Animation Apprentice Goes to Japan

Digital Hollywood University

This September Animation Apprentice is heading to Tokyo, to take a close look at the current state of Japanese animation. 

We'll be attending animation lessons in Manga and Anime at Digital Hollywood University in central Tokyo. We'll also be visiting The Answer Studio (formerly Walt Disney Animation Japan) in Ogikubo.

Disney Tokyo

Piglet's Big Movie

I worked in Tokyo at Walt Disney Animation Japan for six months in the Spring and Summer of 2002, working on Piglet's Big Movie, a film that was storyboarded in Los Angeles - but animated almost entirely in Japan.  

Tokyo Talent

Working in Japan was a great experience, in part because of the very talented Japanese crew, and also because of the very strong work ethic that drove the team to strive for the highest possible quality on the movie.  

Theatrical Release

Piglet's Big Movie had originally been conceived as a straight-to-video delivery, but it eventually won a theatrical release in the USA. 

Piglet's Big Movie

You can see some of my shots from Piglet's Big Movie below.

Character Animation

Me at my desk in Tokyo in 2002

It was a huge pleasure to work on AA Milne's characters, some of the most appealing characters ever created for animation. Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit and Tigger were all a delight to bring to life.  

Closure - and Revival

Sad to say, the Disney Animation studio in Tokyo closed two years later, in 2004.  The studio talent lives on however as The Answer Studio, founded by former Disney Japan president Motoyoshi Tokunaga, which continues to deliver high-quality Japanese animation. 

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.