Ever Heard of an Anime Scholarship? Netflix Will Cover Your Living Expenses While You Study in Japan

For any self-declared otaku or aspiring animator, working under the tutelage of one of the world’s best animation studios is a dream come true. We’re talking, of course, about Studio Ghibli. So, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to learn the secrets of the business, you might not have to wonder for long.

With the aim of discovering new talent and supporting the next generation of animators in Japan, Netflix has partnered with WIT Studio, the Japanese animation company that produced Attack on Titan, to launch a full scholarship on anime with Studio Ghibli veteran Hitomi Tateno. This scholarship will grant budding animators the opportunity to enrol and learn from the very best at the Sasayuri Video Training Institute in Tokyo, without worrying about their living costs!

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What we know about the anime scholarship offered by Netflix

Image credit: Studio Ghibli/Toho

Called the WIT Animator Academy, the anime scholarship program will be a six-month course designed and taught by Studio Ghibli veteran animator Hitomi Tateno. In her 25 years of experience at the studio, she worked on influential animated classics such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Howl’s Moving Castle. 

The course will begin on April 2021, taking place from Mondays to Fridays. 

Application details for interested students

Image credit: Studio Ghibli/Toho

Slots for the anime program are limited to 10 applicants only, ensuring that each student receives substantial guidance from the instructor. The lucky ones who are chosen for the scholarship will have ¥150,000 (S$1,881.35) of their monthly living expenses covered, as well as the full tuition fee of the course ¥600,000 (S$7,525.51) covered by Netflix.  

To join the program, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25, and they should have graduated from high school by March 2021. Non-Japanese citizens and foreign nationals are also welcome to apply, as long as they are currently based in Japan. Fluency in Japanese isn’t required, though foreign applicants should be able to carry everyday conversations in Japanese. 

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How to apply for the scholarship

The deadline for the scholarship is 28 Feb 2021. You can apply on WIT’s official website here.