Prof. Eva Man Kit-wah (front, first right), Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, is the Organiser of the WUAA. The key members of the organising committee are: (front, first left) Ms Christine To Chi-long, WUAA Artistic Director; (front, second left) Dr Shawn Shao Dong, Acting Head of Creative Arts in the School of Arts and Social Sciences; (back, second right) Dr Timmy Chen Chih-ting, Assistant Professor in the School of Arts and Social Sciences; and (back, first right) Mr Vincent Mak Shing-fung, Assistant Professor in the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
As part of its commitment to advancing creative arts education, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) will host the first-ever World University Animation Awards (WUAA) on 15-16 September 2025. The awards will recognise outstanding animated works by young talent from around the world that demonstrate artistic vision, technical excellence and originality, while providing an international platform for animation talent to connect, exchange ideas and inspire boundless opportunities in the creative industries.
The two-day event will take place at The Box, in Freespace, in the West Kowloon Cultural District, and on the HKMU campus, culminating in an awards presentation ceremony on the evening of 16 September at The Box. HKMU is now accepting submissions from university students worldwide. Participants can submit their original animated works (no longer than 15 minutes) via an online platform from now until 20 May. Submissions are open to various presentation styles and animation categories, including 3D animated fictional stories, animation documentaries, and innovative styles that integrate art and technology.
The adjudicators for the awards will include esteemed figures from the international and Hong Kong animation communities, such as Mr Koji Morimoto, renowned animator of the classic Japanese anime film Akira, and other distinguished animation professionals, visual artists, art tech experts and scholars. The adjudicators will convene in Hong Kong to evaluate the submissions, based on creativity, concept, originality, visual and artistic design, storytelling, animation technique and overall production quality. Five prestigious awards will be presented: the Grand Prize, the Best Artistic Award, the Best Narrative Award, the Jury's Award and the Hong Kong Next Generation Award in Animation.
During the event, the adjudicators and finalists will be invited to HKMU to participate in master classes, forums and student-exchange sessions. They will engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange with creative arts faculty and students from HKMU and other institutions. All shortlisted animations will be screened, showcasing the creative achievements of emerging global animators.
Prof. Eva Man Kit-wah, Organiser of the WUAA and Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, said that as of 25 April, submissions had been received from approximately 70 countries and regions spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and Africa, reflecting enthusiastic global interest. She added that by organising this landmark event for the global university community, HKMU aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by merging art, technology and storytelling to open new horizons in animation creativity. It also aims to build a platform connecting young animators, industry leaders and academic experts to spark ideas and collaboration, unlocking the boundless potential of the animation creative industry. Furthermore, HKMU aspires to position Hong Kong as a global hub for animation arts and education, strengthening international exchange in the creative arts and technology, and contributing to Hong Kong's development as a vibrant East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
“Animation is not just an art form; it is a transformative medium that bridges different cultures, ignites new ideas and inspires future generations,” said Prof. Man. “Through the WUAA, HKMU hopes to encourage young creators to uphold humanistic values in the age of artificial intelligence, harness their power of imagination, and leverage creativity to transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, creating a richer and more diverse world.”
For details of WUAA or entry submission, please visit:
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/wuaa/
As part of its commitment to advancing creative arts education, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) will host the first-ever World University Animation Awards (WUAA) on 15-16 September 2025. The awards will recognise outstanding animated works by young talent from around the world that demonstrate artistic vision, technical excellence and originality, while providing an international platform for animation talent to connect, exchange ideas and inspire boundless opportunities in the creative industries.
The two-day event will take place at The Box, in Freespace, in the West Kowloon Cultural District, and on the HKMU campus, culminating in an awards presentation ceremony on the evening of 16 September at The Box. HKMU is now accepting submissions from university students worldwide. Participants can submit their original animated works (no longer than 15 minutes) via an online platform from now until 20 May. Submissions are open to various presentation styles and animation categories, including 3D animated fictional stories, animation documentaries, and innovative styles that integrate art and technology.
The adjudicators for the awards will include esteemed figures from the international and Hong Kong animation communities, such as Mr Koji Morimoto, renowned animator of the classic Japanese anime film Akira, and other distinguished animation professionals, visual artists, art tech experts and scholars. The adjudicators will convene in Hong Kong to evaluate the submissions, based on creativity, concept, originality, visual and artistic design, storytelling, animation technique and overall production quality. Five prestigious awards will be presented: the Grand Prize, the Best Artistic Award, the Best Narrative Award, the Jury's Award and the Hong Kong Next Generation Award in Animation.
During the event, the adjudicators and finalists will be invited to HKMU to participate in master classes, forums and student-exchange sessions. They will engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange with creative arts faculty and students from HKMU and other institutions. All shortlisted animations will be screened, showcasing the creative achievements of emerging global animators.
Prof. Eva Man Kit-wah, Organiser of the WUAA and Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, said that as of 25 April, submissions had been received from approximately 70 countries and regions spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and Africa, reflecting enthusiastic global interest. She added that by organising this landmark event for the global university community, HKMU aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by merging art, technology and storytelling to open new horizons in animation creativity. It also aims to build a platform connecting young animators, industry leaders and academic experts to spark ideas and collaboration, unlocking the boundless potential of the animation creative industry. Furthermore, HKMU aspires to position Hong Kong as a global hub for animation arts and education, strengthening international exchange in the creative arts and technology, and contributing to Hong Kong's development as a vibrant East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
“Animation is not just an art form; it is a transformative medium that bridges different cultures, ignites new ideas and inspires future generations,” said Prof. Man. “Through the WUAA, HKMU hopes to encourage young creators to uphold humanistic values in the age of artificial intelligence, harness their power of imagination, and leverage creativity to transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, creating a richer and more diverse world.”
For details of WUAA or entry submission, please visit:
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/wuaa/
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