23 April 2015
(curated bySayoko Kinoshita, director of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival)
Selection from the most outstanding Japanese works screened at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, one of the world’s leading animation film festivals.
The films are screened in Japanese with English subtitles or dub!
PICA DON
Renzo & Sayoko Kinoshita - 1979, , 10' 00"
Created by the founder and director of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, Sayoko Kinoshita and her husband, the touching animated documentary describes the tragic consequences of the A-bomb explosion in Hiroshima, on August 6th, 1945.
Yonalure: Moment to Moment ("ヨナルレ Moment to Moment")
Ayaka Nakata & Yuki Sakitani - 2011, drawing on Paper/ 2D computer, 07' 51"
This is a poem of night. A clock goes tick-tack. There is not the moon tonight. Then a big white globe appears in a town. It has round eyes and a pointed nose. And houses begin to move all at once. Because the moon is situated away from here, we can not pass it and leave it, either. But if the moon is following us? This is the short and long story borne by such fancy.
PLAYGROUND
Mirai Mizue - 2010, , 03' 50"
Biomorphic forms shift and evolve in complex play. Cells become systems, systems become organisms. The dance of life goes on.
The Great Rabbit
Atsushi Wada - 2011, drawn animation, 06' 02"
A magical hand-drawn animation that is also a profound conundrum. "If you believe in the Rabbit, you'll believe in anything. If you don't believe in the Rabbit, it means that you wouldn't believe anything.
RINKAKU
Keita Kurosaka - 2012, Paper pencil/Drawing, 06' 44"
“RINKAKU” is a music video of Japanese rock band Dir en Grey.This work is a drawing animation with the pencils.
Futon
Yoriko Mizushiri - 2012, 2D computer animation, 06' 02"
Buried under the futon, memories come back and we start to imagine our future, our senses and our hidden sexual feelings are awakening. It all melts wonderfully together. Under the futon, the body is looking for its senses. Yoriko Mizushiri’s drawings leave a suave, delicate and sophisticated erotic imprint.
Kafka Inakaisha
Koji Yamamura - 2007, drawing on paper, 2D-CG, 20' 56"
The lying thick snow at a cold night, the humble doctor got a news of emergency arrives. It all starts. mercy of strange village people and paranoia family obsessed a doctor thrown under the wintry sky. Theater of the absurd that was in the original short stories of literary Kafka of the Czech Republic. Winner of the HIROSHIMA 2008 Grand Prize and was nominated for the Oscars in the same year.
Selection from the most recent graduation and workshop films made at the animation department of MOME also featuring the last two MOME Anim works created in the framework of the international Essemble program.
Social Animals
Essemble 2014 - 2014, digital animation, puppet, 04' 30"
Humorous sketch film about animals, who exist in their everyday lives in body only, whilst their minds are elsewhere.
Villiams
Mariai Gábor - 2014, 2D animation, 01' 50"
A glance into an episode of a 1984 crime series: Villiams, the main character receives a threatening phone call from his enemy, "Hammershark".
Frustration
Kopasz Milán - 2014, kevert technika, pixilláció, kollázs, 03' 23"
A young man takes a bus and thus a Surreal journey begins... Cutting his way through the urban swirl to the Unknown, he uses different means of public transportation. During the voyage he is digging deeper and deeper into his suppressed, untold frustrations. The Bizarre, Monotonous, Repetetive activities of the people around, makes him even more frustrated. Gradually he gets out from the urban hive to an unknown land where he finally asks himself: „Maybe I’ve taken the wrong bus?”The journey continues on an ice float with a Mysterious Stranger.
The day when mother nature hit me
Buda Flóra - 2014, drawn animation, 02' 52"
Experimental animation sequences reflecting temporaly impressions, sensations.
5 Doigts Sur Ma Joue / Five fingers on my cheek
Capucine Muller - 2014, 2D computer animation and live movie, 03' 10"
A little girl knows she is going to be slaped by her mother. She retreats into her thoughts during the long minutes that precede the slap.
