Pipiwharauroa Festival Poster

illustration

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Bloom Series

Year 12 Painting Board

     
Akane Shibata was born in Nara, Japan, and relocated with her family to Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of two. 
She is currently a second-year Animation student at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). 
Growing up, Akane immersed herself in Japanese anime, which served as a means to learn the Japanese language and connect with her cultural heritage. This early exposure fostered a deep passion for illustration and animation.
She has actively participated in numerous international art competitions, earning several prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Performance Award at the Pixiv High School Illustration Contest in 2022, which fueled her decision to pursue animation studies at AUT.