The University of Vermont
Anime as an Art Form
Program Overview
Japanese animation or “Anime” is a complex art form that incorporates various themes, animation styles, messages and aspects of Japanese culture. We hope that the participants of the program will gain an understanding of the differences in styles, themes, animation etc. of Japanese animation. This will be accomplished by holding weekly meetings where a specific Anime series or movie is shown and then discussed. Participants also learn how to compare and understand how Anime relates to the Japanese culture once a semester. To reach this goal, we have participants research an aspect of Japanese culture that interests them and then have them compare that topic to a specific Anime or Manga (Japanese “comic books”). This program will also strive to give members a basic knowledge of the Japanese language and basic animation and Anime character drawing techniques.
Learning
Objectives
Each member will gain
an understanding of the differences in style, theme, animation, and directing of
animation of Japanese Animation (Anime).
Action Steps
§ Each week members will watch clips and/or episodes of series and movies of Japanese Animation and discuss their observations, opinions, and themes of the animé shown.
Each program member
will learn, compare and understand how Japanese Animation relates to Japanese
culture.
Action Steps
§ Students will research an aspect of Japanese culture that interests them using the Bailey/Howe Library, internet and other sources. Students will present their findings with the other members of the program. Each student will present once a semester and presentations will take place at weekly meetings.
§ With the cooperation of the Japanese Language Teachers at UVM and/or Japanese speaking students, students will attend lectures/discussions concerning Japanese culture and the individual speaker’s experiences in Japan.
§ With the cooperation of the Japanese House Program in Living Learning, program members will meet in informal settings with Japanese exchange students and other students interested in Japanese culture and language.
§ Matsuri and Bakuretsu con are two conventions where Japanese culture and anime are featured. These events would allow members to meet other people with similar interests and views about anime and Japanese culture.
Each program member
will learn about the fundamentals of animation and how to draw anime
characters.
Action Steps
§ Members will learn the fundamentals of drawing anime characters by looking at instructional books and practicing with other members in the program.
§ With the cooperation of the art department and an animation teacher, students will attend a workshop/lecture where they can learn the basics of animation.
Each program member will learn basic Japanese words and phrases.
Action Steps
§ With the cooperation of students taking Japanese and/or the Japanese teachers, a workshop will be held so that students can learn basic Japanese. If workshops are not possible, with the permission of the Japanese language teachers, students will sit in on Japanese Language classes.
§ Students will learn from instructional books and videos. This will take place during weekly meetings. Students can practice speaking Japanese to each other through the course of the day whenever appropriate.
§ Program members will socialize and converse in informal settings with members from the Japanese House program and exchange students with their cooperation.
§ Labels will be placed on common day objects around the suites (i.e. TVs, doors, tables, microwave) with the properly translated word on the label-card so that students can add these words to their Japanese vocabulary.
In cooperation with the Living Learning Center, this program hopes to give back to Burlington and the University by making Anime available to both communities. We will hold monthly viewing sessions where Amine movies are shown and weekly showings of series.
Our Halloween Movie Showing this year was a big turn out when about forty students came in costumes to watch the movie with us.
We would like to hold an anime art contest. The artwork, which could be submitted by students of Chittenden County high schools, would be hung in the Living/Learning Gallery. A prize will be given to the winner such as art materials, Manga, etc. paid for by the program. This contest would bring anime center stage by putting artwork in the gallery and even encourage some young artists in the area.
We, together with the Wired program, would like to hold a “DDR” (Dance, Dance Revolution) contest for the University Community. DDR is a popular video game placed in Japanese arcades. We think this would just be a fun thing for the program and UVM students to interact in a new way.