Kurashiki Opens a Center to Train Young Animators with Professional Software

The city of Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture, opened a training center for young anime creators on October 13. The facility is called Kurashiki Animation Base Globe and occupies a roughly 60-square-meter room on the fifth floor of the Kurashiki City Plaza West Building, next to JR Kurashiki Station.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the managing organization, the Kurashiki Anime Digital Economy Promotion Organization, and the city's mayor, Itō Kaori, who spoke during the event.

The center has 12 computers equipped with digital tablets. They have anime editing software installed that is used in professional productions. Students will also be able to receive direct guidance from active animators.

A Commitment to Local Talent

The facility is not intended as a production studio, but rather as a learning space geared toward students. The goal is to bring the industry's real tools to those starting out in digital animation.

According to local TV station TV Setouchi, the organization plans to hold an experiential learning session before the end of the year for about ten junior high, high school, and university students. The aim is to raise awareness of the center and its training offerings.

The space seeks to familiarize young people with the real workflow of digital animation, from drawing with a tablet to editing with professional tools.

The opening comes amid a context in which several local Japanese governments have begun promoting infrastructure linked to anime and digital creation. Kurashiki, known for its historic district and cultural activity, adds with this center a training resource to retain and develop young talent in the region.

No long-term programs or agreements with specific studios have been announced yet. The first phase focuses on introductory sessions and consolidating the use of the space over the coming months.