The Latin American Animation Group (GALA) of the UDLA Animation School held the first edition of the Research and Creation Seminar in Animation, an event designed to foster dialogue and reflection on animation as a field of research and creative practice.
The event took place at the Providencia Campus and brought together academics and students from various universities. The day included panel discussions, presentations, and a closing lecture by Camila Gutiérrez Fuentes, Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Visual Studies, entitled “Neo-Japanism in Latin American Visual Culture: Manga, Anime, Gemu.”
Animation, as an artistic practice, has a long history dating back to the 20th century. However, its recognition as a field of research within university art education is a more recent development, especially in Chile, where it has gained momentum during the 21st century.
“The seminar gains relevance by placing animation at the center of academic debate, allowing faculty to begin to engage in dialogue with research and artistic creation policies,” explained Marisol Campillay, director of GALA.
This process opened up various reflections, such as: What does it mean to be a teacher in this context? How is it managed within academia? And how is research articulated with creation? In the field of animation, these questions take on a particular nuance, since those who teach are often also artists, moving between the university space and the art world, with their own inherent complexities.
In this sense, Campillay explained that “the seminar arose as an opportunity to collectively reflect on our practice, not only as animators, but also as academics. In Chile, there are still no specific animation funding programs, which demonstrates that, although the discipline has a university presence, it is not yet fully integrated into the mechanisms of artistic research.”
Along the same lines, the academic researcher added, “We understand animation, research, and creation as a triad in constant dialogue. That’s why we’ve invited representatives from different schools and academics from other fields, like Camila Gutiérrez. Her work, focused on anime and its cultural influence, allows us to observe how animation can be approached from lateral perspectives, broadening its field of study.”
Camila Gutiérrez highlighted these kinds of opportunities where a connection with students is forged. “For me, it’s very rewarding to be able to talk about these topics with students who understand and apply them, often instinctively, because they’re part of what they’ve consumed throughout their lives. I love being able to explain and name what they already know, and see how, when I use Japanese terminology or present the categories of my study, their faces light up with an expression of recognition.”
News available at https://actualidad.udla.cl/2025/11/grupo-america-latina-animada-de-udla-realiza-el-primer-seminario-de-investigacion-y-creacion-en-animacion/
