Yoshimi Yamagata Aoyagi

March Dormitory Diary Entry - Ueno

Here's my dormitory diary entry for March, and I apologize for the continued delay from February.

A senior colleague at work recently invited me to a study session. The seniors at my company are all incredibly kind and approachable, which has greatly supported me. I was struggling with how to depict hair movement and the animation of fluffy textures effectively, but a senior took the time to explain it to me in detail. Applying what I've learned to refine my techniques until I'm satisfi...

February Dormitory Diary Entry - Ueno

Here's my February dormitory diary entry. My apologies for the late update.

I've been battling illness again, which has made it difficult to rack up a significant number of frames... It's led me to reflect on the importance of better health management.

I’ve been trying to work on my line quality recently, particularly mastering the smoothness of rounded sections and curves. It's quite the challenge...!

Despite these hurdles, the opportunity to contribute to a variety of pr...

March Dormitory Diary Entry - Okabe

Greetings, it's Okabe here.

I'm going to the cinema today! There's supposedly a talk show after the movie, so I'm looking forward to it.

Last year, I think I only saw about three movies in theaters. That's too few! I always have fun, so I want to see more.

The year before last, I watched the first "Avatar" in 4D for the first time and remember being quite exhausted from the moving seats and my 3D glasses sliding off. Since it was my second time watching a movie this way, it ...

March Dormitory Diary Entry - Okabe

Hope you're well, it's Okabe here.

Just when I thought we were past the busiest time, it turns out we're not! I've been working weekends non-stop, and I've pretty much lost all sense of what day it is. Though I do get days off in return, my schedule is all over the place, leaving me feeling unsettled.

I recently took the key animation exam and didn't pass. I'm scheduled for a one-on-one meeting soon where I hope to get some advice. Lack of practice is the main issue, I guess... 2024-04-02 10:18:22 +0000 UTC View Post

Meet our New Resident - Hiori Okumura

Nice to meet you, and thank you for your support.

I'm Hiori Okumura, and I'll be transitioning to my new life in Tokyo starting in April. The future is uncertain, but that just makes it all the more exciting!

I got deeply engrossed in watching "The Prince of Tennis" musical in March. Finding a piece of art you love is the best. 

I got so carried away that I actually neglected cleaning and shopping for some essentials. 

April hasn't set in just yet, so it's ha...

March Dormitory Diary Entry - Watanabe

Hello, it's Watanabe.

Here's my dormitory diary entry for March.

Work has been business as usual, so I thought I’d take a second to touch on payment rates in animation. 

Recently, my studio made a policy not to accept external projects offering less than 4.50 dollars per frame. I’m curious: does that like a lot? Perhaps too little?

Typically, the rate for my type of work ranges from 1.80 to 2.70 dollars per frame, which places 4.50 dollars on the higher end. H...

March Dormitory Diary Entry - Ura Takazumi

Hello,

Ura here, grappling with a severe case of allergies.

This is my dormitory diary entry for March.

The allergy season hits hard every year, leaving me with a runny nose, incessant sneezing, and itchy eyes.

I envy those who are free from the grasp of pollen. A visit to the ENT for some meds is definitely in order...

Hard to believe, but next month, I'll be entering my third year as an animator. We're expecting new recruits, and the word is they're all incredi...

Meet Our New Resident - Aina Sugisawa

Nice to meet you.

I am Sugisawa, and starting this spring, I have the privilege of receiving your support. I will do my best to provide diary updates that live up to your assistance.

As a trainee, I'm currently practicing by sending frames back and forth between my studio and me for feedback.

I'm new to animation, so there's lots to learn, but that's exciting.

Still, in the midst of winter in my hometown of Hokkaido, I have yet to feel the advent of Spring, and by exte...

Meet Our New Resident - Naoto Enokida!

Nice to meet you!

Thanks to everyone's support, I'll be joining a studio in Tokyo in April.

My name is Naoto Enokida!

I've had some experience doing key animation since my university days. However, as you can see, my art style is quite distinctive, so it's been a challenge for me to adjust to the style and guidelines of my animation director.

The prospect of joining the animation industry in Spring makes me a bit nervous.

Still, I'm grateful to all those who supp...

We Have a New Kickstarter Campaign Going Until April 14th!

Meet Our New Resident - Junta Sakurai

Nice to meet you!

I'm Junta Sakurai, and this marks my first entry into my dormitory diary.

Contrary to the norm in this industry, I was never an art kid in elementary, middle, or even high school. Even in college, I pursued a degree unrelated to art.

While I was briefly considering joining an art club to find like-minded people, the pandemic squashed those hopes. Though I'd never been surrounded by the type of individuals interested in drawing, let alone animation, I've spe...

Meet Our New Resident - Haruka Okamoto

Hey there!

I'm Haruka Okamoto, one of the newest additions to the New Animator Dormitory!

I'll be beginning my animation journey in Nakano starting in April!

I haven't moved to Tokyo just yet; I'm still living with my folks, but my plan is to stay focused and put in the effort to sharpen my skills.

For now, I'm working on tweaking my graduation project and casually drawing my favorite characters.

I look forward to interacting with all of you!

––––�...

Meet Our New Resident - Shin Hison

Nice to meet you,

My name is Shin Hison, and I'll be moving to Tokyo in April to pursue a career in animation. 

I'm only a beginner in the craft, but I plan to work my way up to become a bona fide professional animator.

Due to the high cost of living in Tokyo, my new place will be a bit smaller than my current one, but I hope to make it a cozy space to relax in.

Thank you in advance.

Shin, March 3, 2024

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February Dormitory Diary Entry - Ura

Hello. This is Ura, and boy, did I have a busy February.

This is my dormitory diary entry for February.

