The transition to life in Japan...?

[David B.]

WARNING - this is a lengthy read. If you just want to know what questions I'm asking then just scroll down to the bottom.

_________________________

First of all, I'm new here - so I'll just start with a quick introduction. I'm a resident of the U.S. in raleigh NC so I'm on the far East Coast of the country. I'm about 17 years old, etc etc and I've come to the decision that its about time for me to start deciding what path I should lead to my future. Since for years, all the way back when I started my freshman terms in High school I've always prepared for a seriously drastic move across the country from my home town in the south.

I never seemed to fit in with the culture, even though I was born there. I don't really have a Southern accent - actually I don't have an accent at all. Throughout my 17 years living here people always tend to ask me where I'm from and I always simply find myself answering "right here" or something. Anyway, this is by far NOT what inspired me to leave - I can deal with this. However, I had other plans for my future.

I want to study/work in the animated arts. People don't quite realize how much of an artform animation can be (the only animation that is popular nowadays comes from Nick/CN or one of many identical looking CGfilms that studios try to whore out into the market to leech off the financial benifits) *ahem* but thats getting off topic. I'm an animator. In addition to animating, I write literature and compose music (mostly for my films). My dream has always been to gather my materials, my cash, and my chances and move to California where I would proceed to go to CalArts (the university that many animation impactors had attended - Craig Mckracken/TimBurton/BradBird etc). Okay, so I'm sure you're wondering what all this has to do with moving to Japan. Well....

__________________________________________________ _-

Inspiration for the move...

It's a long story and some of the details are quite embarrassing so bare with me. If you knew me well when I first started high-school, you'd know how much of a nationalist I was. I love the U.S. - everything from its people to its job opportunities in animation - I felt it was positively the best country out of anything on the globe. I particularly like its animation industry and its culture - of course I probably wasn't even aware other cultures existed and I probably cared not. However, I met a girl that changed all that.

This was the first girl I had ever fallen in love with. She was Asian and she was the most beutiful creature (inside and out) that I've ever seen. She was very in touch with her heritage and would always talk to me about it. In the end though, some things didn't work out but even if they did, she moved out of state with the rest of her family at some point. However so, I was unintentionally yet inevitably rolled into th Asianophile mental complex. :bang:

Since this (quite special) experience, I always found Asians a bit more attractive than other girls inwardly. I know that being Asian says nothing about their personality - I can't say that I have "yellow fever" since A) to me, it has always mattered not where you come from when it comes to relationships B) I don't exclusively prowl around, LOOKING for Asian girls to date (I don't typically 'talk' to many girls in attempts to get a relationship out of them). Most importantly though, this little experience has allowed me to 'notice' the Japanese culture. All of a sudden I found myself doing research, taking classes, and trying to find some insight to life in Japan.

At the time, this felt like such a nieve fantasy, but after a while, for a period of time, I actually wanted to live in Japan.

All things considered, I'm not quite your typical "Japan-enthusiast"(JE). I don't draw anime - I can, but I havent watched much of any anime at all. There are so many JEs who comprise mostly of geeky anime fans who want to move to Japan almost wholey on the basis that they love Japanese anime and Japanese porn. I didn't want to catagorize myself with these people - even though I knew I had my own motives, I started to second guess the realism of this endeavor anyway.

As time rolled by, I came back to my senses and 'found reality' again by setting some more realistic goals for myself. Going to California was already a huge stretch in itself being as its so far across the country. I finally settled on the idea that there's simply not a good enough reason for me to take a risk and start life in a completely different country/culture, nomatter how interested in living in the culture I was. Besides that, I'm sure there would be loads of stuff about living in the US that I'd miss - like my family being so close, some cultural aspects, etc etc - things that I know I take for granted here and would only notice once gone in Japan

Yet here I am again. I've never stopped being curious about Japan but now new motives for living there has restored itself. Now that I'm older, I'm beggining to see a more realistic approach to living in a country like Japan.

___________________________________

Japanese Career?

