Anime-zing

Anime and manga fans have a chance to learn from the Japanese masters in a free workshop at the Gold Coast Film Festival next Thursday. The workshop will be conducted by three of the world's leading anime and manga filmmakers - Noritaka Kawaguchi, Jun Awazu and Ushio Tazawa. For Kawaguchi, it is his first time back on the Gold Coast since he and his team won the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Award (APSA) for Best Animated Feature Film in 2007 for their film 5 Centimetres Per Second. The film, which was a huge success in its home country of Japan, will also be screening during the festival.

Kawaguchi said it was the `original ideas' of writer/director Makoto Shinkai that originally attracted him to the project.

``I myself wished to see his pure love story,'' he said.
``I believe something like Love Comedy, which has ups and downs, is suitable for animation. ``But I think live action films are more suitable for pure love stories.

``Despite this, director Shinkai's talent to create extraordinary background art and direction led 5 Centimetres Per Second to success.

``It was a perfect finish, one of my favourite films.'' Kawaguchi is a producer of Japanese animation films and the CEO of CoMix Wave Films Incorporated which produces animated feature films by directors such as Shinkai and Jun Awazu. He said he is `extremely excited' about returning to the Gold Coast and taking part in the workshop.
``Instead of teaching, I am looking forward to sharing time and information with local creators,'' he said.

``Last time I stayed in the Gold Coast for only 50 hours, it was very hectic.
``This time we can take more time and are able to meet local industry people.
``Thankfully, there are a lot of Japanese Anime fans all around the world.

``The Japanese Manga culture founded by the Master Osamu Tezuka was implemented and developed by many creators who strived to continue this culture.

``I think this perseverance is what makes the films loved by the world today.''

The workshop is part of the Gold Coast Film Festival's Anime Showcase which will include seminars, demonstrations and screenings of new release anime films Evangelion 2.0, Summer War, Redline and King Of Thorn. It will be held on Thursday, November 11 at the Robina Community Centre. For more info visit here.