“New Way, New World: Connecting Japanese Animators to the World”(NeW NeW) is a project which aims to support emerging short animation filmmakers in Japan by giving them the opportunities to connect with the international animation scene.

It's been about a year since NeW NeW launched, which supports the planning and development of new works, sends participants to major animation film festivals both in Japan and overseas, and provides networking opportunities.

At this event, the First-Season Open Call Artists (Isaku Kaneko, Kazuki SEKIGUCHI, Ryo HIRANO), who have participated in film festivals both in Japan and overseas while developing their projects, will report on their activities to date, and the newly selected Second-Season Open Call Artists (Sumito SAKAKIBARA, Shohei OHMAE, Masa KUDO) will present their new projects. As part of the program, we also plan to screen clips from their new projects.

Visit the NeW NeW website for the detailed information:
https://new-new.jp/

“New Way, New World: Connecting Japanese Animators to the World”(New New) is a project which aims to support emerging short animation filmmakers in Japan by giving them the opportunities to connect with the international animation scene. “NeW NeW” is part of the Japan Creator Support Fund initiative launched by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Arts Council, and is run by CG-ARTS. Organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Arts Council, and CG-ARTS, and funded by the Japan Creator Support Fund, New Way, New World: Program for Connecting Japanese Animators to the World (NeW NeW) is a training program for Japanese artists in the short animation field.

https://new-new.jp/

ゲストプロフィール

KANEKO Isaku

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. Received master's degree from Tama Art University, Faculty of Graphic Design in 2020.

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SEKIGUCHI Kazuki

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.

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HIRANO Ryo

Born in Kasukabe, Saitama in 1988. Currently residing in Fujimi, Nagano. Creates pop, deep, and bizarre works. Guided by an insatiable curiosity, draws motifs from cultural anthropology, folklore, and subculture, continually transforming them into art.
Full-color comics “FANTASTIC WORLD Vol. 1 & 2” are available in french and Spanish. As an animator, has participated in numerous animation film festivals both in Japan and abroad and created animations for NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” Also performed as an actor in the theatrical production “Hanarebanaretachi” by the theatre company Lolo.

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SAKAKIBARA Sumito

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.

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OHMAE Shohei

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).

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KUDO Masa

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)