Latest news with #JapaneseAnimation
NHK
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NHK
North America's largest anime convention underway in Los Angeles
Fans of Japanese animation are flocking to Los Angeles to attend North America's largest anime convention. The annual Anime Expo has been underway since Thursday. The four-day event has served as a major showcase for Japanese pop culture in the United States for more than 30 years. More than 300 exhibitors are introducing new content and items, including the latest Japanese animation works and video games. The convention also features events, such as panel discussions hosted by Yoshida Naoki, who produced the latest video game title in the popular Final Fantasy series. Cosplayers dressed up as anime characters took photos of each other, while other visitors bought exclusive items. A man said he enjoyed seeing so many people openly showing that they love anime. The Japanese government is promoting the country's content industry, such as movies and animation, with the aim of expanding overseas sales about fourfold to 20 trillion yen, or about 138 billion dollars. The Japan External Trade Organization says a significantly growing number of Japanese companies are visiting the Anime Expo for business. It adds that the visitors also include firms that are not related to the content business.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Ghibli's Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
Rather than a single-minded lone auteur, Isao Takahata was a receptive collaborator at heart. That's the thrust of a new exhibition dedicated to the works and creative process of the acclaimed animation director and Studio Ghibli cofounder, who died in 2018. 'The man who planted Japanese animation' opened on June 27 at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery. It's an exhibit best appreciated through its details; its displays are as meticulously assembled as the works of the late director of 'Pom Poko' and 'Grave of the Fireflies.' The show is very much one of paper. Though there are, of course, anime cels and finished animations, the exhibition unearths vast amounts of archival photographs, sketches, memos, storyboards, watercolors, aided by informative wall texts in English, with the occasional Chinese and Korean. As a result, viewers are steeped in the tactile laboriousness employed by Takahata and the animators of his generation, which seems to fly in the face of the rise of AI in the animation and creative industries at large. Takahata encouraged collaboration and the exhibition showcases works by his team members, such as image boards for "Pom Poko" illustrated by animators Yoshiyuki Momose and Shinji Otsuka. | © 1994 Isao Takahata / Studio Ghibli, NH 'The man who planted Japanese animation' gives considerable attention to Takahata's lesser known works, including his commercial flop debut feature in 1968, 'Little Norse Prince Valiant,' about a folk prince fighting black magic. A sizable space is devoted to Takahata's 'communal, democratic' approach to teamwork. The director (who himself didn't draw) was keen to incorporate opinions, ideas and designs from his animators on all areas of the film. Display cases show the extensive collaborative effort by the staff, including its youngest animator, Hayao Miyazaki, whose memos made strong arguments for realistic depictions of the villagers and featured design proposals for a troll and an ice mammoth, which became significant to the film. A highlight in the 'Little Norse Prince Valiant' gallery is a 'tension chart,' translated into English as 'emotion curve,' for the film, a painstakingly hand-drawn chart of rises and falls in drama, plotted against the individual emotions of twenty characters. One of the hallmarks of Studio Ghibli films is the way even small movements and actions of the characters can convey great emotion or intention. Even in moments of high drama or extreme comedy, they react in recognizable and quotidian ways — a slumping shoulder, a mindful door-closing, a ravenously consumed meal. The exhibition evidences the hard and meticulous work that goes into making animation. | Thu-Huong Ha The gallery spaces devoted to Takahata's TV work, which includes the domestic and global hit 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps,' convey how he and Miyazaki were building these skills well before Studio Ghibli existed. They focused on depicting everyday life vividly, through characters' interactions with food, for example. Not surprisingly, Miyazaki features as a prominent character in his own right in the exhibition, and his contributions are underscored. 'Meeting Miyazaki was significant,' Takahata says in a video about their process. 