Tokyo Anime Awards Festival (TAAF) 2019 - Opening!　Various animation works from around the world will be screened. Also, a special feature in memory of Isao Takahata, director.

On Friday, March 8, 2019, the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival 2019 (TAAF2019) opened in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.For four days from March 8 to 11, various domestic and international anime works will be screened at various venues, mainly movie theaters in the city of Ikebukuro, as well as awards, a symposium on anime In addition, there will be a variety of events such as award ceremonies and symposiums on animation.

TAAF2019 is an international animation film festival organized by the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival Executive Committee and the Japan Animation Association, and co-sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This is the sixth edition of the festival, which has been held since 2014.

The awards will be presented in three categories: "Competition" for world-class animation films that have not yet been released in Japan; "Animation of the Year" for animation films released in Japan; and "Animation Merit" to honor those who have contributed to the animation industry and convey the history, techniques, and way of life of those who have gone before us. The awards will be presented in three categories: "Animation of the Year Category" for animated films presented in Japan, and "Animation Merit Category" to honor those who have contributed to the animation industry and convey the history, technology and life of our predecessors.

On the evening of the 8th, the first day of the event, an opening ceremony was held at the free aisle on the first floor of the Ikebukuro Metropolitan Plaza Building. At the ceremony, Toshima Ward Mayor Yukio Takano, Mr. Shin Nihei from the Tourism Department of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, TAAF2019 Festival Director Koji Takeuchi, and TAAF Executive Committee Chair Kazuko Ishikawa took the stage and spoke passionately about the event's purpose and enthusiasm.

Camilla Deakin, producer of "Ethel and Ernest: A Tale of Two Sisters" (2016, UK), which was invited as the opening film of the event, also took the stage as a special guest and spoke about her thoughts on Japanese animation. Camilla was fascinated by the magical beauty of Studio Ghibli's animations and other works, which led her to develop a deep love of Japanese anime culture. She said she felt very honored that her film "Ethel and Ernest: A Tale of Two Sisters" was invited to Japan and that she was also honored to be involved as a juror for the awards.

Also speaking afterwards was Taiwanese director Sung Shin-yin, who won the Grand Prix at last year's TAAF2018 Feature Length Competition. He said that after winning the Grand Prix last year, he had many encounters and that he was grateful for this TAAF and happy to be involved in this event himself this time as a member of the jury.

TAAF2019 will also screen selected works by Isao Takahata, one of Japan's leading animation directors who passed away last year, as well as a talk show to commemorate his legacy. The films to be screened include "Heidi, Girl of the Alps," "Anne of Green Gables," "My Mother," "Jarinko Chie the Movie," "Panda Copanda," and "The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

In addition, there will be screenings of various other films and events. Some events are free of charge, so if you are interested, please check the official website for the program.

Akiba Research Institute will be covering TAAF2019, so stay tuned for future reports.

Tokyo Anime Awards Festival 2019 (TAAF2019) official website
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