NIPPON NIGHTS is monthly series of Japanese cinema bridging different genres, styles and generations.

Neon Tokyo : Anime World #1 – SHORT PEACE

Wednesday, July 16th

The 1st program of the special series “Neon Tokyo” is omnibus  animations including Oscar nominated short film “POSSESSION” and “COMBUSTIBLE” by Katshuhiro Otomo, the creator of “AKIRA”.  Four amazing directors created four astounding animated films.

In 1995, Katsuhiro Otomo’s epic anthology MEMORIES showcased the work of upcoming superstars of the anime world. Now, Otomo’s spotlight shifts to a fresh generation of master creators with an all-new anthology of visionary films: A lone traveler is confronted by unusual spirits in an abandoned shrine in the 2013 Academy Award® nominated POSSESSIONS (TSUKUMO), directed by Shuhei Morita (COICENT, KAKURENBO). A mysterious white bear defends the royal family from the predations of a red demon in the brutal GAMBO, directed by Hiroaki Ando (FIVE NUMBERS!) from REDLINE’s Katsuhito Ishii’s original story with character designs by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION). The focus shifts from supernatural to science fiction for the action packed A FAREWELL TO WEAPONS (BUKI YO SARABA),as MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM designer Hajime Katoki helms Otomo’s tour-de-forcesaga of men battlingrobotic tanks in apocalyptic Tokyo, while grandmaster Otomohimself assumes the directorial reigns for a spectacular tale of love, honor and firefighting in ancient Japan with the multi-award winning COMBUSTIBLE (HI-NO-YOUJIN). Prepare your senses for the animated films that are taking the critical world by storm as a new era in anime is ushered in with Katsuhiro Otomo’s SHORT PEACE!

“POSSESSIONS”

Director: SHUHEI MORITA

FILMOGRAPHY :

– Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek (2005) – FREEDOM (2006 – 2008) – Coicent (2010)

Original Story/Concept Design: Keisuke Kishi

Character Design: Daisuke Sajiki

“ GAMBO”     

Director: HIROAKI ANDO

 FILMOGRAPHY: – FIVE NUMBERS! (2011)                　　　　　　　　　　　 

Original Story/screenplay – KATSUHITO ISHII

FILMOGRAPHY :

– The Taste Of Tea (2004) – REDLINE (2010) – Smuggler (2011)

Original Character Design: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto

Voice Cast: Mutsumi Tamura, Daisuke Namikawa

“ A FAREWELL TO WEAPONS”     

Director: HAJIME KATOKI

 Original Story: Katsuhiro Otomo

Character Design: Tatsuyuki Tanaka

RUNNING TIME: 68 mins.  / 2013 /English Subtitled.

To learn more go to http://www.elevenarts.net/th_gallery/shortpeace/

☆Other NIPPON NIGHTS lineup 

Endorsed by Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco /
Co-Presented by CAAM / Promotional Partner: btrax