African illustrators and animators can apply for one of 100 places on a free online course focused on second key animation, a specialised role in Japanese anime production. Applications close on 1 November 2026.
The course is a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, through its timbuktoo platform; Arc & Beyond, through its TAIDO Project; and animation studio Triggerfish, through Triggerfish Academy. It is funded by the Government of Japan and will be delivered in English.
Participants will learn from Japanese anime professionals Chiharu Akakura, Megumi Okawa, Yuki Yoshida and Rikako Nakano. Five pre-recorded sessions will be released between 6 November and 13 December 2026, allowing selected participants to complete the material in their own time.
Top performers will be put forward to leading Japanese anime studios for consideration. While this does not guarantee employment, the programme offers a route for African talent to develop specialised skills and potentially connect with studios in Japan.
Understanding second key animation
Second key animation is a specific stage in the anime production process. Second key animators take rough key drawings and refine them into finished keyframes, adding detail and secondary elements before the drawings move to the in-between animation stage.
The work requires a strong understanding of the original animator’s intentions and the direction established by the director and animation supervisor. Miyuki Kitabatake, a producer in Arc & Beyond’s Impact Creation Department, says the role is sometimes mistaken for entry-level work, despite the technical skill involved in interpreting and completing another artist’s drawings.
With demand for anime growing internationally, Japanese studios are expanding their search for talent to help meet production needs. The course aims to introduce African artists to this part of the industry and its professional expectations.
Building connections between African and Japanese animation
The programme forms part of wider efforts to strengthen collaboration between African animation studios and Japan’s entertainment industry.
Through TAIDO, Arc & Beyond aims to develop creative talent, encourage cross-border collaboration and create business opportunities in animation. At the TAIDO African Animation Awards in Tokyo in March 2026, African studios connected with representatives from companies including Bandai Namco Filmworks, TBS Holdings, Toei Animation and TOPPAN Holdings.
One example of the partnerships emerging from this engagement is an agreement announced in September 2026 between Toei Animation, known for One Piece and Dragon Ball Z, and Nigeria’s CR Motion+ to co-produce an animated short film tentatively titled The Storyteller: The Dawn of Legend. The agreement followed TAIDO’s support for CR Motion+’s short film Trials of the Spear and was described in the announcement as Toei’s first co-production with an African animation studio.
African artists have also contributed to internationally recognised animation projects. South African animator Malcolm Wope was credited as a key animator on MAPPA’s Lazarus, which won Best Original Anime at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Wope also co-directed Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer, part of the anthology series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.
These examples provide context for the growing connections between African practitioners and international animation production. The new course focuses on a particular technical skill that could help selected participants pursue opportunities within that wider industry.
Who can apply?
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be an African citizen, living anywhere in the world.
- Have a digital illustration or animation portfolio or showreel.
- Be able to follow instructions in English.
- Have reliable internet access, a digital drawing device and a computer capable of running 2D animation software such as Clip Studio Paint.
The course is free for selected participants. Its five pre-recorded sessions will be released between 6 November and 13 December 2026.
Applications close on 1 November 2026.
Eligible illustrators and animators can apply through the Triggerfish Academy Second Key Animation course page.