Robin
Carlos Rufas - 2013, digital drawn animation, 06' 43"
Vörösbegy is the story of obsession. Obsession with the images we create, and how we can create stories and false expectations in our minds that can destroy us.
With a pure heart
Hegyi Olivér - 2014, digital drawn animation, 03' 00"
János Molnár is very nervous before school performances.
Meadow street. 1.
Király Krisztián - 2014, 2D digital animation, 07' 00"
The idea of the animation short is based on a childhood memory. In Hungary, on 31st October 1993, Radio Free Europe ceased broadcasting after 42 years. On the same day in a small country town, strange events started to unfold. I was just a little boy spending some time at my grandparents.
Limbo-Limbo Travel
Kreif Zsuzsanna és Zétényi Borbála - 2014, 2D digital animation, 16' 00"
In a country where men seem more interested in their electronic gadgets than their peers, a group of lonely and disillusioned women take the Limbo Limbo bus off to a far, exotic country, where they hope to find happiness. They land on an island populated by a tribe of mustache-men. This meeting triggers the primitive instincts of these women who, without caring about the civilized behavior rules, start chasing them and pushed by the competitive spirit, are ready to fight the forces of nature in order to capture their prey: the male.
madarak
Essemble 2015 - 2015, watercolor and paper, 06' 40"
Two friends decide to break out from the isolated, crumbling and cursed place they've been living in, and experience the unknown. Their friendship will be tested right at the beginning...
Selection from the most recent graduation films made at the animation department of the Tokyo University of the Arts (GEIDAI) representing a wide cross section of styles including stop motion, drawn, mixed media, experimental, and computer animation.
The Tokyo University of the Arts (better known as GEIDAI) was the first national art university in Japan that was founded more than 120 years ago. The Graduate School of Film and New Media was established in 2005, and its Department of Animation led by Professor Yuichi Ito, the acclaimed animation filmmaker, was founded in 2008. Ever since the department has been producing some of the most exciting and freshest works in Japanese animation; in 2010, the Department was recognized as the “Best Animation School” at Animafest, the Zagreb World Animation Festival.
The films are screened in Japanese with English subtitles or dub!
Way back to the Sea
IWASE Kaori - 2014, drawn animation, 09' 28"
The catfish can't return to the sea. A big catfish is stuck on a riverbank, where he lives quietly with a little catfish in a boat packed with memories from back home.
I'm Here
NAKAUCHI Yukie - 2015, drawn animation, 06' 00"
One doesn't know where to go but has to move forward. He has to go to his goal. Always transforming himself, his heart and mind drift and run towards the goal when he finds it.
Wild Boys Advance
koya - 2015, drawn animation, 05' 13"
An ensemble play with men full of distorted energy.
See Ya Mr. Banno!
YUKI Yôko - 2014, drawing and cutout, 04' 23"
One day out of blue Prof. Banno of next class came to school with his hair shaven. Students made fun of his baldhead. Prof. Banno flew in a hot-air balloon the other day. Nobody knows anything about him afterwards.
A Place to Name
SAKAGAMI Ataru - 2015, pixilation, 04' 31"
This place is where my grand parents, my parents, and I once lived. Even though I lose my memories and feelings of it, it does exist there and keeps to be in existence.
Crazy Little Thing
ONO Hana - 2014, , 11' 00"
The two of them, all alone at home. All alone with her father's corpse. Memories, ideals, and reality all sink beneath the muck. Everyone is alone. Everyone is in solitude.
PAMON
TÔMA Kazushige - 2014, puppet animation, 09' 45"
PAMON are magical and mysterious creatures who can move the hair on their head however they wish, and communicate using their chest hair. This tale takes a peek at an ordinary day for the PAMON.
Flower Bud
NAKANO Saki - 2014, drawn animation, 05' 52"
The uncertainty, struggles, and joy of the moment upon becoming an adult. Between lullabies and songs I hum to myself. Between a man and myself. That subtle flickering in a single instant, forgotten once it is over. Never forget that moment...
Scutes on my mind
ISHITANI Megumi - 2015, drawn animation, 08' 58"
The cutest glisten in the corner of her mind and she starts to dig her memories up. What was like the museum director she encountered when she was lost?
