Tokyo University of the Arts: Animation

Tokyo University of the Arts is the first national art university in Japan, with a history of more than 120 years. The Graduate School of Film and New Media was established in Yokohama in 2005, and its Department of Animation was started in 2008. There are four professors and research fields for 32 students. The curriculum is dedicated to education and research with an emphasis on “creation”. During their two-year Masters program, students direct short animations using a wide variety of techniques. In 2010, the Department was recognized as the “Best Animation School” at the Zagreb World Animation Festival, and for the “Best Animation School Showreel” at Ottawa International Animation Festival.
For the second time, Nippon Connection shows the ten best graduation films. This year the works are presented by Oscar-nominated animation filmmaker and professor at the University of the Arts, Koji YAMAMURA.