6th Special Prize
HOSHI NO KOE (The voices of a distant star)
Animated short film
SHINKAI Makoto [Japan]
Outline
Mr. Makoto Shinkai’s Voice of the Distant Stars has far exceeded the animation images produced by individual productions, and the story and technology have more than accomplished the standards required by theatrical film animation. Furthermore, he did not just create visual images, but he uses all possible media such as the web, theater, DVD releases to broaden the awareness of his work, and has even moved the publishers. His power of self-production is wonderful and his work has been an encouragement to other access productions while at the same time, professional visual creators have also been greatly stimulated by his works as well.