Nippon Animation

Despite the recent hiatus of the renowned Studio Ghibli, Japanese animation films are more successful than ever, both critically and commercially. Once again, our section NIPPON ANIMATION gives proof of the incomparable variety of animation in Japan. THE EMPIRE OF CORPSES and HARMONY are both adaptations of the late writer Project Itoh’s novels, yet represent completely different types of film. While auteur Shunji IWAI used rotoscoping to complete his first anime, THE CASE OF HANA & ALICE, Keiichi HARA chose a more traditional approach for his period piece MISS HOKUSAI. The diversity of independent animation is explored in two short film programs, A WILD PATIENCE – INDIE ANIMATED SHORTS BY WOMEN and TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS: ANIMATION.