Anime in Japan
Ranked among the Top 25 Animation B.A. Programs in the United States, Fairleigh Dickinson University prepares students for careers in animation, visual effects, and game design.
Located minutes from New York City, FDU offers access to internships, studio visits, and professional networking opportunities throughout one of the world’s leading media markets.
FDU is the only U.S. university bringing animation students directly to anime studios in Japan, creating firsthand industry connections and opportunities for internships and future employment. Through faculty-led experiences in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, students gain direct exposure to one of the world’s most influential animation industries.
Whether your goal is to work in film, television, games, anime, visual effects, or independent creative practice, FDU provides the training, professional connections, and international experience to help you get there.
Program Highlights
-
Morning Japanese language lessons in Shibuya
-
Visits with animation studios, artists, and industry professionals
-
Industry roundtable with leading animation practitioners
-
Guided excursions throughout Tokyo and Kyoto
-
Museums, temples, historic districts, and cultural landmarks
-
Evening performance at the National Noh Theatre
-
Free time for independent exploration, research, drawing, and photography
Featured Sites
Tokyo
-
Ghibli Museum
-
Sensō-ji
-
Meiji Shrine
-
Tokyo National Museum
-
Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Akihabara
Kyoto
-
Fushimi Inari Taisha
-
Kiyomizu-dera
-
Higashiyama District
-
Yasaka Pagoda
-
Gion
Tokyo Experience
Students begin the program in Tokyo, combining language study, studio visits, museums, and guided excursions through Japan’s most influential creative and cultural districts. Activities include animation studio visits, artist talks, the Ghibli Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Sensō-ji, Akihabara, and an industry roundtable with animation professionals.
Kyoto Experience
Students travel by Shinkansen to Kyoto for an immersive exploration of Japan’s cultural heritage. Excursions include Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, the Higashiyama trail, Yasaka Pagoda, Gion, and traditional tea house districts.
Program Philosophy
Anime in Japan is designed for students interested in animation, games, art, and contemporary Japanese culture. Rather than experiencing Japan as tourists, students engage directly with the artists, studios, neighborhoods, museums, and cultural traditions that continue to shape one of the world’s most influential creative industries.
