The 2nd Niigata International Animation Festival

The 2nd Niigata International Animation Festival launches on March 15th, 2024. Our inauguralfestival in 2023 received an enthusiastic response from the international animation community. We are an animation festival dedicated to feature length works and aiming to be the largest animation festival of its kind in Asia. Mamoru OSHII served as chairperson of the competition jury and Katsuhiro OTOMO designed the poster. The festival was attended by many luminaries of the anime community such as directors Sunao KATABUCHI, RINTARO, Shinichirō WATANABE, and renowned mecha manga-ka / animator Mamoru NAGANO. Niigata has become an important destination for lovers of animation. Expectations are high for this year’s event!

We are delighted to announce that director Yoshiyuki TOMINO will be our special guest at a  screening of his 1988 classic Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. The Mobile Suit Gundam series has been much loved by mecha anime fans since its inception in 1979 . The latest film in this popular mecha franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM just opened in cinemas nationwide in Japan in January. Char’s Counterattack marked the first original theatrical release of a Gundam film and is historically significant as the first Gundam work to use computer animation techniques for one sequence. Based on Tomino’s novel High-streamer, which had been serialized between 1987 and 1988, the film features the fateful final encounter in the fourteen-year rivalry between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. This special talk event is a must-see for all mecha anime fans!

It’s the year UC 0093 of the cosmic century and Char Aznable has returned to lead Neo Zeon and declare war on the Earth Federation government. The film opens with his forces planning to drop the asteroid Fifth Luna on planet Earth. It is up to the special squadron Lando Bell, featuring veteran soldiers Amuro Ray and Bright Noa, to try to prevent catastrophe. They are unsuccessful and the asteroid crashes into Lhasa, Tibet. Yoshiyuki Tomino profile: Born in 1941 in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduate  from Nihon University College of Art with a degree in Film Studies. He started his career in animation at Osamu TEZUKA’s Mushi Productions in 1964. Initially working as a production assistant, he soon found himself doing storyboarding and writing screenplays for the TV series Astro Boy before eventually going freelance. Best known for his work in mecha anime, he has storyboarded, written, and directed many well-known series and films. His major directing credits include Triton of the Sea (1972), Invincible SuperMan Zambot 3 (1977-1987), Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-1980), and Space Runaway Ideon (1980-1981). His most recent work is the theatrical release of Gundam Reconguista in G Movie V: Beyond the Peril of Death (2022). In addition to his work as a director, he is also a novelist and songwriter. In the 19th century, Niigata was a crucial hub for international commerce, a window to the world for Japan surpassing Edo as a shipping port. Niigata has also produced many renowned manga and anime creators. Since 2012, Niigata has implemented a city development concept promoting the city as an important hub for manga and anime. The annual Niigata Anime & Manga Festival (GataFes) brings an estimated 50,000 visitors into the city and the nationwide Niigata Manga Award has been held since 1996. The Niigata City Manga House has a manga library of over 10,000 books, a “Tokiwaso”   subsidized residence for aspiring manga artists, and a manga magazine editorial department. Niigata prides itself on being  one of the most passionate anime and manga cities in the world and strives to become the 21st  century animation capital of the world! We hope that NIAFF will act as a magnet to bring animation fans from around the world to enjoy the unique    mix of traditional and modern culture that Niigata has to offer.

A Special Talk Event in celebration of 60 years of the anime industry!

The 2nd Niigata International Animation Festival launched on March 15th, 2024. Our inaugural festival in 2023 received an enthusiastic response from the international animation community. We are an animation festival dedicated to feature length works and aiming to be the largest animation festival of its kind in Asia. Mamoru OSHII served as chairperson of the competition jury and Katsuhiro OTOMO designed the poster. The festival was attended by many luminaries of the anime community such as directors Sunao KATABUCHI, RINTARO, ShinichirWATANABE,and renowned mecha manga-ka / animator Mamoru NAGANO. Niigata has become an important destination for lovers of animation.

The Festival City of Niigata

In the 19th century, Niigata was a crucial hub for international commerce, a window to the world for Japan surpassing Edoas a shipping port. Niigata has also produced many renowned manga and anime creators. Since 2012, Niigata hasimplemented a city development concept promoting the city as an important hub for manga and anime. The annual Niigata Anime & Manga Festival (GataFes) brings an estimated 50,000 visitors into the city and the nationwide Niigata MangaAward has been held since 1996. The Niigata City Manga House has a manga library of over 10,000 books, a “Tokiwaso”   subsidized residence for aspiring manga artists, and a mangamagazine editorial department. Niigata prides itself on being  one of the most passionate anime and manga cities in the world and strives to become the 21st  century animation capital of the world! We hope that NIAFF will act as a magnet to bring animation fans from around the world to enjoy the unique    mix of traditional and modern culture that Niigata has to offer.