animation schools in Japan

I've currently been interested in attending school in Japan. I've been open to the idea for awhile now, but only to persue the language. However, I'm looking more and more into animation as time goes by. I've heard of foreigners becoming animators over in Japan, attending their schools and learning their language all from scratch. I have a head start; I can speak the language. Now I'm interested in searching for schools. Problem: I've only been able to find a few online, and only one has caught my interest. I'm sure more exist instead of just three or four, so I'm curious if anyone knows of any and the qualifications to get into them. I'm not the kind of gal who takes commitment very well, and most of the schools I've looked at had a 2-year program. Perfect. Question though: does that mean you have to get a degree in fine arts before you can persue animation or comic book design? (I sure hope not...)

I hope to hear back soon from anyone who knows anything about a foreigner persuing animation in Japan.

Visa notes: The schools listed below will not be able to provide student visas as they are all specialty, trade and technical schools. Students wishing to attend them will probably be able to go under a Japanese language or other cultural visa. I have not seen tuition rates for any of the schools for quite some time.

Yoyogi Animation School
(Yoyogi Animeshon Gakuin)
1-20-3-CS-4 Yoyogi
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
0120-310-042
Fax: 0120-210-595
http://www.jki.co.jp/YAG/
e-mail: yag_info@infosphere.or.jp
Courses Years
Animation 2
CG Animation/ Games 2
Voice Acting 1
Digital Animation Artist (Digital Ink & Paint) 1
Manga/Comics 1
Animation Production Management 1
Background Artist 1
Animation AV Operator 2
Animation Camera 2
Illustration 2
Junior Novels 1
Music Artist 2
Music Business 2
Multimedia Creator 1

Locations:
Tokyo
Harajuku
Hachioji
Osaka
Nagoya
Fukuoka
Sendai
Sapporo
Hiroshima
Shizuoka
Wakayama
Takamatsu
Miyazaki


Tokyo Designer School
(Toukyou Dezaina Gakuin)
2-11 Suragadai
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101
03-3294-2831
Courses Years
Animation 2
Game Creator 2
Character Design 1
Computer Graphics 1
Manga/Comics 1
Illustration 2


College of International Design
(Kokusai Dezainkarejji)
2-22 Asahi-cho
Kouchi-shi, 780
0888-75-0099

Courses Years
Graphic Design 2
Interior Design 2
Architecture 1
Manga/Comics 1


Amusement Media School
(Amyu-zumentomedia Soukou Gakuin)
2-29-8 Higashi
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011
0120-41-4600
Fax: 03-3406-5070

Courses Years
Voice Acting 2
Game Creator 2
CG Animation Creator 1
Multimedia Creator 2
Manga/Comics 1
Computer Game Creator 2
Novels 2
Comics 2
Animator 2

They also have night courses for other areas of interest.

Locations:

Tokyo
Osaka



Toei Animation Institute
(Toei Animeshyon Kenkyuujyou)
Surugadai Bldg.
1-2-5 Surugadai Kanda
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101
03-5281-2730
http://www.toei-anim.co.jp (Japanese)
Toei has just built their own school.


Courses Years
Animation
Planning/Producer
Director
Digital Animation Artist (Digital Ink & Paint)
Writer
Background Artist


Tokyo Animation School
(Toukyou Animeta Gakuin)
3-4-9 Mizakicho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0061
03-5276-1511
Fax: 03-3234-2469
http://www.tag.co.jp

Courses
Animation
CG Games
Voice Acting
Manga/Comics
Animation Character Designer
Background Artist
Airbrush Illustration
Illustration
Junior Novels
Writer


Japan Manga Institute
(Nihon Manga Gakuin)
1-3-98 Nishinakanobe
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142
03-3785-4429
Fax: 03-3785-0298
Courses

Manga/Comics


Career School Fare
(Kyariasuku-ru Fa-re)
Part of Tokyo Designer School
4-16 Sakurahamachou
Shibuy-ku, Tokyo 150
03-3770-5485
Courses

Various Manga/Comics


Kodansha Culture Center
(Kodansha Karucha Senta-)
1-15-12 Toranomon
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105
03-3501-7419
Fax: 03-3501-3674
Courses

Comic Illustartion
Manga/Comics
Illustration 24


Multimedia Art School
(a-to gakuen)
3-8-7 Nishi Azabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031
03-5421-2671

Courses Years
Special Animator 1
Animation Content (?) 1
Technical Art 1
Story Comics 1
Digital Comics 1




Tokyo Game Designer Institute
(Toukyou ge-mudezaina-gakuin)
1-47-3 Yoyogi
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053
03-5350-2422

Courses
Animation
Animation Creative
Digital Animation
CG Animation & Game Character Design
CG Animation & Games
Manga/Comics
Illustration
Voice Acting Talent
Game Creator

Im saying thanks becuase i've been wondering the same question!!

I mean i know im going to college over here for animation before moving to Japan, becuase i know more about how to get grants, etc.......but i would also like to possibly take a few lessons in animation in Japan!! XD

Hey while im typing, would you happen to know about grants in Japan?? how i could go about getting those for schooling?? or if i even can??
or should you basicly only go to college there if your a rich-kid? hahaha


ありがとう！
(even though this wasn't my question page hahaha =P)

　-IzA
（o^.~o）

I, too, have the same dream! ^_^ As I research schools and ask questions online, I'm finding more and more Americans who want to go to Japan and follow the manga/anime path!! I'm so proud of you all (even if I don't know you from adam), and I hope we succeed together in our dreams! I know this sounds cheesy, but I really feel this way! :D Thank you so much, Ichigo, for providing this information!!! I've been looking all over the net for info like this.

どもうありがとうございました！！がんばって！

But do you really speak Japanese? Most Japanese Animation schools require at least Nihongo Kentei 2kyuu. I believe the demand might be increasing to get foreigners wrapped in an animation course, and some, in an attempt to get a stampede of people who want to be parted easily with their money, have even been advertising and teaching in English (scam alert!)

If you can really speak so much Japanese, wouldn't a websearch for ''Anime-ta Senmon Gakkou'' turn you up at least a hundred different schools??

Here is the best site to find animation schools.
http://jschool.but.jp/

hey we should get all together and talk about this i mean the ones that are really going to japan to study animation/manga you it would be nice to know some people when we get there well if u want of course i'm planning to be there soon that's why I'm already taking Japanese classes and doing some research about schools and universities.

Honestly speaking i dont have the ans to that question. But too am looking for d same ans. If you find something den pl do let me know as well.