A look at the films and talks that will be screened online at the Korea Independent Animation Festival 2022 – available to viewers in Japan
May 9, 2022 • Subscribe
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Korea Independent Animation Festival 2023 in Japan
A look at the films and talks that will be screened online at the Korea Independent Animation Festival 2023 – available to viewers in Japan
An introduction to independent animation in Japan
As consumers we’re conditioned to think that the industrial model is the only possible option out there, so it isn’t surprising that animation produced by a single individual, free…
Reading list: independent Japanese animation
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Hyper Japan Festival, London 2022
For three days in late July, Battersea Park in London England was taken over by Japan. I’m talking about the Hyper Japan Festival, of course! Going strong since…
Masculinity in Japan + S. Korea, and Josо̄
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything at all, and many years, in fact, since I’ve posted anything on gender. For those new to my blog,…
A TV Ad Created Independent Animation
On Faith and John Hubley's (accidentally) era-defining commercial.
Hyper Japan Festival London 2022 Details
The good folks from Hyper Japan have sent us details of their festival for this year. Set to run from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July 2022, ...
Alivehoon (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Shimoyama hits all the common beats of the sports-genre, but succeeds in elevating his exploration of the art of drifting by framing the battling cars in an exciting…
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Presents Free Animation Workshops this April 2022
Anime fans looking for something to do virtually will be pleased to hear that the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will be hosting free A...
JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA: A Selection of Japanese Independent Films to Stream in 2022/23
Stream Japanese Indie Movies via Japanese Film Festival+ – Titles Available: Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions, Kaze no Hamon, Wonderwall, Somebody’s Flowers,…
Independent Japanese Animation & The Commercial Industry In 2020: Blurring The Lines
While the world as a whole is in a pretty bad place, it’s been quite a strong season for independent animation creators. If you need some cheering up,…
Independent Japanese Animation & The Commercial Industry In 2020: Blurring The Lines
While the world as a whole is in a pretty bad place, it’s been quite a strong season for independent animation creators. If you need some cheering up,…
Riverside Mukolitta (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
A highly touching narrative about re-finding social life.
Prior Convictions (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A very relevant exploration of the fact that the criminal act is, in many cases, born from an antagonistic relation between the subject and the Other.”
Bad City (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Sonamura delivers everything one expects from an action-thriller.
Nagi’s Island (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
The power of Nagasawa’s narrative does not simply lie in the engaging emotional rhythm, as dictated by the musical decorations, but in the genuineness that oozes from every…
Yomu in Japan: Cultural Festival Edition
All right, I’ve been dragging my feet a bit in regards to writing this post. It’s actually been a little over a month now, as the cultural festival…
It’s All My Fault (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival 2022]
A touching narrative that explores how difficult it is for subject to assume a place for himself, a place from where he/she can desire, without the structuring influence…
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
Remain in Twilight (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“Matsui delivers another masterpiece that will long linger in the spectator’s mind.”
Tamano Visual Poetry: Nagisa’s Bicycle (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Despite delivering three engaging and visually beautiful narratives, the short nature of overall narrative undercuts the impact the movie could have had.
Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action 바운더리 Dir: Yun Ga-hyun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action is a timely reminder 바운더리 Dir: Yun Ga-hyun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2023 Details
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will return this autumn 2023. Wale's premier event for Japanese anime is set to run 30th September - 1 O...
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2021 Details
The good folks from the Kotatsu Festival have just sent us details for their upcoming 2021 event. Set to run in Cardiff - Chapter from Satur...
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020 Details
While many events have had to be cancelled this year due to the current COVID-19 crisis a lot of events have been able to shift online. As a...
Tales of Anime Production – Interview with Kôji Takeuchi [Annecy Animation Festival 2022]
Kôji Takeuchi is the former CEO of studio Telecom and a close friend of Hayao Miyazaki. In this interview, we talked about his work and career
Paid in Blood (South Korea, 2021)
Colleen Wanglund reviews Yoon Young-bin's crime drama Paid in Blood.