Like I said once, I want to almost primarily work in the market of animation. When considering jobs, getting jobs, and building port-folios, there is no reason should I expect anything about anything in this catagory to be easy. The American market and the Japanese market are two completely different worlds when it comes to animation. To put it very simple and summarized - American studios are willing to pay more money to produce the most amazingly animated pieces of cinema you'll ever see (ex: The Incredibles) however, thats a potential problem. Costs for making films are just too high. With that said, there is not only less real animation made, but networks steer away from variety and new ideas that don't derive in some way to a past success. the typical american animator tends to be way too expensive for Studios to use in television production. 90% of all American shows are animated in Korea - leaving obviously less jobs for American animators.

Plus - There's a reason EVERY animated film on the American market comprises on only one genre (EVERY animated film - not some, not most, ev-er-y. It's that bad) - The Family Film. Everyone must make films like this - they are the most profitable and the most culturally relatable - and they have to be. Networks are just afraid that they must create the most popular franchise or they wont make money. Everything must attempt to mimic Pixar/Dreamworks' success - there's no room for anything else. The general public really doesn't like this as much as how it was in the 90's but the networks, they really...really....don't care.

There's some serious cultural significance to Japan's animation industry. I'm not interested in having a career there because "it's anime and good looking". They (much like Pixar - although they still are exclusive to the one genre rule) "protects stories" and wont hesitate to put animation into production nomatter what genre it happens to be. This always leads to more unique stories and plots. However, a lot of this animation would have started out in Manga form. A lot of 'em are made into animation based on how popular the manga happens to be. Thats a good system IMO. I suspect its a lot easier/cheaper to publish manga than it is to make full features directly

Anyway, there's MUCH more to it than the super vague description that I've given above. I think I've given too much detail anyway so here, I'll skip to the bottom questions you're all most interested in - since I doubt anyone'll read all this. To anyone whome this applies to - I would GREATLY appreciate an answer.

1) Have you ever moved to Japan? If so, why did you move and how did you make the transition. What kind of job did you start there?

2) How much money does it take to make the move. Is it excruciatingly expensive?

3) Do you think I should move to Japan considering my reasons? Why/why not.

So...yeah.

EDIT: My avatar is from one of my short films BTW.

[grungy hamster]

Hey, I was thinking about being an animator also. I was thinking about getting a degree in illustration, then moving on from there, possibly getting a gruntwork job at a studio, then work my way up. I'm taking classes at the local art college, and will probably end up going there to get my degree.

[Yang]

David:

About your potential animation future carreer....im studying animation and illustration...so far...the major has been the coolest stuff for me....and im totally happy with it...in fact, im about to graduate this year and im doing my thesis and producing my last animation for the final graduate exam...

About that matter, im living in a country where animation is becoming to get popular...in my case im an indepedent animation producer working mostly of the time ALONE or teamed up with an other animator mate...so anyway, if you want get in animation business...well let me tell is hard...and very HARD...and i cannot imagine how hard is it in the US to be famous thanks to your work because there are thousand of ppl who do exactly the same... if you want to be the best i highly recommend you to work with experimental and underground stuff because industrial animation is out of our league....realize those huge american/japanese productions are made by a staff with hundred of ppl working on it and is, in the end, a comercial product that cost thousand of dollars... so what you can do about it? create other stuffs...experimental stuff as an independent producer you should create NEW stuff, innovate with new stuff....and so far creating underground stuffs like im doing here, i've won a couple of awards in here thanks for my experimental animations(as for costs mostly of my productions are equal 0 dollars or chilean pesos whatever, i use mainly my drawing skills or stop motion skills,paper, an avegare PC and wacom tablet+photoshop 7 + adobe premier and adobe after effects, that's all you need)...from this point as independent animation producer you must awlays produce animation, never stop to do it to be on the top...and offer your work to small company to start...eventually some big and important company will notice your work and will contact you to do important works....to make a point here what im triying to say is...be a FREELANCER... im freelancer myself in here and so far i had a couple of my works that a company likes...

Freelancer is all you can be for starting but you need to work always to gather your artwork and make a portfolio (like you said) for future potential job in some important company....it takes time and a bit of money but mainly TIME, yes, but if you insist....you will be awarded and blessed in the end lol....

i hope i help with this comment...think about it....this is my own experience as an animation/illustration freelancer during 4 years in a country where animation is not so well apreciate than in the US or in Europe...

