Writer: Ming-feng,Chiang

GOBELINS Paris, hailed as the world’s top animation school, is renowned for producing numerous high-caliber talents in animation. The students’ passion for animation leads them to devote themselves entirely to it, to the point where instructors often have to remind them to take care of their health and rest. Compared to most art universities, GOBELINS’ educational philosophy is more aligned with industry needs. Its founding history and curriculum design make it resemble a professionally oriented vocational school, training students through practical opportunities such as industry collaborations. Its professional orientation is evident even in its recent plans to open a stop-motion animation studio—a relatively niche medium in commercial animation.”

In the talk, speaker Cécile Blondel particularly emphasized GOBELINS’ philosophy: “Don’t start from the images; start from the story!” She pointed out that students often begin with visuals and then add a story, but such narratives frequently lack power. Truly moving works usually stem from the creator’s real personal experiences. For example, the film Best Friend was inspired by the director’s experience of having their phone stolen, prompting a reflection on dependence on technology. Therefore, GOBELINS’ instructors require students to conceptualize their works starting from the “story,” even though students generally dislike this approach. During the story development phase, instructors do not evaluate the students’ ideas; discussions begin only before the visualization stage, with the central question being: ”What do you want to express through this story?” This story development period often lasts seven weeks, and may even extend by two months over the summer vacation.

GOBELINS’ student works are strictly limited to 4 to 6 minutes. Any film exceeding six minutes is disqualified from the review process, meaning it cannot earn course credits and may even result in students' inability to graduate. This rule forces students to condense content, refine their story within a limited time, and ensure the final work achieves a high degree of completion. During production, frequent presentations are reviewed by professional evaluators to further support students in developing their works.

The diverse styles of GOBELINS’ works stem not only from classroom training but also from indispensable peer learning and creative exchanges. In fact, all works are produced in teams, making teamwork an essential part of the GOBELINS experience. Division of labor and collaboration teach students a wide range of skills—from diverse animation techniques to crucial communication abilities. Learning to communicate and to set aside ego for the sake of the film are essential skills for working in animation.

Through rigorous production training, GOBELINS’ educational model enables students to approach creation professionally and collaboratively, and to respond to real-world issues through their work. This school not only teaches students how to “make animation” but also how to tell stories with images, allowing each work to balance emotion and technique and become a piece of art capable of truly moving audiences