The Long Road to Becoming an Animator
Today marks 46 years since I became an animator. How did a high school student from Nagoya become an animator, not through the standard route of the Tokyo Designer Gakuin at the time? Actually, 46 years ago, I entered the industry through an introduction from someone. That benefactor who guided me to become an animator is a veteran animator and animation director named Mr. K-mura. Our meeting dates back to 1977.
Meeting My Benefactor
I first met Mr. K-mura in the summer of my second year of high school. At that time, the Mitsukoshi Nagoya store was a department store called Oriental Nakamura. They were holding an event called the "Summer Vacation Children's Anime Classroom." The instructor was an animation director for "Candy Candy," so my friend M-da and I went to see it. Since we were older, we watched the anime classroom from a distance and approached the instructor during the break. That instructor was Mr. K-mura. I knew his name from TV anime. He was a veteran who had passed through the narrow gate of Toei Doga in 1965, where only 4 out of 200 applicants were accepted, and his debut work was as an in-betweener on "The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon." After that, he became a key animator starting with the theatrical version of "009" in the Kimura team, and subsequently participated in Toei Doga works and Sunrise works as a key animator and animation director.
I Want to Become an Animator
That great veteran asked me, "Are you interested in this kind of work?" and I replied, "I am." He said, "I see. I want to train someone. Well, I'll still be in Nagoya tomorrow, so show me your drawings. Even if they're just doodles. You have some you've drawn, right?" With that, the gate to becoming an animator suddenly appeared, and in that moment, I became an aspiring animator. It wasn't that I had been actively working toward becoming an animator; it just fell into my lap.
Come to Tokyo After You Graduate High School
To begin with, I was ignorant about the profession of an animator. As a high school student, I knew the names of many skilled animators, but they felt like beings above the clouds. Even when my high school friends said they wanted to be animators, I didn't feel it was realistic. It was a completely distant world with no connection to me, and I never thought it was something I could actually become. At that time, I actually wanted to join Yoshimoto Kogyo more. But, if I could become one, I wanted to. I liked drawing, I liked movies, and I liked anime. I thought it would be amazing if I could make that my job. I decided to have him look at my drawings, even if it was a long shot! I didn't have any drawings saved up, so I spent that night staying up late drawing lots of doodles. I drew things that looked like sketches and copies of anime in my sketchbook. The next day, M-da and I went to meet him with our drawings. I was so nervous and embarrassed to show my drawings to a professional. He told both of us, "If you're going to start, it's better to start early. Come to Tokyo after you graduate high school." The gate was opened. Of course, my parents opposed it. This time, M-da and I each had to go to Tokyo to meet him accompanied by our mothers.
Meeting in Tokyo
The meeting place was Hibarigaoka Bowl. When we arrived at the lobby, someone who looked like the manager guided us, saying, "Mr. K-mura is over here." Mr. K-mura was in the middle of a game. His brilliant track record was also on display. Mr. K-mura was also a semi-pro bowler. To meet Mr. K-mura, it was easier to find him at Hibarigaoka Bowl than at his home, and even to contact him, it was Hibarigaoka Bowl. It seems he was known as a bowler in the anime industry. Afterward, when we visited Mr. K-mura's home, his wife and daughter were there. In the not-so-spacious apartment, there were rows of prizes and trophies he had won in bowling tournaments. Our parents' distrust grew, but due to Mr. K-mura's enthusiastic persuasion and confidence, they ended up saying something like "We leave him in your care" while still being half-convinced. I dropped out of Kawaijuku, which I had been attending to prepare for university, and spent the remaining year until high school graduation focusing on sketching.
Another Option
Even if I were to become an animator, my parents seemed worried, so they suggested, "What about a vocational school?" So, I went to an interview at the Tokyo Designer Gakuin Nagoya school, which was opening an animation department the following year, accompanied by my mother. M-da and his mother were also there. The teacher from Tokyo Designer Gakuin who conducted the interview was an instructor in the Graphic Design Department, and he said, "You can't make a living as an animator, so choose the Graphic Design Department instead of the Animation Department." That would defeat the purpose, so I decided to follow Mr. K-mura's advice: "It's better to start right away than to go to Tokyo Designer Gakuin. Leave it to me." Tokyo Designer Gakuin was rejected. In the end, it was agreed that I would try being an animator for three months, and if I wasn't suited for it, I would return to Nagoya.
To Toei Doga
During summer vacation in 1978, I went to Tokyo again. Toei Doga, which I admired, wasn't hiring animators at the time, but Mr. K-mura recommended that I go for a tour. He said, "You can just go there suddenly, so visit the General Affairs Department." When I went to the General Affairs Department at Toei Doga, I was turned away, told, "Today isn't a tour day, so come back on Wednesday." Well, that makes sense. But when I mentioned Mr. K-mura's name, they said, "Oh, you were introduced by Ei-chan!" and decided to give me a special tour. They showed me around everything except the screening room, which can only be seen on tour days. When I was introduced as "a high school student from Nagoya introduced by Ei-chan," everyone in the in-house team I saw in the ending credits welcomed me. I received photos and autographs. Mr. Serikawa also stopped his work and let me hear valuable stories about the making of the films. I was amazed that just by mentioning his name, I was welcomed so warmly; Mr. K-mura is amazing!
Arts Pro
If I am to become an apprentice to Mr. K-mura, where will I train? At Hibarigaoka Bowl? Mr. K-mura also said he wanted to "train someone," but he was a freelancer. With high school graduation approaching, I had to list my place of employment on the graduate list, so I asked him over the phone. He told me, "Write down Arts Pro." Arts Pro is an anime sound production company. Does this mean he was going to set up an animation department within Arts Pro under his management? That is why my place of employment on the high school graduate list is Arts Pro. So, my classmates thought I was joining a theater troupe.
Waiting for Contact
The year turned to 1979. I graduated from high school. All that was left was to wait for the call. However, even when April came, there was no contact from Mr. K-mura, and I spent my days waiting in Nagoya. Since it was assumed that I had moved to Tokyo, it was awkward if my friends found me. But sometimes I would be found while wandering around the underground shopping malls, and people would be surprised, asking, "Didn't you join a theater troupe in Tokyo?" Even at the movie theater, a friend happened to be in the seat behind me, and it was discovered that I hadn't moved to Tokyo.
Studio Eight
However, I was relieved to hear from Mr. K-mura on May 8th, which let me know I hadn't been abandoned. He told me that it would be "Studio Eight instead of Arts Pro." I don't know the circumstances behind that, but I was surprised. However, he told me to wait a little longer because the studio was under construction. I think Mr. Kamimura had intended to train me himself, but since that was no longer possible, he booked me with Eight. He had even arranged an apartment for me.Studio Eight was the place.