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Japan to Spend 214.5 Million Yen to Train Animators

The Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese government plans to spend 214.5 million yen (about US$2.27 million) to train young animators on-the-job during the production of four anime shorts this year. The agency put the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) in charge of the "2010 Young Animator Training Project" after accepting proposal bids for the investment plan in April. More details about the initiative will be provided during a Friday meeting for anime production studios interested in participating.

Production on the four 30-minute original shorts, each with 38 million yen (about US$400,000) for expenses, will launch this June and last for about half a year. The animation production for each short is required to be based in Japan, and professionals will impart their know-how to the young animators through on-the-job training. One of the reasons that the Agency for Cultural Affairs is supporting this initiative is the concern that more of the Japanese animation process is being outsourced overseas — thus leading to a decline in opportunities to teach animation techniques within Japan.

JAniCA is a labor group established by directors, animators, and other animation staffers in 2007.

Sources: Asahi Shimbun, animeanime.biz