Kotatsu Festival Showcases Anime Welsh Premieres
The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival touring programme returns to Wales this Autumn with another excellent line-up of films, featuring a selection of short films, the latest blockbusters and some old favourites.
Oct 5 – 6: Chapter, Cardiff
Oct 25 – 27: Aberystwyth Arts Centre
The festival is set to showcase an exciting line-up of 10 films, from the latest Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom to the most loved classic Castle of Cagliostro (Hayao Miyzaki’s directorial debut), offering a diverse array of storytelling that is sure to captivate audiences. Featuring 3 Welsh premieres, The Concierge, City Hunter: Angel Dust and Komada - A Whisky Family, providing an exclusive opportunity to experience groundbreaking films before they hit wider screens. The selection includes a mix of genres, ensuring something for every taste, from thrilling narratives to deeply moving dramas. With a weekend packed full of cinematic experiences, the event promises guaranteed fun and unforgettable moments for all attendees.
Through partnership with the New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival in Japan, there will be a programme of 6 short films from independent Japanese students and animators, including SHISHIGARI, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, Director of Look Back. (Chapter only)
Music Performance
JERO11 is a guitarist and shamisen player who composes instrumental rock inspired by traditional Japanese instrumentation. JERO11 produces original music and arranges rock covers of Anime, VOCALOID, video game and shamisen music. In this session he will perform traditional shamisen pieces with a modern twist using his homemade electric box-shamisen.
Comic Café
An area to sit and chill while browsing freely donated manga! Any pre-loved comics/books/magazines are very welcome, so please bring them along to Chapter if you are happy to donate them to a good cause. Please don’t take them home afterwards, so others can also get a chance to enjoy them!
Marketplace
At Chapter and Aberystwyth Arts Center, there will be an all day marketplace, featuring stalls selling a variety of Japan/Anime/Manga related goods. Chapter exclusives include Jero11 on Saturday only, and the Japanese calligrapher Yukiko Ayers on Sunday only.
Raffle
Finally, there is the festival raffle held at Chapter and Aberystwyth Arts Center for a chance win some great prizes, including artwork from Wales’ very own Calon TV and DVD sets from MVM Entertainment. Ticket sales help fundraising efforts for future Kotatsu events. Tickets will be available on the day from the Kotatsu Festival reception, at just 50p each.