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Project to invite overseas creators of media arts 2016 Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2016 Press release 1st Aug. 2015

Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo (A-AIR) 2016 Now accepting applications!

The Japan Image Council (JAPIC) is pleased to announce our program “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2016”. This project, organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (Bunka-cho) and run by the Japan Image Council since 2010, is an artist in residence program which aims to provide three outstanding young animation artists from around the world with an opportunity to come to Tokyo and create new works while directly interacting with Japanese animation culture. In doing so, we aim to promote both the creation of excellent works of animation and cross-cultural exchange in the media arts. During their stay in Tokyo, the promising young animation creators from overseas carry out the production of new animated works under the guidance of Japanese animation professionals, visit animation studios and educational institutions, and engage in interactions with people involved in animation or other aspects of culture. The results of these efforts are presented at the end of their stay in Tokyo and after returning to their respective countries at film festivals both domestically and abroad. The application period for this year’s program is from July 1st to September 10th, 2015 and after the selection process has been completed three successful applicants will be invited to participate. Their period of stay will be 70 days between the 7th of January and the 17th of March 2016, during which time they will receive funds to cover travel, accommodation, educational fees, and other expenses. In the past five years, we have had participants from the UK, France, China, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, the USA, Finland, Israel, Australia, and Russia. We would be grateful if you could diffuse this information to animation artists who will be interested in staying in Tokyo for their creation. We wish to welcome new talents from all over the world.

Residency Period: January 7th - March 17th, 2016 Application Period: July 1st – September 10th, 2015 Contact: JAPAN IMAGE COUNCIL ( Kasumi Ozeki / Email: [email protected] ) 2-10-2, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 150-0002 Tokyo, JAPAN T: +81-3-6670-5676 F: +81-3-5466-0054


1. About the “Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo” program ■ Educational events In order to help the invited creators engage in fruitful creative work while they are in Japan, the mentors will stage three educational events. Japanese animation creators and experts will be in charge of this guidance. The invited creators will describe the production process for their works, and explain issues they are dealing with and design changes while showing images or video, and the advisors will then give them comments and advice. ■ Industry and Culture visits

With the aim of promoting their interaction with other artists along with deepening their understanding of the latest in Japanese animation production, the invited creators will be given the opportunity to visit animation creators’ ateliers and animation production companies’ studios. Other visits to exhibitions or facilities will also be arranged according to their individual production or research needs.

Left: Yamamura animation visit (last year) Right: Watching Kabuki (last year)

■ Exchanges In order to deepen the exchanges between domestic and foreign media art creators, the invited creators will take part in animation events and screenings of their own works. They will also be given opportunities to present their works and engage in discussion with young creators who hope to produce their own works of animation. ■ Screening and project presentation With the aim of introducing this program and the invited creators not only to those connected to animation and moving image production in Japan but also to the broader public, screenings of the invited creators’ works and presentations of their residence projects will be held in two other cities in Japan. Following the screenings and presentations there will be an exchange event where the invited creators will exchange ideas and opinions with people involved in the program and other attendees.

Screening and presentation event in Kyoto (last year)

■ Presentation of results

A results presentation event will be held for the invited artists to report on the progress of their projects and the results they have achieved during their stay in Japan. In addition to the screening and presentation event content, the invited creators will also each screen and explain the animation they have created during their stay. An exchange event will be held after their presentations. Results presentation event (last year)


2. Last year’s invited creators Alex GRIGG

Born in 1987. Graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2008. After working as an animator / designer for varying companies in Australia in Europe, he was invited to join an independent animator’s collective Late Night Work Club in 2013. Phantom Limb, a work that he produced there, won the Young Director’s award at Cannes Lions, and the Special Jury Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, amongst other awards, in 2014.

Content of residency work: Into the Heart of the Sun After coming to Japan with the theme of “stranger” in mind, out of the sketching of visual stimuli and ideas he got during his stay in Japan he pursued in parallel to developing the story line, the idea of a new story about a man floating in space in an imaginary universe came to him, and this change in direction led to the creation of Into the Heart of the Sun. He solidified the outline of the story and main design ideas and produced some test shots. After returning home he is finishing the animatics and continuing with production. Anna BUDANOVA

Born in 1988. Graduated from the Ural State Academy of Architecture and Arts in 2011. While enrolled, she participated in varying movies as an animator / art director. Her debut film, The Wound won the Special Jury Award for the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2013, the Special Prize for the Hiroshima International Animation Festival 2014, the Grand Prize for the 18th Japan Media Arts Festival, and many other awards.

