Digital Ehon Award Interview Series Vol. 10

“Valuing Experience and Feedback”

Elephants, bears, giraffes, alligators, coyotes, pigeons… Why do they all make different sounds? The animals set out to solve this mystery.The Digital Ehon “Koeno Wa” features beautiful CG and simple yet catchy, soothing music. Created as part of their graduation projects by students in Professor Yamamoto’s seminar at Digital Hollywood University—who hoped to joyfully convey the message that “with friends, you can achieve anything”—the work won the Runner-up Grand Prize in the Works Category.We spoke with Professor Yamamoto, who supported the students’ production.

Akihabara has transformed alongside the evolution of consumer electronics. Today, as the “digital district” and the “home of anime and games,” it continues to share Japanese pop culture with the world. Digital Hollywood University is located right in the heart of this vibrant neighborhood.Professor Yamamoto noted that many students come from overseas to study here, drawn by a fascination with Japanese forms of expression. The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the reception area is the Digital Ehon Award trophy, made of building blocks.
“Having the trophy on display really catches people’s attention. The following year, there was even a student who decided to enroll after seeing ‘Koe no Wa,’” Professor Yamamoto began.
Even within Digital Hollywood, the number of students creating content for tablets and smartphones has been steadily increasing over the past few years. “I think the appeal for students lies in the fact that, based on their knowledge and skills in video and games, they can create works with a relatively low barrier to entry. These are also familiar tools they carry with them all the time. There’s also the advantage of being able to carry them around and show their work to others right away.”

　All Digital Hollywood students have smartphones from the moment they enroll. “Koeno Wa” is a project created by a team of six “digital natives”—students who have been familiar with digital devices since childhood.
　“It was a real struggle to bring it to life. At first, the term ‘Koeno Wa’ didn’t even exist. When we started discussing what kind of story to tell, various ideas came up—like ‘defeating the dragon that kidnapped the princess’—but they all felt cliché.” After months of repeated planning meetings, they reportedly concluded that “it just couldn’t be done.”Although they briefly considered disbanding, the moment they vowed to “pool our strengths and see this through to the end!” marked the birth of the story. “Isn’t this the story itself? Animals working together to solve a problem. Let’s make that the story.”

　Professor Yamamoto reportedly tells his students time and again that the most important thing is “what you want to convey.” How beautiful a picture you draw or how skilled you are comes second.“I guide them to express themselves based on their own personal experiences. If they haven’t truly felt something firsthand, they can’t draw about themes like global issues. If there’s an experience they lack for their expression, I tell them, ‘Go out and experience it now.’”
“Koe no Wa” is, in essence, a work of art born from the very “experience” of its creation.

　“Koe no Wa” also had another purpose: to help children learn musical notes while having fun. This, too, reflects the philosophy of prioritizing “experience.” The animal sounds featured in the piece correspond directly to the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, and do.In the English-speaking world, these correspond to C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In this piece, the first letter of each animal’s name corresponds to a specific note. For example, “C” stands for “Coyote.” While music in Japanese schools tends to be taught starting with theory, my intention was to reverse that order.
　“I want them to first memorize with their ears that this note (C) is the coyote’s cry. Then, when they start school and study music, they’ll realize, ‘Oh, that’s the C from ‘coyote.’” By reversing the traditional approach to learning, the goal is for children to first enjoy the sounds. Learning through experience—that is, after all, what learning is truly about.

　During the production process of “Koeno Wa,” the creators actually had children “experience” the exhibit firsthand. “Children don’t criticize with words. But when you watch them interacting with the exhibit—for example, when they’re pressing a completely different spot than the one you actually want them to touch—it’s immediately obvious whether the message is getting through or not.The students themselves came to realize, ‘Ah, it’s not getting through to them.’”
“Koe no Wa” includes narration, but during the planning stage, the design called for text to be displayed on screen. However, when they tested it, they found that the children weren’t reading the text at all.We switched to narration at the last minute. Of course, there were lessons to be learned, but above all, the students were genuinely moved by seeing the children happily interacting with the exhibit.”

　There is another aspect that Professor Yamamoto prioritizes when guiding his students: “receiving feedback.” In that regard, he says digital media is exceptionally effective.
　“In the past, evaluation was confined to a narrow circle. For example, even when painting oil paintings, the criteria for value were vague, and evaluation took place within a closed world, such as a laboratory. Consequently, students’ growth was slow. However, now—by uploading videos to YouTube or creating apps for people to download—they can immediately receive feedback from a large number of people.Self-satisfaction is quickly shattered. That leads to student growth.” Students can grow by viewing their own work objectively. That is precisely why he guides them to expose their work to the public as much as possible.

So, what is Professor Yamamoto’s assessment of the “Digital Ehon Award”?
　“No one has yet defined what a Digital Ehon is. The fact that this award has, first and foremost, ‘established a definition’ is truly wonderful.”
What exactly is a Digital Ehon? It’s something that evolves as everyone shares ideas and builds a shared understanding. I want to nurture the Digital Ehon Award into a forum where that can happen.