12th Animation Division Critiques

[Critique by work category] Short Animation

The maturation of digital technology has enabled both professionals and amateurs to meet on the same ground, and animation has become rich and varied. Few of the 223 short animation made a strong or conspicuous impact, but it was easy to select 22 fine works. However, it was surprising that the Grand Prize, three Excellence Prizes, and the Encouragement Prize went to short animations. The House of Small Cubes, which was unanimously selected for the Grand Prize by the jury, is a work in which artistic aspects and a moving theme are perfectly fused, and it is clear that the artist put his heart and soul into the work. In KUDAN, the artist has constructed an inventive world with his excellent use of CG technology. DREAMS gives the audience feeling of a hand-embroidered work. We also encountered many notable young talents. A Child's Metaphysics attempted to visualize philosophy, while knyacki! Heaven and Hell and Little BIRD IN GINGHAM present a tender world with high technical capabilities. I would like to give my warmest congratulations to those professional creators who continue to have love, tenacity and a spirit of challenge for animation.

Profile

KIFUNE Sonoko

Animation Artist

In 1979, when she was a student at Tokyo Zokei University, KIFUNE Sonoko formed a unit called IKIF with KIFUNE Tokumitsu, started production of independent animation using 8mm and 16mm film, and released experimental animation, visual installations, etc. At the end of the '80s, she got involved in production of CG animation, and in 1997 established the animation production company IKIF+, which mainly produces 3DCG. She produced the animation BUBAGA for Puchi Puchi Anime on NHK Educational Channel from 1995 to 1997. In 2006, she worked as a 3D director for TACHIGUISHI-RETSUDEN, was in charge of OP animation of Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld in 2007 and Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008. KIFUNE serves as an executive board member for both the Japan Animation Association and the Japan Society for Animation Studies, and a professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University.