The final presentation event was held on August 29, 2020 for Japan-China-Korea Students’ Co-work of Animation (Co-work), a program in which animation students from graduate programs in Japan, China and Korea collaboratively create short animation works from the development stage to completion.

Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai) and Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts) launched the program in 2010 to encourage cross-border networking among emerging creators who hold the keys to the future of animation culture in Asia. Communication University of China (CUC) joined Co-work in 2011 and this year marks the 11^th iteration of the project.

This year the entire project took place online due to COVID-19. Mixed teams from the three universities engaged in intensive animation production for 11 days from August 17 to August 29, 2020. This year’s concept was “Asian Silly Symphony,” inspired by the classic Disney series, and students created five short works set to music with the aim of providing an uplifting message amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

The music was based on traditional Chinese “five elements” (wuxing) theory, and the five finished works were screened as a complete “Five Elements Symphony” at the final online presentation event on August 29^th. In addition to the screening, the students presented the background behind their productions and received valuable feedback from guests.

“Five Elements Symphony” animation and official Co-work website:

http://caica.online/archives/portfolio/2020-co-work