Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Goes Online For 2020

2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival, usually held annually at the Chapter Arts Center in Cardiff, Wales-  but sadly as with so many other animation events, this year's gathering wasn't able to go ahead. Luckily- as with many other events Kotatsu is going online!

On October 24 and 25, Kotatsu celebrates its 10th birthday with a series of short film screenings and events on Zoom and YouTube, accessible worldwide. The online festival will feature three Zoom meetings and four short programmes featuring work from award-winning and emerging talents from various universities across Japan.

The talent involved with helping the celebration includes artists who work in traditional 2D animation and stop-motion. Featured are the latest works from Koji Yamamura (Water Dreams/Dreams Into Drawing) and Shin Hosokawa (Dino!), Makiko Sukikara (Deep Sea's Rainbow) and  Miho Yata, an animator who has gained attention by using knitted materials in her work. The student films cover a wide range of topics and showcase a new generation of talent emerging.

Miho Yata will also host one of the Zoom meetings, with others featuring veteran stop-motion animator Fusasko Yusaki and animator, illustrator and flip-book specialist Chie Arai.

Kotastu are also proud to announce that they are working with F-Rated, the film rating system that supports women in film. In total, 75% of the films showing at this year's event are directed by women. All the streams are considered suitable for children and will be in line with the U certificate in UK cinemas. All films will show in Japanese with English subtitles

Zoom meetings will require advanced booking, but all events are free.

Program details:
(All times GMT)

Saturday 24th October
11:00 am Koji Yamamura and Kotatsu Special (YouTube)
01:00 pm Miho Yata ＆Takeshi Yoda Q＆A (Zoom)
18:00 pm Student Programme 1 (YouTube)

 Sunday 25th October
12:00 pm Chie Arai Animation Workshop (Zoom)
14:00 pm Fusako Yusaki Q＆A (Zoom)
16:00 pm Student Programme 2 (YouTube)
18:00 pm Koji Yamamura and Kotatsu Special (YouTube)


 For more details see the full line-up here.