PROGRAM
Hiroshima Animation Academy ＆ Meeting
SCHEDULE
Aug 20th (Thu) 10:15～ @JMS Aster Plaza Large Meeting Room
Program Overview
"New Way, New World: Program for Connecting Japanese Animators to the World" (abbreviated as NeW NeW) is a support program for short animation filmmakers who possess a strong desire to expand globally and are expected to thrive internationally in the future. The program offers integrated support, encompassing everything from talent development to international expansion. It is operated jointly by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Arts Council, and CG-ARTS, under the framework of the Japan Creator Support Fund (JCSF), established within the Japan Arts Council through a subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
In Part 1 of this session, the Phase 2 selected artists will present their outcome reports after completing approximately ten months of support that began in November 2025. What kind of insights and skills have these selected filmmakers acquired through new project development, pitch training, and travel support to domestic and international film festivals? In Part 2, the session will also feature current status updates from the Phase 1 selected artists (support period: February to November 2025), alongside progress reports from the Phase 3 selected artists, who are currently in the midst of their active support period (support period: February to November 2026).
Organized by: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan / Japan Arts Council / Computer Graphic Arts Society
Guest
Part 1: Sumito Sakakibara, Shohei Omae, Masa Kudo (NeW NeW Phase 2 Selected Artists)
Part 2: Kazuki Sekiguchi, Isaku Kaneko, Ryo Hirano (NeW NeW Phase 1 Selected Artists), Shinobu Soejima, Hoji Tsuchiya, Shiika Okada (NeW NeW Phase 3 Selected Artists)
*Please note that some speakers will participate online.
MC: Takahiko Azami (CG-ARTS / NeW NeW Secretariat)
Born in 1980 in Tokachi, Hokkaido / Currently living in the northern foothills of Nagano Prefecture. Spent his childhood in Hokkaido. After moving to the UK at the age of 15, He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2004 with the support of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Artist Overseas Study Program. His work revolves around personal themes, using repetition, metamorphosis, and frame structures unique to 2D animation film making. In recent years he has been creating video installations and paintings in which multiple instances of the same person or object are simultaneously projected within a single space. His recent work “Iizuna Fair” is currently on display as part of the permanent collection at the Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art.
Born in Higashi-Agatsuma, Gunma Pref. Capturing everyday scenes and utilizing music and ambient sounds, he strives to create lively characters and a witty style interweaving humor and pathos. He won an award at the 8th New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival for “One Day” (2021). Other short works include "Rhythm War" (2023) and "City Lights" (2024). He has also worked on music videos for Yuzu “YELL”, Awesome City Club "Run and Run”, among others. Working on the short film "Whispers of Spring" (tentative title).
With the theme of time, space, and memory, she creates animations mainly by drawing or filming frames one by one, using classical techniques such as 8mm film and cyanotype, as well as drawing animation. Her animation films have been shown at the Zagreb International Animation Festival, the GLAS Animation Festival, and the Moscow International Experimental Film Festival, Image Forum Festival, and other festivals in Japan and abroad. Awarded the New Cosmos of Photography 2021 Honorable Mention (selected by Yuki Onodera), the Hokkaido Governor’s Award at the New Chitose Airport Animation Film Festival, and the Yoji Kuri Award at the ASK? Film Festival. She is a member of Japan Society of Image Arts and Sciences.(Analog media research association)
Born in Tokyo. Freelance animation director. Drawing inspiration from unpleasant memories and emotionally charged experiences, she creates stories rooted in personal recollection. Her work often features soft, rounded animal characters—such as cats and rabbits—that serve as vessels for these emotions, transformed through humor.
Born in Japan in 1994. Independent animator, director, and a former research associate of Tama Art Univ., Graphic Design Dept. Graduated from Waseda University, Department of Modern Engineering in 2016. Recieved master's degree from Tama Art University, Faculty of Graphic Design in 2020.
Animator, Manga Artist Based in Fujimi, Nagano. Creates pop, profound, and bizarre works exploring the space between humans and non-humans. With endless curiosity, draws ideas from cultural anthropology, science fiction, and subculture, shaping them into unique expressions. Full-color comics FANTASTIC WORLD Vol. 1 & 2 are available in French and Spanish.
Shinobu Soejima produces short stop-motion films, installations, and sculptures employing organic materials such as rice, meat, insects, as well as puppets. By fully utilizing the mechanics of animation, she explores the dissolution of boundaries between life and non-life, center and periphery, and the visible and the invisible. Her works have been presented internationally at film festivals and exhibitions, and have received numerous awards, including a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury at the 68th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, the Bronze Satoshi Kon Award at the Fantasia International Film Festival, a Jury Selection at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival, and the Eriko Kimura Award at Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2018.
Born in 1984. Began creating animation in 2004. Exploring expressions that traverse time and space—from folklore to the cosmos—using paper-cut animation, collage, stop-motion objects, and more. The short film ”Black Long Skirt ” (2010) was nominated for the Ottawa International Animation Festival, leading to screenings at numerous festivals both in Japan and abroad. The music video "Spring time-old man" for Uri Nakayama (2016) was selected as a Jury Selection work at the Japan Media Arts Festival. The Pocari Sweat web movie "The Scuffing Song"(2023), produced as a team, received the D&AD Yellow Pencil and numerous other advertising awards. Works extensively across short films, music videos, NHK E-television animated series, web movies, and more.
Born in Tokyo in 1996. Specializes in creating animated works that explore themes of eros, love, and gender. The director has received numerous awards and nominations at the Animafest Zagreb, Pia Film Festival, the DigiCon6 JAPAN , and International Film Festival Rotterdam. In 2023, the director made a live-action feature film debut. The film’ Kisspeptin Chronicles’ created as part of the 29th PFF Scholarship Program, has been released in theaters in 2025.