Busan International Film Festival announces Japanese animation special

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced a 13-film Japanese Animation Special program. The lineup features animation master Rintaro, marking his first visit to Korea in 17 years, appearing alongside four next-generation directors: Kadowaki Kohei, Katanosaka Ryo, Natsume Shingo, and Shinomiya Yoshitoshi.

The program highlights a century of Japanese animation history, ranging from formative classics to recent releases. Notable titles include the 1958 Toei Animation landmark “The White Snake Enchantress,” the first full-color Japanese animated feature, and the 1973 experimental work “Belladonna of Sadness” by Mushi Production. The selection also includes “Phoenix 2772 (Space Firebird),” based on the manga by Tezuka Osamu. Many of these films are making their Korean premieres or are being shown in Korean theaters for the first time in many years.