Moonlit Night and Opal
ShiShi YAMAZAKI - 2015, rotoscope, 03' 21"
Half asleep with my eyes closed, my conscience flies beyond time and space and I transform myself to all the life forms existing. I become the universe and the universe becomes me, until I fall asleep.... It is a song to pray for the existence of heart and soul at an awakening.
The ASF (animation without borders) education programme was launched in 2008 in the partnership of four acclaimed European animation film schools. The goal of the animation production workshop run by the participating universities – Gobelins, Paris; Filmakademie Baden–Württemberg, Germany; The Animation Workshop, Denmark and MOME, Hungary – is to help young animation film makers in starting their career. The four institutions have different profiles, albeit all of them are leaders of animation education in their respective countries. The ASF compilation offers a collection of the most recent diploma works of our three partner institutions.
The films are screened in original language with English subtitles or dub!
Fibers
Nynne Steen Mors (The Animation Workshop) - 2014, Animation 3D, 03' 50"
“Fibers” is an experimental short film concerning the peace of mind of the modern human. The film is exploring the theme through modern dance, VFX and practical effects. A man is fighting his inner chaos, trying to control it, but slowly chaos overtakes him forcing him to the ground. Will he keep on fighting or let it go?
Tsunami
Sofie Kampmark (The Animation Workshop) - 2015, Animation 3D, 06' 56"
After a tsunami, a Japanese man in denial discovers a magical Sea Spirit, and realizes the necessity of facing reality, and dealing with his loss.
Vagabond
Pedro Iyo Carvalho (The Animation Workshop) - 2015, , 07' 08"
Following his dog’s kidnapper through a relentlessly moving city, the warmhearted vagabond Dio discovers how bad society has gone to keep up its pace.
Rollin' wild season II
Kyra Buschor, Constantin Paplow (Filmakademie) - 2014, Animation 3D, 02' 35"
In an alternate world where the characters are rounded become a source of comedy.
Globosome
Sascha Geddert (Filmakademie) - 2013, Animation 3D, 05' 31"
In the vastness of space, there’s a a small speck of rock inhabited by the most peculiar lifeforms: Dark little dots that start to replicate fast and begin to show signs of intelligence. „Globosome“ tells the story of the rise and fall of these little creatures.
Edgard
Eve CECCARELLI, Maud GIRARD, Mathieu GOURIOU, Léo SCHWEITZER, Raphaëlle STOLZ (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 2D, 03' 10"
Through the relationships he has with people, Edgar sees them the way they really are. Although he can cope with this peculiar gift, it is not that simple for other members of his family.
Mortal Breakup Inferno
Paula ASSADOURIAN, Marlène BEAUBE, Débora CRUCHON, Maxime DELALANDE, Thibaud GAYRAL, Batiste PERRON (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 2D, 03' 30"
An angry girlfriend's infernal hunt of the man who broke her heart.
NEBULA
Camille ANDRE, Marion BULOT, Clément DORANLO, Myriam FOURATI, Jonghyun JUNGBOIX, Alexis KERJOSSE, Sarah SIMON (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 3D, 03' 20"
In a forest in the mountains, a little girl makes a mysterious encounter.
Un certain regard
Simon MASSE, Semiramis MAMATA, Anne COURTIN,Rayane RAJI (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 2D, 03' 42"
The stroll of three freaks in a fantastic and surreal world.
Wand's Wander
Nadezhda GORLOVA (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 2D, 03' 45"
Young wizard discovers his powers with explosive wand in his hand.
8,9
Pedro VERGANI (Gobelins) - 2014, Animation 3D, aquarelle, 03' 12"
After a great earthquake, a man wakes up to find out he is trapped under piles of debris and wreckage. When he is about to give up, he discovers that he is not alone, there is somebody else in there with him. Together they will try to survive this hopeless situation.
Selection from the student films made at the animation department of the Tokyo University of the Arts (GEIDAI), also featuring three works by Professor Yuichi Ito, leader of the animation department.
