Young Animator Training Project

The Young Animator Training Project (若手アニメーター育成プロジェクト, Wakate Animētā Ikisei Purojekuto) is an annual project created by the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA). The project, launched in 2010, is funded by the Japanese government's Agency of Cultural Affairs in order to support training animators.

History
The project was launched by JAniCA in 2010. The animation labor group received 214.5 million yen (about US$2.27 million) from the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs, and it distributed most of those funds to studios to train young animators on-the-job during the year. One of the reasons for the support of the Agency for Cultural Affairs is the concern that more of the Japanese animation process is being outsourced overseas—thus leading to a decline in opportunities to teach animation techniques within Japan. In 2011 the Agency once again provided funding for JAniCA to select more young training projects under the same budgets.

Animations
The following animations were created out of the funding provided by the Young Animator Training Project. Animation studios bid for funding, and each year, four studios are selected to produce short films. All short films air in theaters each year in March.

Project A
The following shorts were produced in 2010.
 * Kizuna Ichigeki (キズナ一撃?, lit. Bond Strike) - Ascension
 * The Old Man's Lamp (おぢいさんのランプ Ojii-san no Ranpu) - Telecom Animation Film
 * Bannō Yasai Ninninman (万能野菜 ニンニンマン, lit. Versatile Vegetable Nininman) - P.A. Works
 * Tansuwarashi. (たんすわらし, lit. Wardrobe Dwellers) - Production I.G.

Anime Mirai 2012
The following shorts were produced for Anime Mirai 2012.
 * BUTA - Telecom Animation Film
 * Wasurenagumo (わすれなぐも) - Production I.G.
 * Shiranpuri (しらんぷり) - Shirogumi
 * Pukapuka Dudu (ぷかぷかジュジュ Pukapuka Juju) - Answer Studio

Anime Mirai 2013
The following shorts were produced for Anime Mirai 2013.
 * Ryo (龍 -RYO-) - Gonzo
 * Little Witch Academia (リトル ウィッチ アカデミア Ritoru Witchi Akademia) - Trigger
 * Aruvu Rezuru - Kikai Shikake no Yōsei-tachi (アルヴ・レズル -機械仕掛けの妖精たち-?, lit. ALFR Rezuru - Mechanical Fairies) - Zexcs
 * Death Billiards (デス・ビリヤード Desu Biriādo) - Madhouse