[husler]

Well, I when I was young, I thought about being an animator, but moved into Graphic Design instead. Having found out that Graphic Design wasn't for me, I moved into a totally different field, which took me further away from illustration and it's a decision I still regret. However, I did do a stint in Japan for a couple of years, and took the easiest route which was becoming an English instructor at an Eikeiwa.

This is without a doubt your easiest way into Japan and probably the most hassle free. You might get a 3 or 1 year visa which will enable you to search for a job in your chosen profession. It is not particularly expensive to do but obviously the more money you have the better. I believe I took about $3000 US to start with, but I know people who went with a lot less. The transition takes a bit of getting used to depending on where you are and of course your coworkers. I was lucky in that I had great housemates and a good social circle from the offset. Some people find the transition hard, but if you have lived away from home for any length of time it should not be too difficult for you.

As for becoming an animator in Japan....well I don't have much knowledge about foreigners working over here other than teaching, but there are some things you should be aware of. The first is that Japanese animators are some of the best in the world. They work extremely long hours and are very dedicated to their job. Therefore I think it would be much more difficult for a foreign animator to find work here. Do you speak Japanese? This would probably aid you a great deal if you did. From what I have heard, when Japanese animators work with foreign animators, it is usually with an American animation company rather than an individual. That is to say they don't employ the animator directly, but have a partnership with a US company and work along side each other. So maybe the best route for you would be to find work in the US, and eventually you may get lucky and be able to work in Japan.

Whatever you do I wish you the best of luck. Living and working in Japan can be a great experience, even if you are not illustrating.

[David B.]

Thanks for all the wonderful (and lengthy) responses - they've been very insightful.

I'm not planning on going immediatly - I still plan on taking a few years to get better at learning the Japanese language and its culture - maybe visit there at some point to get some first hand experience/opinion on life in the country. I've considered the JET program - that might be my easiest bet getting there. I've been reading some opinions on the boards on the JET website as well. This whole scenario is still a bit hazy but I hope that during the next few months, I'll be able to build sufficient knowledge enough that I have a well thought out 'plan' on how I expect to pull this off. .

[gentlemanandscholar]

I never seemed to fit in with the culture, even though I was born there. I don't really have a Southern accent - actually I don't have an accent at all. Throughout my 17 years living here people always tend to ask me where I'm from and I always simply find myself answering "right here" or something. Anyway, this is by far NOT what inspired me to leave - I can deal with this. However, I had other plans for my future.

I won't be providing anything lengthy, but if your motives to move to Japan are because you don't fit in in your home country, you are going to be sorely disappointed. The vast majority of accounts I've read and ongoing editorials on this forum have shown me that Japan is a very exclusive society. You will be a foreigner, and always will be unless you can speak perfectly and look like an ethnic Japanese.
There are people trying to change that like Debito, but to be realistic that won't happen for a very long time.

Not saying you can't have fun and will make friends, maybe get hitched or anything. Japan is a great place from what I've seen. If you do go to Japan and stay there, you'll probably realize how much you actually do fit in to your original hometown.

So anyways: DO IT. But don't go expecting to be welcomed with open arms.

[羽之助]

But don't go expecting to be welcomed with open arms.

That depends on what kind of women are in the random bar he will inevitably walk in to.

[David B.]

I won't be providing anything lengthy, but if your motives to move to Japan are because you don't fit in in your home country, you are going to be sorely disappointed.

......

Anyway, this is by far NOT what inspired me to leave...

So...yeah. I was talking about wanting to move to Burbank California the first time - and I also pointed out that, although my experiences and feelings contributed to my wanting to live on the other side of the country in Burbank - it wasn't the sole reason of me wanting to move to California [I thought I typed 'not' in caps. Ah well]. I mostly just wanted to study at CalArts Institute near Los Angeles. Thats neither here nor there as that has nothing to do with Japan whatsoever. I didn't think I didn't fit in as an American altogether - mostly, when you live in the south, people expect you to have a southern accent. Somehow I didn't while everyone else in the state of NC practically did. Sorry for the confusion.

