This program’s application entry has closed on September 10th. The selected finalists will be announced in the beginning of November. Thank you for applying and we wish you all the best for your animation!

1. Aims of the project

This project, organised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho / Government of Japan), is an artist in residence program which aims to provide three outstanding young animation artists from around the world with an opportunity to come to Tokyo and create new works while directly interacting with Japanese animation culture. In doing so, we aim to promote both the creation of excellent works of animation and a better understanding of Japanese culture.

2. Target field

Animation production

3. Number of applicants accepted

3

4. Duration of the program

70 days between January 7th and March 17th 2015

5. Support provided

1. Travel expenses
2. Living allowance
3. Travel insurance
4. Rental accommodation (including workspace)
5. Location: Tokyo
6. Expert assistance
7. Opportunity to present work done during residency
8. Opportunities to interact with Japanese creators

6. Program summary

1. Education/training: participants will give reports on the progress of their work being created as part of the program and will receive guidance from accomplished Japanese animators/experts on a regular basis.
2. Visits/exchange events: participants will visit animation studios and participate in exchange events with artists and students enrolled in art programs at educational institutions.
3. Creation of a new work: participants will begin a new work while in Japan and present the finished work or one part of a work in progress at the end of their stay.

7. Conditions of participation

Applicants must:

1. Reside outside of Japan and be a citizen of a country other than Japan.
2. Have had one of their animated works screened at an international film festival, exhibition or similar event, where works from countries other than your own are also screened/featured.
3. Be between the ages of 20 and 35 as of September 10th 2014.
4. Be able to speak either English or Japanese at least well enough to communicate in everyday situations.
5. Be in good health.
6. Have access to the equipment necessary to participate in a remote interview (i.e. a computer capable of connecting to the internet and using
   Skype).

8. Application period

Applications will be accepted beginning July 1st 2014. Application forms and all required documents/materials must be received by this office by September 10th 2014.

9. Application procedure

A. Application Form
Fill out the application form (you can download this (Excel) form from the Japan Image Council website)

B. Documents/materials to be submitted

1. Documents describing the work to be created as part of this program (at least three minutes in length). It is preferable that applicants submit documents (story board, script, etc.) which make it possible to understand plans for the work in detail.
2. Upload up to 3 of your previous works to Vimeo or YouTube (include a password if necessary). In the case of an installation, upload any additional materials other than video and write the link at which they can be accessed on your application form.
3. Proof of a work having been screened at an international film festival, exhibition, or similar event, etc. (e.g. a copy of the list of screened works in a festival catalogue). Please make sure that the proof shows the event’s internationality (e.g. It screens/features works from countries other than your own). Proof of more than one film having been screened is not required.
4. Proof of age and citizenship (e.g. a photocopy of your passport).

To complete the application process, please send the application form (A) and the required documents and materials (B) via email attachments to the following address: entry2015@japic.jp
If your circumstances do not allow you to upload video to the Internet submission via DVD or other video media may be accepted. In such cases our office must be contacted in advance.

10. Selection

A selection committee composed of experts in this field will make two rounds of selections (the first based on applications, the second based on interviews conducted via the Internet) to arrive at a preliminary list of candidates to be invited to participate in the program. Those selected will be contacted at the beginning of November and once all conditions of participation have been confirmed the selection will be formally announced.

11. Notice of terms of application/participation.

By applying to this program applicants acknowledge that they agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. After the application period has ended applications cannot as a rule be rescinded. If unavoidable circumstances arise please notify us as soon as possible.
2. Applicants will not as a rule decline an invitation after they are selected to participate in the program.
3. Participants understand the purpose of their stay and will spend the entire period in Japan. As a rule applicants will not return to their home countries until the program has ended.
4. Participants will actively take part in activities related to the program such as lectures, workshops, and visits to schools and studios.
5. Applicants submit a plan for an animated work at least three minutes in length. If they are selected participants in the program will work on this animation project while in Japan and at the end of their stay will present either a completed work or a work in progress to show what they have accomplished during their time in Japan.
6. If what is presented at the end of the program is one part of a work in progress (see (5) above), the participant will complete the work after leaving Japan and submit a DVD of the finished work by December 2015.
7. The name of this program, “International Invitation Program for Animation Artists 2015″, and the logos of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and Japan Image Council must be displayed in the credits of the completed work.
8. As a general rule all equipment (computers, cameras, etc.) needed to produce the work created as part of the program will be brought by the participants.

12. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q. Are there exceptions for age restrictions?
   A. No, there’s no exception. An applicant must meet all the qualification criteria to be in the residence program.
2. Q. Do you accept group applications?
   A.Only individual applications (one applicant per application) are accepted. If the work of invited artists are made by more than one person, or if the invited artist wish to work with co-creator or key staff members during the residence period, there are cases where the co-creator or the key member come to Tokyo at one’s own expense and participate in our program. In such cases the applicant must consult our office and get an approval in advance. Also, the co-creator or the key staff members’ name(s) must appear in the end titles of the work.
3. Q. What are conditions for the co-creator and what are the support provided?
   A.The accommodation can be shared with co-creator/key staff member, but the co-creator’s travel fee as well as other rising cost of staying in Tokyo will be at one’s own expense. Application criteria applies to only the applicant, not for the co-creator/key staff members.
4. Q. Can works for submission be commissioned works, such as opening promo that was made for a festival?
   A.There’s no limitation of genre/content/procedure of the submitted animated work as long as your work satisfies the requirements for application, that is, your animation work having been screened at an international film festival or featured in an exhibition etc. which also screens/features works from countries other than your own. As a general rule, the applicant’s name must appear in end titles of submitted work, or require a proof material attached to prove it.
5. Q. I am in the process of showing my works at international festivals.
   A. We can consider you meet the application criteria under the following conditions.
   1) Screening of one of your works at an international festival is before January 7th 2015.
   2) You can submit to us a certain proof of the screening with the application form by September 10th 2014.
6. Q. Can a work in progress included in submitted works?
   A. Yes. Please put the all information and link address in (7) and indicate “still in production” at where you should add the festival names etc.
7. Q. Is there a policy regarding bringing your partner? May spouse accompany the resident artists for the duration of the residency? Are couples allowed in the provided accommodations?
   A. Anyone not involved in the invited artist’s production will not be accepted to stay at the provided accommodation nor will be able to participate in the program events. The residence is a production space for the invited artist and the purpose of being in residence is for the artist to go into production while being separated from his/her own regular life for 70 days.

13. Contact information

JAPAN IMAGE COUNCIL
Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2015
2-10-2, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 150-0002 Tokyo, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-6670-5676
fax: +81-3-5466-0054
Website: http://japic.jp
Email: aair@japic.jp

Report following the conclusion of “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2014” >>
Report following the conclusion of “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2012-2013” >>
Report following the conclusion of “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2011-2012” >>
Report following the conclusion of “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2010-2011” >>

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Organizer: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho / Government of Japan)
Administrative Office: Japan Image Council (JAPIC)

International Invitation Program for Animation Artists

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