Japan: Animation and Culture in Tokyo

Overview 

Animation and Culture in Tokyo provides students with the opportunity to explore technical and narrative developments of animation while immersed in Tokyo's rich culture.

Students will learn to recognize the diversity of cultural expression through visiting sites important in history, traditional art, and popular culture. Through this lens, students will reflect deeply on Japanese customs and aesthetics to develop their own projects. No prior animation experience is required to participate in this program.

Activities include visits to Tokyo's traditional neighborhoods, various shrines, museums, and theater performances, as well as Japan's pop culture sites inspired by anime, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and Studio Ghibli. The program also includes admission to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.

Highlights and Excursions

• Excursion to the Ghibli Museum, dedicated to the work of one of Japan’s most famous animation studios
• Experience teamLab Borderless, Tokyo’s premier interactive light and digital art museum
• Witness a traditional Japanese art performance and learn more about kabuki
• Take part in a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Learn about Yoyoi Kusama, one of Japan’s premier contemporary artists
• Visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks, then head to Meiji Shrine within the nearby Yoyogi Park
• Travel to Yokohama to visit the Shinyokohama Raumen Museum. Learn the history of Japan’s national dish and enjoy tasting the many ramen variations
• Feel like a kid again with a full day at Tokyo Disneyland and a full day at Tokyo DisneySea
• Discover Harajuku, Tokyo’s center for fashion and youth culture

Living Arrangements

Students will stay in hotels, with some meals provided throughout the program.

Program Dates 

Summer 2025: May 13, 2025-May 28, 2025. 

Students will need to depart the US on May 11th or 12th in order to arrive in Tokyo on May 13th.

Good to Know

Upcoming Info Sessions:

• October 10, 2024, 4:15pm in Schoonover 276
• October 25, 2024, 11:45am in Schoonover 276
• November 6, 2024, 3:00pm in Schoonover 276

Orientation meetings will be held for accepted students during spring semester. Dates to be determined.

No prior animation experience required! 

Academics  

Students will choose 2 courses from the offerings below, for a total of 6 credit hours. 

• MDIA 4160: Global Animation (3 credits)
• COMM 3800: Communication Industries and Organizations Abroad (3 credits)
• MDIA 4905: Special Topics in Games and Animation (3 credits)
• Option 4: Coming soon!

Important Note: Students will complete one 3-credit-hour course during the Spring semester and one 3-credit-hour course during the travel portion of the program in the Summer. Please plan accordingly to meet the program's academic requirements.

Cost  

The program fee for this program includes: Student accommodations, excursions, airport pick up, transportation and entrance fees to all program-related activities, welcome and farewell dinner, and international medical health insurance. 

In addition to the program fee, students should plan for 6 credit hours of tuition*, administrative fee, and out-of-pocket costs. Below is the student budget worksheet for this program, which outlines these costs.  

• Undergraduate Student budget worksheet 2025 

Items that are not related to the program (ie. additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• Non-resident surcharge waived for the credit hours associated with the 3-credit hours associated with the summer term. 
• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO and is determined by the total cost of the program. 

Funding Opportunities 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

School of Media Arts & Studies students may apply for an internal scholarship through the Ralph J. Bitzer MDIA Opportunities Scholarship.

Eligibility and Requirements 

This program is open to undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors.

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad.  Read the entire conduct policy.  

Participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program to be considered for eligibility.  Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Note: This program has rolling admissions - early application is recommended. A high volume of applications is expected. Students should apply early to ensure their application materials will be considered.

Application Requirements

• Personal Statement:
  • 2 pages double spaced answering the following:
  • First, introduce yourself and tell us what interests you about Animation & Culture in Tokyo. Then, answer the following: How will this experience enhance your education? How do your educational interests align with travel to Tokyo and the theme of the program?
• DARS
• 2 References

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country. 

U.S. citizens  will not  need a visa or other special document to enter the country for the length of this program. Please also note that visa requirements may vary if you plan to stay in the country longer than the program dates or travel to other countries during or after the program. Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to this program. 

For more specific visa-related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page 

 Information for  Non-U.S. citizens. 

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations 
• Blogs and Articles