28 October 2014

L'Animation Indépendante Japonaise, Volume 2 (DVD/Blu-Ray release, FR/EN, 2014)

When French indie label Les Films du Paradoxe and independent production/distribution company CaRTe bLaNChe  released the combination DVD/Blu-Ray L'Animation Indépendante Japonaise, Volume 1 in 2013, it created a lot of excitement among alternative animation fans.  This was not only because rare films like Dreams (2011), pop art legend Keiichi Tanaami’s final collaboration with the late Nobuhiro Aihara, were being made available for purchase with English and French subs, but also because “Volume 1” indicated that there was a possibility of future releases!

Volume 2 was indeed launched at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival this past spring.  It features 8 films by 6 directors.  The DVD/Bluray finally makes Keita Kurosaka’s 2010 cult favourite Midori-ko available to a wider audience.  Fans of Kurosaka, the master of the grotesque in animation, can also delight in his even rarer 2005 short My Face

The discs also feature recent works by established animators Atsushi Wada and Mirai Mizue, as well as experimental filmmaker Isamu Hirabayashi.  Rounding off this impressive list of artists are two up-and-coming women directors Yoriko Mizushiri, who has been a real festival favourite since the release of her film Futon (布団) in 2012, and Yoko Kuno, whose music video Airy Me for Cuushe, has won acclaim including the New Face Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival last year. 

Here is the complete list of films with links to further information:


Midori-ko (2010) and My Face (ワタシノカオ, 2005) by Keita Kurosaka


In a Pig's Eye (2010) by Atsushi Wada


WONDER (2014) and AND AND (2011) by Mirai Mizue


Snow Hut (2013) by Yoriko Mizushiri


NINJA & SOLDIER (2012) by Isamu Hirabayashi


Airy Me (2013) by Yoko Kuno

L'Animation Indépendante Japonaise, Volume 2 is packed in a card paper sleeve that contains both a DVD and a Bluray.  Both discs have English and French menus as well as subtitles when needed.  It can be purchased via Amazon France

Cathy Munroe Hotes 2014