Check out the stunning results of our student "New Year Card" art challenge! And learn about Japanese New Year customs!
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Hi there Reader, We hope the New Year 2025 is treating you well, and bringing you lots of progress in your artistic journey! We're excited to get in touch today to let you know we're ready to unveil the stunning results of our first student-only art event of 2025! Our student-only art events are vibrant celebrations of art and creativity, where students can showcase their unique art styles, and all the skills they have picked up on our anime art courses. Each time, we invite all students enrolled in our courses to get involved by sending in their artwork based on a chosen theme. This time the theme was "NENGAJO" which means "New Year Card" in Japanese.(Read to the end to find out more about the Japanese "nengajo" custom!) Our students brought us so much festive joy with their creative New Year Cards, brightening the Academy with all of their submissions! Thanks so much to all participants! Explore the beautiful festive gallery now, and witness the creativity of our very own Anime Art Academy students. Many of our artists have chosen to include the 2025 zodiac animal - the Snake! So you'll find this first exhibition of 2025 to be overflowing with truly unique and magical artwork. Each piece includes comments from our professional Japanese manga-ka and illustrators, to add to the fun of the event. Click below to explore the gallery... and be sure to jump in and join a course if you want to be part of the fun next time!! Click here to explore our New Year Card exhibition! What exactly is a Japanese "Nengajo"?A "nengajo" (年賀状) is a traditional Japanese New Year's greeting card. People in Japan send nengajo to friends, family, and colleagues to wish them well for the upcoming year. Nengajo are typically sent in the weeks leading up to the New Year and are delivered on New Year's Day. The cards often feature traditional Japanese New Year's symbols and imagery, such as pine trees, plum blossoms, cranes, and other auspicious symbols. Many nengajo also include the Japanese zodiac animal of the upcoming year, as each year in the Japanese zodiac is associated with a specific animal. This year that animal was the Snake! One unique aspect of nengajo is the custom of sending them early to make sure they arrive on New Year's Day. To ensure timely delivery, Japan Post sets up special mailboxes for nengajo, and people often send their cards in advance so that they can be processed and delivered promptly on New Year's Day. In addition to offering New Year's greetings, nengajo may also include personal updates and well-wishes for the recipient's health and prosperity in the coming year. It is a meaningful way for people to connect with their loved ones and express goodwill for the year ahead. Hope you all enjoy our very special Anime Art Academy New Year gallery, and a huge thanks again to all the students who took part! See you at the Academy!Anime Art Academy Teamhttps://animeartacademy.com/ Remember, if you're interested in joining our art challenge next time, here are some of the courses you can join to become part of our student family! What courses are available at Anime Art Academy?At Anime Art Academy, we offer a range of courses and course styles to fit all of our students' needs! |