The "Our Festival—Shanghai Universities Students Animation Expo" grandly opened on 20 June at the Shanghai Library East. This exhibition is hosted by the Shanghai Animation Industry Association and the Shanghai Library, with co-organization from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, the Shanghai Animation Industry Association Education Committee, the Shanghai Vocational Education Association Digital Media Art Committee, Tongji University, and the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, among others.
This marks the first intercollegiate exhibition in Shanghai, featuring nearly 30 educational institutions with animation, comic and game design programs. It brings together various educational levels, including undergraduate, tertiary vocational education and secondary vocational education, and is considered a pioneering event in Shanghai's animation, comic and game education.
In addition to student work displays, the expo will feature a series of activities to be held in succession over a period of more than one month, including forums on the cultivation of animation, comic and game talents, sharing sessions with renowned animation directors and game producers, and a rich and colorful program of other events.
The Animation Department of the Shanghai Theatre Academy's College of Creative Studies participated in this expo with a complete lineup, showcasing a total of 16 works, including 8 creations by the Class of 2024 graduates and 8 outstanding works from graduates from previous cohorts. All works are original, completed by individuals or small groups, and are complete animated short films with diverse forms and styles.
On the opening day of 20 June, the organizers held a ceremony at the Shanghai Library East, awarding certificates to the students whose works had been selected for the expo. Leading enterprises of the ACG (animation, comic and game) Industry such as Boke, Hypergryph and 100 Animation also set up special scholarship awards, which were presented to the student creators of their choice. Representatives from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and Bilibili presented certificates to the students who won the scholarship awards.
The works "Alley" by Lu Peiying and Huang Xinning and "Condensed Storm" by Wang Yusha, all of whom are animation majors of the Class of 2024 at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, won the special scholarship awards.
Fang Jun, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Theatre Academy and Secretary of the General Party Branch of the College of Creative Studies, wrote the below message for the expo:
"Animation is a world where human imagination can fully soar. There is probably no art form more free, romantic and exuberant than animation. To be able to connect one's youth with this art form should be considered a blessing. The cultivation of animation art talents is not only about professional skill training but more importantly, ensuring that students maintain their passion and belief in animation."
This expo is a “festival” for all animation majors in Shanghai's higher education institutions, and we look forward to the students of the Animation major of the College of Creative Studies at the Shanghai Theatre Academy revisiting their original aspirations for animation art on this festival day of their own.
As one of the organizers of this expo, the teachers and students from the animation major at the Shanghai Theatre Academy’s College of Creative Studies actively assisted the host organizations by collecting exhibition materials and information from various schools. They also produced the promotional video for the expo, which received praise from the host organizations.
The expo will be held from 20 June to 30 July, with the exhibition space for the animation major of the Shanghai Theatre Academy’s College of Creative Studies located on the 5th floor of the Shanghai Library East. You are welcome to visit and provide valuable feedback.
