An animator prep school is slated to open in April, promising to help its students find work after graduation. The hope is to help the industry train and retain young animators. The school is run by the Tsumugi Animation Research Institute , which is also an animation production company that mainly specializes in assisting various productions.

The "Animator Prep School" program aims to make it easier for graduates to find stable work in the industry by removing the need for animators to work as low-earning in-between animators as a form of training. The dominant trend in the industry currently is to use in-between animation as a stepping stone for learning key animation and layouts. However, for many in-between animators, it can take years before they are permitted to take on other jobs, a trend which negatively affects retention rates in the industry.

The Animator Prep School accepts students regardless of their experience or skill with animation, and will train them for up to two years so that they can graduate with the accepted level of skill. The school will give graduates an unofficial job offer at Tsumugi Animation Research Institute .

The school opened enrollments on February 26, and will hold information sessions in March. Classes will commence from April 15.

Source: Anime! Anime!