I got a lot of cuts this month with short deadlines—I pulled several all-nighters to get them done in time, which was rough. Even after all that, I still missed my deadline by about 30 minutes. That was sort of vexing.

The cuts themselves were for an anime movie, including the title card for the film, which was SUPER important.

As animators, we have to stay true to...

February Dormitory Diary Entry - Okabe

Thank you very much for your support. This is Okabe.

Since the end of January, I've been swamped with work due to an onslaught of holiday shifts. It's been quite the ordeal, but I feel like I've finally made it through. At the start of the year, I had the opportunity to draw an illustration for the company's brochure. Looking back at it now, I think I could have done a better job. Although I received guidance and corrections from someone who always mentors me, I'm a bit frustrated that ...

February Dormitory Diary Entry - Watanabe

Thank you very much for your support. This is Watanabe.

This is my dormitory diary entry for February.

For the first time ever, I got to join in on a project wrap-up party recently. Given the pandemic's impact, it was the company's first gathering of this kind in a long while. The event was a who's who of the project—original creators, cast members, and many others were in attendance. It was truly eye-opening to see just how many people were involved in bringing this project to ...

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Ueno

Thank you very much for your support. Here's my diary entry for January, and I apologize for the delay.

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside one of my favorite animators, who was in charge of storyboarding and directing an episode. I've been watching that episode over and over, finding myself secretly beaming with joy every time. Seeing this person take on the role of a storyboard director is quite rare, so witnessing it firsthand has been truly exhilarating. It'...

Early Access - Anime History: Wage Wars and Ghibli's Legacy

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Okabe

Thank you very much for your support. This is Okabe.

Recently, my health hasn't been the best, causing me to start my workdays later than I'd like. No matter how hard I try, mornings have become a real challenge, and getting up on time feels almost impossible. Though I know my tardiness is somewhat overlooked at work, I'm earnestly seeking a solution to ensure I can arrive punctually... whatever it takes. To tackle this, I'm thinking of putting my alarm out of arm's reach starting tomor...

Early Access: Asking MAPPA Animators About the Recent Jujutsu Kaisen Scandal

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Yamamoto

Thank you very much for your support!

Yamamoto here!

This is my dormitory diary entry for January!

I hope you’re having a good New Year.

I spent New Year’s break back at home with my family.

I was busy there cooking up osechi with rice cakes (a traditional dish usually made around New Years).

Then, on New Year’s Day, I went to do my first shrine visit of the year (Hatsumōde) and watched Godzilla 1.0.

It was way better than it had any right to b...

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Sakamoto

Happy New Year! This is Sakamoto.

I'm writing my dormitory diary entry for January.

At the end of last year, I participated in Comiket for the first time. I dreamed of creating a booklet of my own sketches, and I was thrilled to see the finished product. I'm grateful that, surprisingly, several people actually bought it, which I was super happy about. I had planned to give away the many extras to my colleagues at work, so next time, I'll consider printing more. My goal is to creat...

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Ura

Happy New Year! This is Ura.

Here's my January 2024 Dormitory Diary.

I spent about ten days back home in Ishikawa Prefecture at the end of last year. I had planned to spend the New Year's holiday drawing and relaxing at home, but on New Year's Day, we were unexpectedly hit by an earthquake. My family's home is in Kaga, so the damage was relatively minor, but it was the longest and most intense shaking I've ever felt. Honestly, it was quite frightening. After the quake, there were ...

Early Access :Key Animator Training Program ⑥ Loops and Grouping Cels

Early Access: The Anime Industry Wage Crisis and How We Can Stop It

January Dormitory Diary Entry - Watanabe

Happy New Year!

This is my January Dormitory Diary.

How did you spend the New Year's holiday?

I went back to my hometown for a relaxing break.

I was worried because my grandfather had recently undergone surgery, but I was relieved to see him recovering well.

With several challenging events at the start of the year, I've come to deeply appreciate the joy of being healthy and well.

As for this year's goals, I have a key animation exam coming up soon, so I'm a...

Exclusive December Dormitory Diary Entry - Sakamoto

Thank you for your continued support.

This is Sakamoto.

I'm posting my December Dormitory Diary.

I recently had the opportunity to go out drinking with some senior colleagues from another company, which was a great experience.

It was particularly valuable to hear from a senior who has been working on Q&A for a long time.

I was determined to take time off at the end of the year, so I managed to finish all my work beforehand.

It's been a while since I've ...

December Dormitory Diary Entry - Sakamoto

Hello, this is Sakamoto.

I'm posting my December Dormitory Diary.

I've actually decided to participate as a circle in this year's Winter Comiket.

When I attended the summer event as a general participant, I was struck by how fun and festival-like the atmosphere was, which inspired me to try publishing a doodle book.

Initially, I thought I could fill it with all-new creations, but due to my poor schedule management and being busy, I ended up having to use some of my pas...

November Domitory Entry - Sakamoto

My apologies for the delay. This is Sakamoto.

I'm posting my exclusive November Dormitory Diary.

Toward the end of November, I went to watch a soccer game for the first time since elementary school.

Honestly, I thought it would be easier and more enjoyable to just watch it on TV, but it was surprisingly a lot of fun.

Work has been busier than ever.

I've been so swamped that I barely have time for anything other than work and sleep.

It looks like this will c...

December Dormitory Diary Entry - Ueno

Thank you for your continued support.

This is Ueno. I apologize for the delay in posting my December entry.

Despite the bitter cold outside, I still feel that the office heating is cranked up too high, so I've been frantically working while wiping my sweaty hands with a handkerchief.

Lately, I've been receiving more work than before, which is incredibly gratifying and, above all, enjoyable.

However, dealing with a sore neck and severe shoulder pain has become a daily c...