of hand-drawn animation. The aim of this project is to address such issues, driven by collaboration between academia and industry and develop talent capable of maintaining and enhancing Japanese anime’s high competitiveness in 2030 and beyond.

Project Approach

A talent development framework will be established at Nihon Kogakuin College, which will serve as a hub to connect advanced Japanese anime production companies and AI service providers (including those overseas). the College will develop talent capable of leveraging generative AI for the production of Japanese anime and competing in the international market through its four-year education program. By the fifth year of this project, the College aspires to cultivate and send off 170 next generation anime creators. The project will enhance ripple effects such as branding by submitting student works to overseas contests, exhibiting them at overseas events, and releasing them through international distribution.

Nihon Kogakuin College (NEEC)

Based on the college’s philosophy of “Draw by hand, animate with AI,” Katayanagi Institute’s Nihon Kogakuin College has established a department aimed at nurturing anime talent capable of thriving in the ever-changing industry of content creation. In addition to drawing and related skills, students will learn anime production optimally utilizing generative AI and develop the ability to create intellectual properties (such as works and characters). Through practical training of the end-to-end process from planning to production, marketing, and profit-making, the project aims to produce talent who can thrive globally.

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