This interdisciplinary critical theory course introduces students to Japanese animation as a culturally unique visual culture and a rich repository of local and universal themes. Students will learn about the cultural history of Japanese animation, its global impact and transnational flows, and the ways it explores the universal human issues and concerns in forms that are unique to the Japanese animating culture. Students will study and analyse selected animated works that are representative of the genres, themes and issues popular in Japanese animation to acquire an in-depth knowledge about Japanese animation and philosophically explore the worlds it creates.