The Tokyo University of the Arts (better known as GEIDAI) was the first national art university in Japan that was founded more than 120 years ago. The Graduate School of Film and New Media was established in 2005, and its Department of Animation in 2008. Ever since the department has been producing some of the most exciting and freshest works in Japanese animation; in 2010, the Department was recognised as the “Best Animation School” at Animafest, the Zagreb World Animation Festival.
The films are screened in Japanese with English subtitles or dub!
A Gum Boy
OKUDA Masaki - 2010, drawn animation, 03' 48"
Nobody in a class loves “Kuchao” who cannot live without a gum. When all the classmates fly their balloons, he wouldn’t let his go. After school on his way home, he gets to his own imaginary world with a bubble gum. His balloon turns to be a face and to many things as he chews a gum. His imagination doesn’t stop flying. Then comes a bird...
The Sakuramoto broom Workshop
TSUGEHATA Aya - 2012, puppet animation, 09' 16"
An old couple live in a Japanese village. They make blooms for living. They have been together for life and work for a long time. Recently the husband noticed the wife has had some symptoms of the disease, which caused some obstacles in their work.
Recruit Rhapsody
YOSHIDA Maho - 2012, drawn animation, 07' 27"
The hero has been living a life as an undergraduate. There is nothing remarkable about him. However, he has noticed there became something strange about his friends recently. He learned that they were getting mad about “job-hunting.” Without realizing what the job-hunting is, the hero is also getting drawn to Nipponese Job-hunting swirl.
The woman who stole fingers
SHIROKI Saori - 2010, paint on glass, 04' 15"
One day, a boy who separated from his mother's hand is deprived of his fingers.When mother's love shows another side, His fingers become a larva and part from his hand. The house stands as concealed a relationship between the two from anyone. How does the boy who is deprived of his finger grow up?
It’s time for supper
MURAMOTO Saki - 2013, drawn animation, 08' 28"
Playtime ends at the five o'clock chime. And there comes the indefinable time between vanishing playtime and dinner time at home.
MAZE KING
KIM Hakhyun - 2013, drawn animation, 07' 01"
We cannot stay here any longer. We must leave tomorrow morning. A clown convinces and hurries the residents of an amusement park, a girl, a gay, a soldier, a dog, to be in time for the merry-go-round.
PART BLUE
SONG YungSung - 2010, drawn animation, 04' 16"
The blue evolves. The blue rises toward the upper world. The blue becomes green and then yellow, which makes things unstable. So red circle appears to bring into balance between blue and yellow. These three colors unite into one, which rises until the summit, over the boundary line, and becomes a white circle to a full stop. And then it returns to the first state.
In a pig’s eye
WADA Atsushi - 2010, drawn animation, 10' 10"
A huge pig is lying down in front of a house man's family lives in.Each of them notices the other exist.but each of them doesn't understand how the other understands.The mother doesn't understand the father either.
KIMI WA TOMODACHI (PV)
ITÔ Yûichi - 2014, puppet animation, 05' 00"
Japanese singer-songwriter : Hirai Ken's music video of the hit song "KIMI WA TOMODACHI". The song's theme is "friendship". The story of a boy and a dragon who became friends in casual opportunity, and produced in puppet animation of neo craft style.
Doron Coron
ITÔ Yûichi - 2012, puppet animation, 03' 00"
One day, a chunk of mud comes to life by chance. He leaves the town, encounters and communicates with various creatures over the four seasons. At the end, he returns back to the soil Animated short produced for tvk (Television Kanagawa)’s 40th anniversary under the theme of “Earth and Childrens Tomorrow.” It has been broadcasted every morning since April 1st 2012.
HARBOR TALE
ITÔ Yûichi - 2011, puppet animation, 18' 05"
In the harbor town "Y", the old brick building on a corner of the street, has been watching the town as it prospers and the people living and crossing there for more than one hundred years. One little red brick of this old building has been wondering what "shining square thing" was for a long time. One day, he decides to step out from the old building to find out what it is. Along the way, he encounters the new world. The film employs unique technique “Neo Craft Animation”, a delightful combination of traditional stop motion and digital technology. The production took 5 years.