As for fitting in - I don't anticipate to fit in Japan at all - like, ever. Especially in another country - I'll stick out like a sore thumb without trying. Thats the other thing that scares me about leaving the country. Much like I already a pointed out - I'll be so far away from my family in a culture so different from what I'm use to - it'll be scary I'll just say that.

[gentlemanandscholar]

Sounds like you have a pretty good mindset to go then. I knew a few people who thought Japan was the "place for them" because its where anime comes from, so thats why I just wanted to say that.

[羽之助]

Question: Can you get along fine by yourself?

I can. I like going out with friends, Japanese and international, but I'm fine by myself. If some Japanese people don't want to get close, I don't care.

By the way, my choice of Japan was spinning a globe and finding the place furthest from my hometown. So I think you'll do fine.

[David B.]

Sounds like you have a pretty good mindset to go then. I knew a few people who thought Japan was the "place for them" because its where anime comes from, so thats why I just wanted to say that.
I'm not really that familiar with anime so that wouldn't be me. I know a lot of people like that though. A lot of them want to go to the country with a motivation soley based on the the fact that they think "the American pop culture sucks" or "America sucks because they go to Iraq and start wars - or that we have too many 'problems' with our country". Probably the same guys that send Az hate mail.

Question: Can you get along fine by yourself?

I can. I like going out with friends, Japanese and international, but I'm fine by myself. If some Japanese people don't want to get close, I don't care.

By the way, my choice of Japan was spinning a globe and finding the place furthest from my hometown. So I think you'll do fine.

Thanks. BTW, I started reading your blog some time yesturday. It's really entertaining :D.

[羽之助]

I'm not really that familiar with anime so that wouldn't be me. I know a lot of people like that though. A lot of them want to go to the country with a motivation soley based on the the fact that they think "the American pop culture sucks" or "America sucks because they go to Iraq and start wars - or that we have too many 'problems' with our country". Probably the same guys that send Az hate mail.

Thanks. BTW, I started reading your blog some time yesturday. It's really entertaining :D.

I like your attitude! One of the best quotes I ever heard about Japan was, "People have a fascination with Japan as this wonderful magical place, and then the slowly realize that it's a real country."

By the way, I started learning Japanese hardcore when I was 18, so if you've already started you will soon pwn me :P

And you're a new reader! Automatic cookie for you!

[Akagaminosteven]

By the way, I started learning Japanese hardcore when I was 18, so if you've already started you will soon pwn me :P



How old are you now? You seem like a good standard for pace. :watson:

[TommyA]

I can answer #3 for ya.

Cancel Japan, and become an animator in America. Build your skills and resume/portfolio with those family oriented 3d animation movies, then make a name for yourself. Get some lenders and ideas for your own feature length movie that isn't family oriented, then hire people you meet along the way. In the US you don't have to deal with any issues besides your own willingness to get this goal, but meanwhile in Japan, you have several hurdles that may not be worth jumping to get the same result in your own backyard.

Don't go to Japan if your only reason is the women, or you think you will do better in your career there. I have lived in SoCal my whole life, and depending on where you go here you will find plenty of asian girls/women, plus other women who meet the standards you may like on the inside. If there is something that ONLY Japan can offer that you want with your life, make the move.

My qualification for these answers? I am a graphic designer, with emphasis on 3DArt/Animation/Modeling and my goals are to work in special effects and/or the video game industry. I have close friend connections in both industries, just waiting to get my skills up to par (I am 24 years old, and a perfectionist, and I won't go to apply anywhere until my skills satisfy me). Just going to college and making the right friends put me in a position where I was able to meet people in the industries I want to work in. Here in Cali, you won't have to worry about the language barrier while you grow professionally and make those contacts.

If it IS broke, fix it. This is the approach my friend and I have taken when it comes to animation these days. We are both WAY too busy now to really work on our ideas, but what we were going to do was create a few animation series geared towards the 21 and up crowd. Mature in content and thought process. I was going to be creating the 3d backdrops while he had a traditional cel animation going over the scenes. I did all of the stories and when it came time to produce the work, we both got overwhelmed by other projects.

