19th Animation Division Jury Selections
The Boy and the Beast
Animated feature film
HOSODA Mamoru [Japan]
Outline
This animated feature film portrays the peculiar relationship that develops between a boy living in the human world of Shibuya, Tokyo, and a bakemono (shape-shifting creature) from the alternate world of Jutengai. The lonely creature, Kumatetsu, takes the equally lonesome adolescent, Kyuta, under his wing as his disciple. Interweaving elements of fairy tale, rite-of-passage, and buddy movies, this is a story with appeal for all ages.