TOSHIBA-UiTM
COMIC PROJECT
EXHIBITION
2022
28th FEBRUARY - 30th APRIL 2022
Established in 1989, Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO) has been carrying the main mission of promoting international understanding of Japan. For over 30 years, through a variety of programmes and support for numerous initiatives and projects all over the world, TIFO has always encouraged exploration not only of Japan’s economy and technology, but also its history, culture and arts, and social institutions.
The proposal entitled A Meeting of Two Worlds: Japanese Anime Influence in Malaysian Character Design was seen as befitting the aim stipulated by TIFO because it highlights the arts and cultural aspects of Japan. At the same time, what is interesting and unique about this project is the meeting point between two Asian cultures. Hence, this project has been able to foster a stronger connection between the two cultures of Japan and Malaysia and at the same
time, promote the outcome of the project to the world via the comic production. It was this distinctive quality of the proposal which set it apart from other contenders applying for the grant, hence, enabling this team to secure the TIFO grant for Art and Culture Category in 2021.
Japan has been renowned for our anime production as early as 1980s. Now, the influence of anime is getting to be more popular worldwide and as of 2016, Japanese anime accounted for 60% of the worlds animated television shows. Therefore, the choice of using anime as the basis for this project is an apt decision made by the team. By using the Malaysian folktales as the backgrounds of the character designs, a fascination fusion of ideas will definitely be witnessed. Concomitantly, such original ideas have also lent credence to this project.
Furthermore, being in a connected world due to the technological advancements has also allowed this project to be completed during a highly challenging period of COVID 19. The success that this team has reaped despite all the difficulties and constraints in a world with restricted movements has shown that with great teamwork, determination and creativity, there is no impossibility in achieving victory.
I wish the team all the best for the TIFO Comic Exhibition 2022. I am certain that the grant has been utilised fully and creatively to produce such an event. I am hopeful that with this exhibition, the nuances, values and also aesthetics of the Japanese anime character design which represent the Japanese art and culture will be able to reach a wider audience appropriate to the mission of our foundation.
Keisuke Omori
President
Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO)
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” This quotation by Henry Ford encapsulates this research project entitled A Meeting of Two Worlds: Japanese Anime Influence in Malaysian Character Design. The synergy and commitment as shown by the research team led by Dr Faryna Mohd Khalis have indeed embodied how coming together, keeping together and later working together can result in desirable and glorious outcomes.
Hence, firstly, I must extend my heartiest congratulations to Dr Faryna and the team for managing to secure the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO) grant in April 2021. For a university, winning a research grant is part and parcel of the grind for the academicians. This research project is laudable because the grant procured falls into both categories, international and industry. Securing a grant at the international level and from an industry is achievement. Therefore, UiTM Kedah Branch, through this team’s efforts, has been so fortunate to be able to secure the TIFO grant in the Art and Culture Category, beating other Malaysian and even Asian universities in 2021.
Another quality that has been shown by this project is the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic. The use of advanced technology has enabled the team to work effectively and achieve greater heights despites all the predicaments.
Lastly, let me express my congratulations to all team members who have spent valuable time, energy and efforts in order to achieve greater heights in scholarship excellences.
“UiTM KEDAH SOARING FOR EXCELLENCE”
Professor Dr. Haji Mohamad Abdullah Haji Hemdi
Rector
Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch
Toshiba Comic Book is a part of Toshiba Project titled : A Meeting of Two Worlds: Japanese Anime Influence in Malaysian Character Design. This project funded by University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) from Kedah Branch was the one and only University in Malaysia and Asia won the Art and Culture Category for 2021 and second time for the last 15 years. This project funded by Toshiba International Foundation worth RM46,153 aims to reveal the Japanese anime influences in Malaysian character design produced by local students from five UiTM branch campuses Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Melaka and Serawak. The students produce comic characters based on Malaysian folklores using the Japanese anime style of illustration. Since Japanese core values such as harmony, order and self-development are significant principles which should also be pervasive in other cultures, this project endeavors to promote the meeting of the two worlds: Japan and Malaysia, by highlighting the sharing of these important values via comic production. In this difficult period of COVID 19 pandemic, Mr Masashi Muromachi, the Toshiba Chairman Foundation has aptly summarized that, “This worldwide agenda involves us all, and Japan must now revisit its core values and what it can share with the world, and rethink the role it has to play in global society”. Partaking this sentiment in our attempt to also contribute to the global society, we propose to share the Japanese core values by combining them with what Malaysia similarly has in our cultural repertoire. Furthermore, realizing that the Japanese upholds its art and culture in various aspects of their lives, the College of Creative Arts, UiTM Kedah Branch aspires to synergize the elements of Japanese art, especially anime, in the comic productions by our local diploma students. Japanese anime is chosen since for many years, this particular genre has been highly popular amongst teenagers and young adults in Malaysia. Therefore me and my team really hope that this comics will give new joy and benefits to the reader etc.
Dr. Faryna Mohd Khalis
Group Leader
UiTM Kedah Main Researcher & Committee