Now that I am about to go to Japan, I will be spending my free time honing my 3d and other art skills, and he will be doing the same (not like he needs it with his hand-drawn artistic skills) and whenever I come back, we should be able to rock and rolll. I will continue to write stories and add onto the ones I have written already, and when that special time comes, we all have enough talented friends to start a small studio, a production company with a few movies under it's belt for funding and to get our name out, plus a few other connections to make things easy.

Just be driven if you have a love for art/animation. It got me everywhere (a chance to work for Interplay before they went under, which I spent EVERY lunch learning from their 3d artists at Black Isle) and I am very hopeful for my future. I suggest you do the same. You have your plan, cut Japan out of it, since you don't have a really big reason to make it any different than California, and you seem to be on a great path.

My last advice, beware a girl who wants to get between you and your goal/dream. I almost had it happen to me, and watch it happening to a couple of my friends everyday, and it is sad to see all of that passion go to a needy girl, when there are VERY understanding girls as alternatives.

[Frankey-eh]

regarding moving...

We moved from Japan to America.
It was covered by the company, so we hardly paid anything.
(I suggest, if you're moving, you find a good company that really wants you there first. then they'll pay for your move)

But still, the company will only pay for so many boxes, so we had to throw a lot of stuff away.
The thing I regret the most is throwing away my textbooks and my biggest stuffed animal -- Doraemon.
Moving to another country like that is really tough. Make sure you are absolutely positive you want to move first.
Make sure you have a definate purpose for going to Japan.
I wanted to come to America to visit NASA. That was a stupid purpose. I've lived in America for a while now, and I've completely lost interest in NASA.
Make sure your purpose is a long-term one.
Make sure there's something keeping you in that country, so that even when you're going through hard times, that force will keep you there and force you to live through it, instead of turning back. For me, it was my parents, and for my parents, it was the job.

This moves away from the main topic, but..
now, my parents are preparing to move back to China, but luckily I have all of college to decide whether I want to follow them back to China or not.
I think I'm going back to Japan.

[羽之助]

IRT Rika: See you in Sendai.

IRT Akagami: 23. I am officially a jiji.

[David B.]

I can answer #3 for ya.

Cancel Japan, and become an animator in America. Build your skills and resume/portfolio with those family oriented 3d animation movies, then make a name for yourself. Get some lenders and ideas for your own feature length movie that isn't family oriented, then hire people you meet along the way.
etc, etc, etc...If there is something that ONLY Japan can offer that you want with your life, make the move...etc etc.

Inspiration is very important to me when it comes to the development of animation - I see my career more as an artistry than an actual job. With that said, I'll flock to wherever I see can give me the most inspirations according to my interests and personal studies. I simply want to develope cartoons in a culturally rich environment from where I can get the most inspiration. This will not only produce better animations out of me - but it'll simply make me much happier whilst doing animations (thats what REALLY counts, right?). Aside from just animation, I'm also studying Japanese culture as well - because, well...I like the culture of Japan. In addition to seeing/speaking with the people in first person, I also want to be able to be able to speak about my own culture to them as well. This is generally my personal persuit of happiness.

But this is only 'speculation', as I've never really lived there before so I can't come up with any truly accurate predictions of how I'll like it there. I'll see it for myself - if I really like it there (I mean like REALLY like it - a lot would have to be going my way in the area of opportunity) then I suppose I can see about staying there longer - or maybe even living there if it comes to that. If I look back and decide that I would just prefer living back in the states then nothings stopping me from going back.

As for finding a name for myself in animation - I've been giving it a lot of thought and the thing is...I really don't think I care.

Creating animation and animated cartoons makes me happy. Either way, I'm happy if I can make the animations that I want in the best way that I feel that I can. right now, I don't have much of a problem doing that mostly on my own as a personal hobbie. I already have the software/necessary skill to develope fully featured animated media complete with voice-acting, music, effects, etc etc - using my own mini studio (which comprises mostly of my room) and my own ideas. There's nothing stopping me from making whatever cartoons I want with the time that I have. I've created 20min cartoon televisin series (well ready for television) on my own time, in my own room before just because. I'm not trying to boast, I'm just saying.

