It’s great chilling out at cosplay conventions, absorbing hours of anime and getting to grips with the latest video games.
But when you’re approaching the age when you need to plan a career, do your hobbies have to be relegated to the sideline while you start a ‘sensible’ job, or are there ways to get paid for your passion?
The great news is that it’s perfectly possible to turn pro in any of the above creative and technical disciplines – provided you plan ahead and have plenty of self-belief.
With that in mind, here are five ways to kickstart an anime or gaming career.
Anime and manga summer program, Japan
If you’re between 14-18, how does spending next summer working with professional artists and animators in Tokyo sound?
When you register for the Japanimation program from The Experiment in International Living, you can do just that.
As well as learning rarefied skills, you’ll also immerse yourself in authentic Japanese culture – if this doesn’t inspire you to pursue your dream anime career, nothing will!
Gaming jobs for Rockstars
Do you love games like the Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto series?
The perhaps your career lies with the company that created them – Rockstar. Founded in Scotland, this firm is now global and hires for junior as well as more experienced roles. Find out more in the careers section of rockstargames.com.
Pro Gamer careers
Dedicated gamers know that the manual dexterity and mental gymnastics required to excel are considerable, so it’s no wonder that esports has become a viable career where the best of the best can earn seven-figure winnings.
If you fancy it, read this British Esports Association interview with pro gamer Martin Larsson for the lowdown from an insider. Competition is fierce, but if you’re dedicated it can be a fulfilling career.
Pro Cosplayer careers
Your love of dressing up as our favourite anime, cartoon or mainstream movie characters can become a paid profession.
That’s right – pro cosplay is ‘a thing’ and it could be more lucrative than you imagine if you market yourself properly and keep a keen eye on the latest trends.
You’ll need to work hard, develop the right look and seek support from social media like Instagram and crowdfunding platforms like Patreon, but it is possible – check out Ginny Di’s YouTube channel for advice.
Boosting your business smarts
To support yourself in a creative career (and perhaps managing or mentoring others who want to follow suit), getting a business-focused qualification under your belt arms you with the necessary skills to pursue your dream and avoid pitfalls.
And you don’t need to study full-time in a bricks and mortar university – online degrees from a provider like Anglia Ruskin Distance Learning are flexible and subjects include an enterprise MBA, Digital Marketing undergraduate degree and more.
So ends our list, but have we missed any good anime and gaming career tips? Please share your own in the comments section, we would love to hear from you!