The eagerly awaited lecture on "Pursuing Dreams Overseas - Insight into the Japanese Anime Industry" drew a full house of attendees, including anime enthusiasts. Prof. Obata’s presentation received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Dr. Zhao Wenhong, the head of the Department of Digital Media Design at Asia University, expressed that it was a great honor for the department that Prof. Obata chose Asia University as his first destination in Taiwan for the lecture series. Additionally, a significant milestone was achieved as Prof. Obata, representing the Japan Amps International Animation Academy, signed a 5-year educational cooperation agreement. The agreement outlines the plans for increased study abroad exchanges, regular workshops, joint exhibitions, industry-academic collaborations, and more.
Furthermore, as part of the application for the Ministry of Education's "Building Dreams in the Academic World" series project, the department intends to lead students for a 30- 45 days of internship exchange at the Japan Amps International Animation Academy during the winter and summer breaks. This initiative aims to help students enhance their skills and broaden their international perspectives.
During the international workshop, Prof. Obata guided the participating students through the fundamentals of animation. He started by showcasing some animation storyboards and provided detailed explanations of the textual meanings within them. In addition to marking dialogues, he emphasized the importance of each frame's duration and the description of the scenes. While actively drawing and teaching simultaneously, he made it easier for the students to grasp the essence of animation principles. The participants were amazed by his swift and proficient drawing skills.
During the teaching process, Prof. Obata also presented the differences in the art style of Japanese animation in the 80s and 90s. He emphasized changes in facial proportions and shading techniques during that period. In the hands-on session, Prof. Obata guided the students in practicing character drawing, following the drawing sequence used by professional artists. He provided subtle adjustments and explanations to the drawings, highlighting how to make manga characters' movements and expressions more lively and compelling. Many students demonstrated excellent drawing skills during the practice, creating impressive works that earned praise from Prof. Obata.
Chi-Hsiung Chen, Vice President and Dean of College of Creative Design at Asia University, pointed out that the Department of Digital Media Design provides rich international resources, which can be beneficial for high school students aspiring to pursue dreams in the animation industry. He encouraged high school students to join the Asia University family, participate in the series of lectures, and engage in academic exchange activities to strengthen their abilities and realize their dreams in the field of animation.
