Presenting the world's leading Japanese animation such as "Hijimaso," "G Recco," and "Persona 5." Announcing the Japanese Animation Feature at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2019 Press Conference

Annecy International Animation Festival 2019, the world's most prestigious animation film festival, will be held in Annecy, France, from June 10 to 15, 2019. The festival focuses on one country each year and selects an "Honorary Country" to showcase the country's animation culture, and this year, for the first time in 20 years, Japan was selected. On April 18, a press conference was held at the Institut français Tokyo to announce the Annecy International Animation Festival 2019, featuring Japanese animation.

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has honored many of Japan's leading creators, including Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Masaaki Yuasa, Sunao Katabuchi, and Mamoru Hosoda. In response to Japan's selection as the honorary country for the first time in 20 years, it was announced that a "Japanese Animation Special" would be held at this year's festival.

On stage were Pierre Coriot (Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of France and Representative of Japan at the Institut Français), Tomohiro Tsubota (Counselor at the Agency for Cultural Affairs), Takeshi Tsuchimura (Director of Commerce and Industry, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government), Mitsuko Okamoto (Vice President and General Director, Tokyo University of the Arts), Masanori Itatsu (Director/Animator), Kiyotaka Oshiyama (Animator), Hiroshi Kobayashi (Animation Director), Kodai Sato (Animation Director), Sarina Nihei (Animator), Ryoya Usuwa (CG Artist), Koji Yamamura (Animation Artist / Official Festival Short Length Competition Jury), Jumu Kawada (the eldest of the three AR brothers), Misugi Terada (Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.), and KAORU (creator).

Pierre Coriot, Tomohiro Tsubota, and Takeshi Tsuchimura took the stage first.

Pierre said, "Animation and manga are shared common interests between France and Japan. I have heard that animators in both countries have influenced each other. Many of these creators have great potential and are looking for new partners. I would like to introduce many excellent creators from Tokyo," he said, adding that he would like to expand opportunities for Japanese animators to work overseas as well.

Next, Ms. Mitsuko Okamoto, General Director, took the stage. She explained the theme "NEW MOTOIN" for the "Japan Animation Project." First, she said that in order to communicate the future movement of Japanese animation to the rest of the world, the works of 26 creators registered in the "NEW MOTOINGreator's File 2019" will be exhibited, screened, and promoted in pamphlets and other media. Registered here are works by artists and music video creators who create original short animations, as well as "Hizune and Masotan" directed by Hiroshi Kobayashi, "Gundam G Reconguista" with character design by Kenichi Yoshida, script by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and "Space☆Dandy" episode 18, for which Kiyotaka Oshiyama wrote the script, storyboarded, directed, and wrote the animation, and "PERSONA5," for which Toshiyuki Yahagi designed the characters and directed the animation.

Masanori Itatsu, Kiyotaka Oshiyama, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Koudai Sato, Sarina Nihei, and Ryoya Usuwa appeared on stage and introduced their works as well as the festival.

In addition to the films registered in the "NEW MOTOINGreator's File 2019," three films from the Japanese animator training program "Anime Tamago," including "Engimon," directed by Koudai Sato, will be screened at the official festival screening. The festival will also screen three films from the Japanese animator training program "Anime Tamago," including "Engimon" directed by Kodai Sato.

In addition, animation students from all over the world are expected to visit "Annecy International Animation Festival," and "Animation Boot Camp," a workshop to teach Japanese animation production to such students, will be held. In addition, a recruiting counter will be set up at the Japan booth in the international trade fair "MIFA", which is attached to the "Annecy International Animation Festival". The Japan booth will also have a recruiting counter to introduce foreign creators who are eager to work in Japan to Japanese companies.

It is meaningful not only to show works, but also to tell the world about Japanese animation techniques and people," Okamoto said.

In addition, as a new way to enjoy animation, a collaborative concert will be held featuring a live performance of Vivaldi's classical music "The Four Seasons" and animation videos by the four directors (general supervisor: Koji Yamamoto). The video is said to use the world's first technology in which AI matches the video to the live performance.

In addition, "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro," an animation created by the recently deceased cartoonist Monkey Punch, will be screened outdoors at the Annecy Castle. This was originally planned, and although it is not a memorial project, they will put out a message before the screening in some form.

Next on stage was Koji Yamamura, winner of the Annecy Crystal Prize (the highest Grand Prix) at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 2003 for "Toushan" and a member of this year's Short Film Competition Jury. In the past, when he won the Grand Prix for "Touzan," he received almost no coverage from the Japanese domestic media, but this time many domestic media visited the press conference to cover the event, and he commented, "I am happy because I think it means that the base of animation has expanded that much.

Jumu Kawada, the eldest of the three AR brothers, also announced that he will collaborate with director Makoto Shinkai to create an exhibit using new visual expression technology.

Toppan Printing and KAORU will also collaborate on an exhibit that will allow users to enter the anime as characters and even interact with the people watching the anime.

Mr. Misugi Terada of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. commented, "By proposing new VR technology, we hope to offer creators the next generation of expression.

Finally, the press conference was closed with a video message from Mr. Mikael Marin, CEO of CITIA, the organizer of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the international trade fair MIFA.

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2019, which has chosen Japan as its honorary country for the first time in 20 years, is expected to be a festival that will showcase to the world the creators and technology of animation, which is the pride of our country.