With that said though, there's a market for animation in Japan that just isn't present in America. The culture of animation there is completely different here. If I do want to make cartoons for a living, I would prefer that there is a market medium for my concept production ideas. If I manage a Japanese port-folio – it’s just good business to think that I can land a better job in my chosen area of animation in the Japanese Animation Industry. The American Industry would be a lot easier to get into I’m sure, but will I really be happy with myself making cartoons considering the American animation market? That’s a tricky question that even I don’t think I can answer. But for right now, I’m going to do whatever gives me pleasure. A) Study Japanese culture B) make cartoons.

Now that I am about to go to Japan, I will be spending my free time honing my 3d and other art skills, and he will be doing the same (not like he needs it with his hand-drawn artistic skills) and whenever I come back, we should be able to rock and rolll. I will continue to write stories and add onto the ones I have written already, and when that special time comes, we all have enough talented friends to start a small studio, a production company with a few movies under it's belt for funding and to get our name out, plus a few other connections to make things easy.
A lot of luck to you and you company. Animation is NOT easy, I'd be the first to tell you - but anyone whose worked in animation could say that. Thats the good thing about having a lot of contacts in the industry though.

IRT Akagami: 23. I am officially a jiji.
hmmmm....whats a Jiji? I had another question for you, but it's 11:10 right now...and I forgot it. I can barely stay awake as it is right now so I think I'll ask tommorrow.

[Akagaminosteven]

hmmmm....whats a Jiji? .

A geezer!

10 chars and what not.

[Chinpokomon]

hmmmm....whats a Jiji?
Penis (in Chinese)

[羽之助]

I heard Chinpokomon means phallus worship in Korean.

[Frankey-eh]

Penis (in Chinese)
uh...really?
I thought it referred to something else... >.>
my mom always used it for something else.

but anyways, in Japanese, it means geezer.
yep, steven's right.

[Chinpokomon]

uh...really?
I thought it referred to something else... >.>
my mom always used it for something else.

but anyways, in Japanese, it means geezer.
yep, steven's right.

Well, I'm obviously no Chinese expert. I just learned how to say
wo yao gan da jiji (I want to fuck large penis).
Because that's obviously more important to know how to say than "Where is the bathroom?" or "Please don't shoot me"

And all this time I may have actually been saying something else. How embarrassing. :sarcasm:

[Ethan712]

I'm not planning on going immediatly - I still plan on taking a few years to get better at learning the Japanese language and its culture - maybe visit there at some point to get some first hand experience/opinion on life in the country. I've considered the JET program - that might be my easiest bet getting there. I've been reading some opinions on the boards on the JET website as well. This whole scenario is still a bit hazy but I hope that during the next few months, I'll be able to build sufficient knowledge enough that I have a well thought out 'plan' on how I expect to pull this off. .

HEY I'm also planning to go to Japan by participating in the JET Program (=. I've just started prepping myself for the September apps..if you'd like links to things about Japan, I can help you with that.

Being 17 and in HS (If my memory serves me right, correct me if I'm wrong pls), you still have a long way to go if you want to go to Japan through the JET program (you have to have a Bachelor's degree in something)..but it doesn't hurt to plan ahead. I wish I had more time to prep..

Also, in terms of graphic designing..my brother, his fiancee, and an old friend of mine have all went down the path of a graphic designer. Neither of them has had much luck in finding solid jobs for it. Hearing what they've said about it, it seems like it is a competitive field in the US. But then again, any field you enter will have it's hardships yanno? If you want to go into graphic designing, just bear that in mind...and if you still have doubts about it..why not double major?

Just a thought. Good luck finding your way! Hope this helps..

[Uska]

Well I didn't wanna read the whole thread, and I dunno if it's been said...But frankly I don't know if you'll find much jobs. I mean, a lot of anime, and I mean a lot, these days are also Korean animated. Especially the crappy TV Tokyo anime. Even when production costs are high, usually you'll see some korean studio there. The only thing is, on the purely JAPANESE productions(which was usually the highest quality), you won't see any foreign names in the credits(at least none that arent korean). Why's that striking? Well because there's been many years of anime, and i'm sure you're not the first person to think about going, and definitely not the first to actually go. My art professor tells me he has friends that have gone and had to come back cause they couldn't find anything, and these were people with good portfolios and lots of studies. The thing is, the Japanese are very protective of themselves and their work. They only want our money, not our labor. If they can get the same high quality animation they can get from americans from their own country, chances are they're gonna choose people from their own country. I don't mean to discourage you, but the reality is that they're probably gonna stick with themselves and give themselves jobs, or just pay a cheap korean studio to do it for them. Find any anime, and look in the credits. Usually animators aren't foreign. Like another guy in the thread said, the best thing to do is stick with underground to start with, then work your way up.