Content of residency work: Among Black Waves She had already completed the most of early stage animatics before coming to Japan. While in Japan she tried out the various traditional Japanese papers, pens, and inks available in Tokyo and proceeded with the creation of drawings. After receiving further advice during her stay, she added an episode to make the relationship between the characters easier to understand. In the dance scene of her movie, she plans to reflect her inspiration by the Japanese BUTOH dance theatre. Natalia CHERNYSHEVA

Born in 1984. Graduated from the Ural State Academy of Architecture and Arts. After working mainly as an animator for several animation films, her debut film Snowflake won the Grand Prix for the Sofia International Animation Film Festival 2013, the Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Prize for the 30th Annual Chicago International Childern’s Film Festival, and many other awards. She has studied in France at La Podriere since 2012, and directed Friends as her graduation film in 2014.

Content of residency work: Cobweb After coming to Japan, she conducted technical experiments based on references from Japanese wood-block printing such as ukiyoe and picture books while proceeding with the production of animatics and storyboards. Regarding the content of her work, she gave new development to the story she had originally planned after character similarities to a past work by another creator were pointed out by a mentor. It became the story of a spider living in the woods.


3. Application Guide For the details: http://japic.jp/eng/?p=662

1. Aims of the project This project, organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (Bunka-cho), is an artist in residence program that provides three outstanding young animation artists from around the world with an opportunity to come to Tokyo and create new works while directly interacting with Japanese animation culture. It aims to promote both the creation of excellent works of animation and a better understanding of Japanese culture. 2. Target field: Animation production 3. Number of applicants accepted: 3 4. Duration of the program: 70 days between January 7th and March 17th, 2016 5. Support provided

1. Travel expenses, 2. Living allowance, 3. Travel insurance, 4. Rental accommodation (including workspace) 5. Location: Tokyo, 6. Expert assistance, 7. Opportunity to present work done during residency 8. Opportunities to interact with Japanese creators

6. Program summary 1. Education/training: participants will give reports on the progress of their work being created as part of the program and will receive guidance

from accomplished Japanese animators/experts on a regular basis. 2. Visits/exchange events: participants will visit animation studios and participate in exchange events with artists and students enrolled in art

programs at educational institutions. 3. Creation of a new work: participants will begin a new work while in Japan and present the finished work or one part of a work in progress at

the end of their stay. 7. Conditions of participation Applicants must:

1. Reside outside of Japan and be a citizen of a country other than Japan. 2. Have had one of their animated works screened at an international film festival, exhibition or similar event where works from countries other

than their own were also screened/featured. 3. Be between the ages of 20 and 35 as of September 10th, 2015. 4. Be able to speak either English or Japanese at least well enough to communicate in everyday situations. 5. Be in good health. 6. Have access to the equipment necessary to participate in a remote interview (i.e. a computer capable of connecting to the internet and

using Skype). 8. Application period Applications will be accepted beginning July 1st, 2015. Application forms and all required documents/materials must be received by this office by September 10th, 2015. 9. Application procedure: Please download the Application Guide Folder (ZIP file) from the website. A. Application Form Fill out application forms A/B/C. B. Documents/materials to be submitted

1. Reference materials describing the work to be created as part of this program (at least three minutes in length). It is preferable that applicants submit documents (story board, script, etc.) which make it possible to understand plans for the work in detail.

2. Proof of a work having been screened at an international film festival, exhibition, or similar event (e.g. a copy of the list of screened works in a festival catalogue). Please make sure that the proof shows the event’s internationality (i.e. proof that it screens/features works from countries other than your own). Proof of more than one film having been screened is not required.

3. Proof of age and citizenship (e.g. a photocopy of your passport). To complete the application process, please send (A) application forms and (B) required documents and materials via email attachments to the following address: [email protected] *If your circumstances do not allow you to upload video to the Internet submission via DVD or other video media may be accepted. In such cases our office must be contacted in advance. 10. Selection A selection committee composed of experts in this field will make two rounds of selections (the first based on applications, the second based on interviews conducted via the Internet) to arrive at a preliminary list of candidates to be invited to participate in the program. Those selected will be contacted by mid-November and once all conditions of participation Contact: JAPAN IMAGE COUNCIL ( Kasumi Ozeki / Email: [email protected] ) 2-10-2, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 150-0002 Tokyo, JAPAN T: +81-3-6670-5676 F: +81-3-5466-0054