What matters in animation is expression – Interview with Mamoru Oshii [Niigata International Animation Film Festival]
An exclusive interview with director Mamoru Oshii held at the first edition of the Niigata International Film Festival.
JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA: A New Batch of Japanese Independent Films to Stream in 2023
Stream Japanese Indie Movies via Japanese Film Festival+ – Titles Available: An Artisan’s Legacy, Tsunekazu Nishioka, Hey! Our dear Don-chan, Lonely Glory, Bon Uta A Song From Home,…
An Independent Masterwork
On the making and influence of a classic film by Koji Yamamura.
Shrieking In The Rain (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A narrative that does everything well, but lacks the emotional punch to make the experience unforgettable.”
Élan Festival 2022 Summary
Studio Élan hosted their (I assume) first “Direct” thingy in Élan Festival 2022. Let’s go over the announcements and updates shared, shall we? Keep in mind these are…
Kotatsu Festival 2022 Details
The good folks from The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival have revealed their film line up for this autumn 2022. The long running Welsh An...
Sakugabooru Animation Awards 2022
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Revue Starlight, Suzume, The Deer King, Vampire in the Garden, Bleach
Life of Mariko in Kabukicho (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Katayama and Uchida does not merely offer a glance at the relational drama that hides behind the neon-lit night-life and pleasure district, but also delivers a narrative that…
Japan Cuts 2018 Film Festival at the Japan Society
This past few weeks I volunteered for the Japan Society Film Department’s annual Japan Cuts film festival, which screens a host of new Japanese blockbusters, avant-garde films, and…
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Among Most Played Games of 2023 in Japan, South Korea
Gamers in Japan and South Korea love Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and spent a significant amount of time playing the hit game in 2023. That’s the word from Gamelight,…
Closet (2020) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A filmic piece that will not only induce a forlorn feeling in its spectators but also invite them to deeply question their own interpersonal functioning.”
Ripples (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
With her quirky sense of humor, she delivers one of the most illuminating explorations of the effect the gap between the imaginary equilibrium of the ego and the…
OtakuGeneration (Show #508) Japan Animation Expo
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Chronicles of the Going Home Club, Gurren Lagann, Place to Place, Sankarea, Space Dandy
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The Girl on a Bulldozer is a strong drama with a mystery that needs to be cleared up by an unconventional female lead brought to brilliant life by Kim…
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Looking back at the impact of an early animation anthology.
Animex 2020 - International Festival of Animation, VFX & Games
With COVID-19 still limiting peoples movements online virtual events have been proving popular. Animex The International Festival of Animati...
Pocky Day, Singles' Day & Pepero Day (Japan, China & South Korea) | WooKong
A day where Chinese people spend billions of dollars online, while at the same time a South Korean and a Japanese company fight to become the Chocolate king…
How to Buy a PS5 in Japan in 2022
Since November 2020, I’ve been trying to get my hands on a PlayStation 5. I finally succeeded over a year later—and that’s not due to lack of trying.…
Tokyo International Film Festival 2022
Anna Yamada in The Mountain Woman. Scheduling conflicts and sold-out screenings meant that I was only able to see three films at TIFF this year, but it was…
“Kaleidoscopic Animation – An encounter with Yukio Takatsu” Panel at Paris Japan Expo 2022
Panel held at Paris Japan Expo 2022 about the career of director, animation director and animator Yukio Takatsu.
March Comes in Like a Lion, Naruto, Nisemonogatari, Detective Opera Milky Holmes
“Kaleidoscopic Animation – An encounter with Yukio Takatsu” Panel at Paris Japan Expo 2022
Panel held at Paris Japan Expo 2022 about the career of director, animation director and animator Yukio Takatsu.
Naruto, Nisemonogatari, Detective Opera Milky Holmes, March Comes in Like a Lion