DigiHari Online School Launches MUGENUP-Supervised Character Design Master Course

DigiHari Online School, an online school specializing in video learning materials and live classes operated by Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd., will launch a new online learning program, the Character Design Master Course, on May 15. The course is fully supervised by MUGENUP Inc., a Tokyo-based creative production company known for extensive graphic production work across games, VTubers, Webtoons, and other fields. Background and purpose: In the steadily growing entertainment business, including games, VTubers, and anime, MUGENUP regards character design as a key factor that can determine the success of a project. It is, in effect, the blueprint of the content. At the front lines of character design production, companies increasingly seek talent that is not only skilled at drawing, but also deeply understands production workflows for later stages such as 3DCG conversion and video production, and can communicate smoothly with clients and teams. This course responds to those needs by combining Digital Hollywood’s educational expertise with MUGENUP’s practical industry knowledge. It offers a hands-on curriculum specialized for professional character design work. The course has three main features. First, the curriculum is fully supervised by MUGENUP and condenses a professional production perspective. Based on MUGENUP’s experience producing a vast volume of game-centered graphics, the course covers character design methods, workflow understanding, deliverables, and client communication. Second, it provides substantial individual correction and learning support. Across eight steps, students receive five rounds of assignment feedback from active professionals, helping them identify weaknesses and build skills that can be applied professionally. The course also includes a monthly Q&A session and an eight-month viewing period for the video materials. Third, it offers career support through MUGENUP STATION, MUGENUP’s job-matching site for creators. After registering and posting their work as a portfolio, students may have their skills and art style matched by MUGENUP art directors with real project opportunities. If there is a match, they may receive introductions to relevant jobs. Illustration contests are also held periodically to help creators showcase their strengths. The support includes suggestions for work styles such as remote work and commissioned work, as well as career consultation. Actual job offers are not guaranteed and depend on the student’s ability and available projects at the time, but the course aims to help students connect the skills they develop directly to career opportunities. Course overview: The course name is [Fully Supervised by MUGENUP] Character Design Master Course. The learning period is eight months, corresponding to the video material viewing period. The tuition fee is 298,000 yen including tax. Services include unlimited access to video lectures during the course period, five assignment corrections, one monthly Q&A session with archive access, and optional career support. Students also receive a professional character design project hearing sheet as a benefit. The course is intended for people who can draw illustrations and want to turn illustration into work. The recommended software is CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO. Applications are accepted through the dedicated online page. The video syllabus covers the course overview and goals, illustrator work, the meaning of character design, character design specifications, preparation for character design, ways of thinking about character design and creating drafts, creation of character design deliverables, and MUGENUP’s job placement service. The video lecturers include Yoshihisa Hamamoto, an illustrator at MUGENUP. After graduating from an art university, he joined MUGENUP and has worked on many VTuber character designs for major agencies and character designs for popular game series, drawing on strong technical skill and imagination. Another lecturer is Ryoji Ishizaki, a producer and director at MUGENUP who produces creator development initiatives. He has supported the next generation of creators as editor-in-chief of the web media Ichiaup and through planning and publishing the practical book series Ichiaup Books. Assignment corrections are handled by illustrator instructors selected by MUGENUP. About MUGENUP: MUGENUP connects creators around the world through its systems and produces a wide range of creative work, including 2D illustration, 3DCG, video, and Webtoons. The company also develops and provides the production management tool Save Point and works on planning and producing original content. Through its own media outlet Ichiaup, MUGENUP also focuses on education and sharing know-how. This course provides practical techniques and knowledge developed in professional production environments. About DigiHari Online School: DigiHari Online School is a full-scale online school operated by Digital Hollywood, Japan’s first industry-academia collaborative professional school. Drawing on educational expertise in creator development built since its founding in 1994, as well as connections to the digital content industry through Digital Hollywood University and related initiatives, it provides up-to-date, practical curricula in web design, 3DCG, and video editing.