Mr. Joon-Yang Kim is a sophisticated animation critic and a Visiting Researcher at the Institute for Japanese Studies, Seoul National University in Korea. He was the Adjunct Professor, Department of Animation, Graduate School of Film, TV & Multimedia, Korea National University of Arts during 2007-2008. His book, Empire of Images: Animation on the Japanese Islands (published by Hannarae in Seoul), was selected as one of the Best Academic Books by Korea's Ministry of Culture in 2006 and awarded by Japan Foundation in 2008. He was also the Associate Editor (Asia) for the Animation: an interdisciplinary journal (published by Sage in London). Currently, Kim is currently the International Relations Director of Japan Society for Animation Studies and the Chief Programmer of the Korea Independent Animation Filmmakers Association.