A milestone year from the perspectives of culture, expression, and generational diversity

From the moment I was appointed to the jury, I knew that this year the selection would be very difficult. I had seen many ambitious and unique works through my work alone, so I was aware that there would be a rich variety this year. Just as I expected, the screening process was fierce. We narrowed down the award nominees with much regret. The selection of the Grand Prize winner, in particular, caused intense discussion. Package sales have now reached a turning point, and commercially they are entering a harsh period. In the field of theatrical release animation, however, we saw the fruition of numerous unique projects whose groundwork took three to five years. 2010 should be recognized as a milestone year for animation from the perspectives of culture, expression, and the generational diversity of both creators and audiences. In the short animation genre, the wide scope of expression and diverse themes in the works submitted from various countries were interesting. The expert use of CG in some works was truly amazing, while the hand drawing in others was very impressive and prioritized a soft yet powerful dynamism close to the origins of animation.