By 江洺葑

The 15th Kuandu International Animation Festival (KDIAF) officially kicked off on October 26, 2025, at the Art and Ecology Center of the National Taipei University of the Arts. As an important platform for animation in Taiwan and international exchange, the festival will feature a series of events such as industry seminars, special screenings, and workshops, offering opportunities for exchange across technology, industry, creative experiences, and production behind the scenes for students from animation departments, industry guests, and audiences.

(Guests from various countries at the display board)

This year's theme, "The 15th Dimension Journey of Animation," was chosen as the annual motif. The main visual, promotional video, and a series of related merchandise were all collaboratively created by undergraduate students of the animation department under the guidance of their teachers. The opening ceremony will feature the screening of a promotional short film that embodies the hard work of many people. Additionally, a selection of animated short films created by graduate students of the animation department, as well as a loop animation produced by second-year animation students in collaboration with MIT (Music and Image Trans-disciplinary Program), will also be shown to officially open the festival.

Vice President of the National Taipei University of the Arts, Lin Shao-jen, stated in his speech that the animation festival has now entered its 15th edition, and it is a rare achievement for a university to host an international-scale animation festival. He hopes the event will continue to serve as an important platform for domestic and international animators to engage in meaningful exchange.

Dean of the College of New Media Arts, Shih Ming-hui, reflected on the challenges faced during the early years of the animation department but emphasized their commitment to holding the festival, which provides students with opportunities to connect with the global animation community and learn from others.

Director of the Animation Department, Chao Shun-wen, also mentioned that the festival's continuous growth over the years is a result of the students' dedication to excellence and hard work. It is thanks to their passion and effort that the event has been able to steadily grow and thrive.

This year, the festival received over 2,400 outstanding works from 104 countries around the world. After careful selection by the jury, a diverse range of animated works with various styles and themes will be showcased, giving the audience a comprehensive view of animation creations from around the globe. The event will run for seven days, from October 26 to November 1, 2025, at the Art and Ecology Center of the National Taipei University of the Arts. All are warmly invited to participate.

(Group photo from the 15th Animation Festival opening)