[Chinpokomon]

<snip>


(Note: I have no insight into the Japanese animation industry. )
Considering that 99% of the population in Japan is Japanese, it makes sense that 99% of the people in the credits are Japanese. I remember reading a blog from a foreign animator who got a job in Japan. It is possible, albeit quite unlikely.

Edit:
http://www.clockworkmachina.com/?p=59
And for the people in America who want to work in anime. Go for it! Why you ask? Because I saw a gaijin animator there~! So its possible!

[Uska]

It is possible, albeit quite unlikely.

That's exactly what I meant. I never said it was impossible, but the odds are definitely highly against you. That was one, and let's say 9 more foreigners are working as animators.....Out of the huge fleet of animators that are already there.

Also

Considering that 99% of the population in Japan is Japanese, it makes sense that 99% of the people in the credits are Japanese.

The point I wanted to make there was not about since most of the population there is Japanese so most they hire is Japanese. The point I wanted to make is that there's probably waaaay more animator hopefuls that go that we don't know of but aren't finding much work. From the experiences i've read, and heard about(from the people that went), it's competing against the Japanese and well they'd rather give a job to them.

[NERD]

The reason it is hard for non-Japanese person to get a job in anime business is because a) they have to be trained in special field, in this case animation and b) they have to be able to speak Japanese, at least to the level they can exchange creative ideas between other Japanese staffs.

I remember watching a special on Ghibli studio, and there was an Italian woman involved in the process- which, I cannot say, but I do remember that her Japanese was quite good, and she didn't need any help communicating with other staffs. Doesn't really have to do with outsourcing.

And for Korean animation studios- they just paint every single cell that needs to be painted, but at a cheaper rate than what it would cost in Japan. Therefore, the producers probably are not spending too much money on the anime in the first place if they outsource it. Korean studios do a great job though, I remember some parts of Spirited Away had to be animated in Korea due to the impending deadline, which was mentioned in that same special I just talked about. TV shows like Simpsons and Family Guy are also done in Korea, so at least they have good customers.

[stsparky]

... So...yeah. I was talking about wanting to move to Burbank California the first time - and I also pointed out that, although my experiences and feelings contributed to my wanting to live on the other side of the country in Burbank - it wasn't the sole reason of me wanting to move to California [I thought I typed 'not' in caps. Ah well]. I mostly just wanted to study at CalArts Institute near Los Angeles. Thats neither here nor there as that has nothing to do with Japan whatsoever. I didn't think I didn't fit in as an American altogether - mostly, when you live in the south, people expect you to have a southern accent. Somehow I didn't while everyone else in the state of NC practically did. Sorry for the confusion.
As for fitting in - I don't anticipate to fit in Japan at all - like, ever. Especially in another country - I'll stick out like a sore thumb without trying. Thats the other thing that scares me about leaving the country. Much like I already a pointed out - I'll be so far away from my family in a culture so different from what I'm use to - it'll be scary I'll just say that.
Try California before Japan - you'll also find that as neither CalARTS, OTIS or ArtCenter are easy places to get tenure that - You'll also find most of the 'good' teachers from the big three at CSUN. Getting through your AA requirements at California State University Northridge will be pleasant enough. Stuff to consider:
Joe Kubert - either online (http://www.kubertsworld.com/) or in New Jersey (http://www.kubertsworld.com/kubertschool/KubertSchool.htm) would be better. Next
Savannah Art School (http://www.scad.edu/), then -
You can write PIXAR (http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/jobs/index.html) direct - This is their FAQ (http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/jobs/howto.html) for sending reels.Don't be solitary and emo - you can make friends. Many have gone down the road you think you are on. - Sparky