'He didn't learn from me, but I'm sure he learned a lot from our work together.' In the sections devoted to Takahata's best known features, there is plentiful archival material for diehards. The 'Grave of the Fireflies' gallery contains location-scouting photos from the 1988 war film, including several photos that inspired the memorable pole against which the main character slumps against and dies in the opening scene. The 'Pom Poko' room exhibits a long display case of image boards illustrated by animators Yoshiyuki Momose and Shinji Otsuka, giving fans a chance to see their early ideas in vivid riotous splendor. A caption quoting Takahata — 'I think of this film as a documentary' — is a simultaneously funny and poignant remark on the zany, moralistic film about Tama Hills supernatural tanuki losing their home to human urban over-development. A color simulation board for Kaguya's kimono by Kazuo Oga from "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" film shows Takahata's method of stylization. | © 2013 Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi / Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK The final section is dedicated to 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,' Takahata's last film which was released in 2013. A video shows Takahata and his team at work; the director explains his technique, which I think of as selective realism. In his films, some aspects of a given scene might be intricately detailed while others are barely sketched in. In 'Princess Kaguya' in particular, the coloring is pale, relying on watercolor, and many scenes have no margins or look half-finished. Takahata explains he didn't want to visualize too much on the part of the viewer. 'Humans are more imaginative,' the director says in the video. 'They can feel empathy even through depersonalized drawings.' The last gallery space contains drawings from the film's two most memorable scenes, one in which the princess is dancing for joy under cherry blossoms and one in which she's running out of fear and fury under a full moon. Clips of the final products loop side-by-side above, one exuberant, and one literally breathtaking, their propelling motion a dynamic finale to Takahata's exacting life's work. . 'The man who planted Japanese animation' is on view at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery through Sept. 15. For more information, visit
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pro Anime AI Video Generation Platform Animon.ai Launches in Korea
Key technology upgrades accompany market entry, providing an even better user experience TOKYO and SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CreateAI Holdings ("CreateAI" or the "Company") today announced market entry in Korea and significant updates to its groundbreaking AI anime video generation platform, Since its debut in Japan just last month, has earned recognition from industry professionals and driven significant engagement within the global creative community, with creators showcasing high-quality anime content produced using the platform. In addition to offering the model in the Korean language, this latest update introduces powerful new features designed to make anime creation more accessible and efficient for creators worldwide. Key enhancements include a new text-to-video generation tool and expanded language support also offering Traditional Chinese interfaces, delivering a seamless, localized experience for anime enthusiasts across the Asia Pacific region. Intuitive, High-Quality Tools Designed by Leading Japanese Anime combines the artistry of Japanese anime with cutting-edge AI technology, developed through a collaboration between CreateAI's global AI experts, and leading Japanese animation professionals. The platform delivers professional-grade results while prioritizing user-friendly design and accessibility. Generate Unlimited Content through Subscription ModelUnlike other video generation services that rely on complex token-based systems, offers a transparent subscription pricing offering unlimited generation. This approach has resonated strongly with the creative community. New Feature Empowers Best AI Anime GeneratorThe update builds on April launch, introducing a text-to-image generation tool with support for multiple output sizes and distinct style options. Creators can now craft visually cohesive works with precision and ease. These images seamlessly integrate into the platform's anime video production module, creating a streamlined "text → image → video" workflow that enhances efficiency and ensures aesthetic consistency. " is built to empower creators," said Cheng Lu, President and CEO of CreateAI. "Our goal is to break down barriers in anime production, enabling anyone— from hobbyists to professionals—to bring their visions to life with ease and quality. This update marks a significant step toward making the go-to platform for global anime creation." "As anime shorts continue to surge in popularity across Asia and beyond, is positioned to address the growing demand for efficient, high-quality production tools. By leveraging AI to streamline workflows, the platform enables creators to produce polished, professional-grade content in significantly less time," said Yuji Maruyama, spokesperson. In future updates, plans to roll out additional features, including first-frame setup, image expansion, in-between frame completion, and anime soundtrack integration, enabling users to build complete anime projects from start to finish. The platform currently supports Japanese, English, Korean, and Traditional Chinese, with plans to expand into Spanish, Indonesian, and other languages to further enhance global accessibility. Visit to experience it today. Animon Media Contact:pr@ About CreateAICreateAI (formerly TuSimple) is a global applied artificial intelligence company with offices in the US, China, and Japan. The Company is developing leading AI technology for a number of end-use applications and pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale. CreateAI Media Contact:Brad BurgessICR, LLCEmail: View original content: SOURCE CreateAI Holdings Inc Sign in to access your portfolio
