Escape Students Visit "The Answer" Studio in Tokyo

Escape Studios' animators visit The Answer Studio

Many thanks to our hosts at The Answer Studio in Tokyo who welcomed a small group of Escape Studios' animation students to visit their animation studio in Tokyo last week. 

The Answer Studio is the successor studio to Walt Disney Animation Japan, headed by former Disney Japan president Motoyoshi Tokunaga.

Taku Kishimoto and The Art of Writing for Anime

Taku Kishimoto and the Art of Writing for Anime

Last week in Tokyo our animation students were introduced to The Art of Writing for Anime by writer Taku Kishimoto.

What is the job of a writer for anime and manga? Japanese screenwriters write original stories, working with the director and producer to come up with new material for TV and movies.  

Anime stories have a certain structure; successful writers for anime learn to follow this structure, but at the same time they must find originality and invention within this framework.

Shirotomo Aizawa: Japanese Art, History & Culture

Shirotomo Aizawa on Japanese Art

Today in Tokyo the composer and multimedia creator Shirotomo Aizawa introduced our animation students (who are currently studying anime and manga in Tokyo) to Japanese history, art and culture.  

Shirotomo Aizawa explained that Japanese culture was historically influenced by China, but grew and developed to have its own unique cultural identity. 

The origins of manga and anime can be found in Japan's unique cultural history and identity. 

Keisuke Mori and The Art of Acting for Anime

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori 

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori talked to our animation students in Tokyo this morning about his career performing voice overs for Japanese anime.   His credits include the 2018 movie Mirai.

Voice actors have to have to be able to perform a wide range of voices in order to do multiple characters. Vocal range is the key, the ability to perform in multiple different voices and styles.

Keisuke Mori explained that his voice is an instrument, one that he has learned to play over many years of practice working in anime. 

Mitsunori Murata, "Akira" and Japanese Animation

Mitsunori Murata 

Today in Tokyo Escape Studios' animators learned from master animator Mitsunori Murata about the process of making animated films in Japan. 

Mitsunori Murata has worked on over 50 Japanese animation films including the legendary "Akira", released in 1988, and Ghost in The Shell. 

How are animated films made in Japan? The answer is that the process is fundamentally very similar to how things are done in the west, but with some unique Japanese features. 

Escape Studios Goes to Tokyo

Escape Studios' Animation Students are Heading to Tokyo

This Saturday September 5th twenty one Escape Studios' animation students are heading to Tokyo, to learn more about manga, anime and Japanese animation techniques. 

Our animation students will be attending classes and workshops in Manga and Anime at Digital Hollywood University in central Tokyo.  We're delighted to be able to organise this unique experience for our students. 

Evening Class in Manga Starts 1 June 2026

Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling

Escape Studios is launching a new Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling. 

It is an eight week course, running two evenings a week taught by award winning Manga Artist and Storyteller Elena Vitagliano.

The Evening Course in Mastering Manga and storytelling starts on 1 June 2026 and runs for 8 weeks.