KOTATSU FESTIVAL 2020 | PREVIEW
The wide and rich variety of Japanese animation is given an annual platform in Wales by the team behind Kotatsu. This year it’s online-only, but all free! Nia Strong tells you more.
Usually, attendees of the annual Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival head to Chapter in Cardiff, or the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, for their animation fix. However, things are a little different this year. Although the vibe of the venues will be lost, the warmth and comfort of home, and the extra money saved for hummus and Angel Delight get our thumbs up. For the first time in its history, all the festival’s films and workshops are free and there’s no letdown with 2020’s lineup either.
Festival organiser Eiko Meredith has been running the festival for the past 10 years. “Our aim,” she says, “is to screen the real diversity of Japanese animation – everything from mainstream feature films to Japanese student films. This year our festival opens with a special Koji Yamamura programme of films, including the UK premiere of Dreams Into Drawing. He is the first Japanese animation filmmaker to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short, for his work Mount Head [2002].” Yamamura has been awarded close to 100 prizes for his work, which among others include his 2007 interpretation of Kafka’s A Country Doctor.
For the first time the festival is working with the F-Rating, which is designed to support and promote women in the film industry. “I’m proud to say that 75% of the films in this year’s festival are directed by women,” Meredith notes. Also included, she adds, is “a Zoom Q&A with Fusako Yusaki [top], the award-winning female creator and pioneer of Japanese clay animation, in conversation with Robin Lyons of Cardiff animation company Calon, who created the Bafta-winning Superted among numerous other animations.
“We will also be screening the world premiere of The King Of Amechau Country 〜Mother Goose〜 [below], an enchanting animation directed by Miho Yata, using knitted characters. In previous screenings of Miho’s work our audience have been mesmerised. There will also be a Q&A with Miho and Yoda Takeshi, the film’s composer and theremin player, where they talk about their creative process and inspiration.”
You can test your own animation skills with the help of Kotatsu’s mascot. Chie Arai, the mascot’s creator, will be running a workshop to help all budding animators over the age of 13. Although it’s free, book your place early as all Kotatsu’s Zoom workshops and talks are limited.
If you’re wondering whether there will be tentacles, I can only imagine not, being as all films are suitable for the whole family. As for the name? Eiko Meredith explains:
“Kotatsu is a low table, covered by a futon or blanket, with a tabletop. Underneath is a heat source, formerly a charcoal brazier but now electric, often built into the table itself. So basically Kotatsu is the device to keep our feet warm during cold seasons in Japan. From the very beginning we hoped to keep our audience warm with our great selection of films!”
And although it’s not the same as mingling in Cardiff or Aberystwyth, hopefully this year’s festival will be something even more of us can enjoy.
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival, online, Sat 24 + Sun 25 Oct. All events are free to view, suitable for all ages and include English subtitles. Info: www.kotatsufestival.com or Kotatsu’s YouTube channel
words NIA STRONG