"The Current Condition of Animation Industry" Seminar in APU

(Oita Godo Newspaper, January 21^st 2010, morning paper)

On January 20^th, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu City held RCAPS Seminar (Ritsumeikan Center for Asia Pacific Studies) Animation International Ltd Executive Mr. Kondo Tsutomu delivered a seminar titled "The Current Condition of the Animation Character Business in Asia".

There were about eighty students, including international students, attending the seminar. He started by explaining that his company is a major exporter of Japanese animation characters. "While the Japanese market is sluggish, we must developed overseas business", said the executive.

Last year's August, the board chairman concluded the exchange agreement by saying that Oita needs to be developed into a place where animation industry is raised. As the first step, they called APU who has the most population of international students across Japan to hold an exhibition.

Comment:

Animation has been really close to heart for many, as animation has been involved in many people's lives since they were young. In Indonesia, Japanese animation is the most popular one. On Sunday mornings, there is a set of animation movies, one after the other from six o'clock till 10 o'clock in the morning. Many children are "glued" to their television every Sunday morning. I support the growth of animation, as long as it contains the right norms and values, so children can also be educated through something exciting for them like watching animation.

NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama

Indonesia

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APM3)