Comic Art pages in Japanese here, blog pages here (+ album galleries)

The most direct way to become a professional manga-ka is to develop creativity and social awareness...

Seika’s Comic Art ("story manga") course students aim to become professional manga artists and writers. They improve their manga techniques and learn how to appeal to readers with the assistance of working manga artists.The main feature of this course is the opportunity to interact with a number of colorful and stimulating staff members who are actively producing manga work in various genres.
Students develop the vital qualities of social awareness and flexibility, plus the ability to present their work successfully. Through wide-ranging studies, this course should produce new manga artists who can pioneer a new era in comic art.

Japan's First (& Only) University Faculty of Manga
Kyoto Seika University's School of Cartoon and Comic Art commenced classes in April 2000, the first such department at any university in Japan, and is now becoming Japan's first Faculty of Manga. The Comic Art major is designed to train students in the creation of multi-panel work ranging from four-panel comic strips to multi-volume graphic novels.

Department profile (May 2007):

Total undergraduate students: 277
(M: 65; F: 212)

Overseas undergrad students: 25

FACULTY:

ITAHASHI Shuho
TAKEMIYA Keiko
SAITO Nazuma
SAGAWA Toshihiko
SASOU Akira
NISHINO Kohei
OGAWA Satoshi
HAGIWARA Masaya
SHIMOMURA Tomi
Jaqueline BERNDT
MURAKAMI Motoka (Visiting professor)

Profiles here (Japanese)

Curriculum:

1st year: Study of basic techniques and knowledge required in drawing manga through lectures on scenario-writing, editing, and basic attitude toward manga, and through experience building involving various graphic techniques
Design 1 & 2, painting techniques 1 & 2, drawing 1-4, basic CG 1&2, basic sketching 1 & 2, introduction to scenario-writing 1 & 2,

2nd year: More practical development of technique, aiming to improve through review of technical abilities. Production of original work and collaboration with Manga Production students.
Production practice 1 & 2, scenario-writing 1 & 2, expression techniques 1 & 2, CG 1-4, basic 3D modeling, handicraft

3rd year: Further development of works using more advanced techniques. Practical work both inside and outside the university, aiming at greater professionalism.
production practice 3 & 4, expression techniques 3 & 4, scenario-writing 3 & 4, animation 1 & 2, manga production practice, on-site professional production training

4th year: Graduation work based on previous experience and finding own way of expression
Production practice 5, free production, critical review, graduation production.