Gitanjali Rao graduated as an applied artist from Sir. J. J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai, in 1994. Her two independently produced, directed and animated short films 'Orange' and 'Printed Rainbow', have won her 28 Awards Printed Rainbow has been the first ever Indian animation film to be selected at Cannes. It went on to win three Awards for the best Short film, 'Critic's Week', Cannes 2006.