An Anime Industrial Exposure For APU Animation Undergraduates

With a rich history of its development since the 20th century, Japanese 2D animation, more commonly known as “Anime”, has become a globally recognised form of entertainment. The School of Media, Arts and Design (SoMAD) at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) recently organised an introductory workshop titled "Discover Japanese 2D Animation with OLM Asia" for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Animation undergraduates, and the students of Diploma in Design & Media.

The workshop, held on April 11th at the APU campus in MRANTI Park, Bukit Jalil, was hosted by OLM Asia, a Malaysia-based animation studio known for its work on the popular "Pokémon" series.

A group photo of the guest speakers from OLM Asia and the academicians from SoMAD, APU. From left - OLM Asia Recruiter Mr. Riezman Harris, SoMAD Programme Leader for Animation Mr Jack Lai, OLM Asia Production Coordinator Mr. Alex Chin, OLM Asia Animator Supervisor Mr. Shogo Sakurazawa, OLM Human Resource Manager Ms. Nor Zuleeyana, and SoMAD Lecturer Ms. Mindy Goh.

The workshop was led and organized by Ms. Mindy Goh Yong Lin, Lecturer from SoMAD, who also served as the OLM Workshop Coordinator. A total of 40 animation students participated in the session, which featured presentations and discussions by OLM Asia's Animator Supervisor Mr. Shogo Sakurazawa, Human Resource Manager Ms. Nor Zuleeyana, Recruiter Mr. Riezman Harris, and Production Coordinator Mr. Alex Chin. Also attended was Mr. Jack Lai Yong Geat, the Animation Programme Leader at SoMAD.

The speakers covered various aspects of Japanese 2D animation, including character design, layout, storytelling, and animation techniques, providing valuable insights into the industry. They also introduced OLM Asia as a company, its areas of focus, and the animation workflow, as well as shared tips on job applications in the competitive animation industry.

OLM Asia speakers posed with the Top-3 winners for Kahoot quiz scorers. From left - OLM Asia Animator Supervisor Mr. Shogo Sakurazawa, 1st Place winner Chang Zhi Ching, 2nd Place winner Chin Yi Zhe, 3rd Place winner Ng Xi Ying, OLM Asia Human Resources Manager Ms. Nor Zuleeyana, OLM Asia Recruiter Mr. Riezman Harris, and OLM Asia Production Coordinator Mr. Alex Chin.

During the workshop, the importance of a strong portfolio and a clear understanding of job requirements was emphasised in the dialogue between OLM and SoMAD. A fun quiz session allowed students to test their understanding of the content, with three top scorers awarded merchandise by OLM Asia.

The workshop provided invaluable industry exposure for the animation students, who had the opportunity to showcase their portfolios and receive feedback from industry experts. It was a valuable experience for those interested in pursuing a career in 2D Japanese animation, as they gained updated information on career prospects and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

​A group photo of the workshop attendees made up of animation students of the Degree and Diploma programmes from SoMAD, APU, with guest speakers from OLM Asia who are seated in the middle from left - Mr. Riezman Harris, Mr. Alex Chin, Mr. Shogo Sakurazawa, and Ms. Nor Zuleeyana.

"We are thrilled to have OLM Asia share their expertise with our animation students," said Ms. Mindy Goh Yong Lin, the organiser. "The workshop provided a unique opportunity for our students to learn from industry professionals and gain valuable insights into Japanese 2D animation. We are grateful to OLM Asia for their support and contribution to our students' education."