Inauguration of 90-day advanced anime & manga illustration training programme in Mangan

KUNAL RAI

MANGAN,: A 90-day Advanced Training Programme on Anime and Manga Illustration was inaugurated in Mangan on Saturday under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, and the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Sikkim. The training is being implemented by Sonju Private Limited with the aim of nurturing creative talent and promoting storytelling through illustration among the youth of Sikkim.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by the Mangan District Collector, Anant Jain, as the chief guest, along with Mangan Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sandeep Kumar as the guest of honour. Officials from the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Sikkim, members of the organising team, trainers, participants, and members of the media were also present on the occasion.

The programme is designed to equip 20 young artists from Mangan District with advanced skills in anime and manga illustration, visual storytelling, and character design over a period of three months. A key objective of the initiative is to encourage participants to transform Sikkim’s rich folklore and traditional stories into illustrated children’s books, thereby preserving local culture while creating new opportunities within the creative industry.

The training will be conducted by master trainers Dechen P. Tenzing of Studio Beechen, recognised as Sikkim’s first manga artist, and Chogyal Lepcha of Rey Rey Studios, both of whom hail from North Sikkim and have been actively contributing to the development of the creative arts sector in the state.

During the event, dignitaries distributed training kit bags to the participants and encouraged them to use the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and explore careers in illustration, animation, and visual storytelling.

The initiative aligns with the broader goal of the RAMP Scheme, which seeks to strengthen MSMEs by promoting skill development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Through programmes such as this, the government aims to support emerging creative industries while empowering youth with new avenues for professional growth.

The organisers expressed their gratitude to the Ministry of MSME, the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Sikkim, and all partners and dignitaries for their support in making the programme possible.

The training programme marks an important step towards building a vibrant creative ecosystem in Sikkim and bringing the stories, folklore, and cultural heritage of the state to life through modern visual storytelling.

Addressing the inaugural function, Mangan District Collector Anant Jain congratulated the participants for being part of the training programme. He stated that the initiative aims to upskill the artistic talent present in the district of Mangan so that the folklore, traditions, culture, and heritage of the land can be depicted through their creative works, bringing recognition and pride to the state.

He noted that manga is a Japanese art form that has made a significant global impact. While it is encouraging that young artists are learning this form of art, he emphasised the importance of creating characters and stories that reflect local culture, heritage, traditions, and beliefs, giving the art a distinctive Sikkimese identity. He added that this creative field should also be pursued as a profession so that it becomes revenue-generating and career-oriented.

The District Collector further expressed confidence that the richness of North Sikkim’s culture and traditions would inspire artists to create unique works and make their mark in the coming years. He also encouraged participants to make effective use of AI tools along with traditional hand sketching to enhance their creativity. While the value of hand-drawn art remains unmatched, he remarked that combining it with modern technology can produce remarkable results.

He further requested the organisers to identify the best artist from the batch, assuring that he would try to facilitate opportunities and projects in the future to encourage their talent in art, animation, and creative storytelling. He also urged all participants to make the best use of the training programme and attend the sessions with sincerity and dedication.

Master Trainer and Sikkim’s first manga artist, D.P. Tenzing, explained that anime and manga are forms of Japanese visual storytelling - manga referring to comics or graphic novels, and anime to animated stories. What makes them unique, he said, is the way they combine art, emotion, and narrative to tell powerful stories through images.

He shared that while growing up, anime and manga were not very popular in the region and access to such creative mediums was limited. Over the years, however, interest in anime and manga has grown, allowing artists to create spaces where young talents can learn, experiment, and collaborate.

With the knowledge and passion he has gained over the years, he felt it was important to mentor the younger generation and share these skills with aspiring artists. Bringing this training programme to Mangan, he said, is part of that vision.

He expressed hope that the programme would nurture creativity, help students develop artistic discipline, and encourage them to tell their own stories through art. Most importantly, he hoped the initiative would inspire young artists to explore new possibilities and grow together as a creative community.

Earlier, the inaugural session was also addressed by the SDM of North Sikkim, a local entrepreneur, and a representative from the RAMP Programme under MSME.