Beyond Anime: The Outer Limits

The world of Japanese animation is vast and fascinating, but beyond the images of doe-eyed schoolgirls with magic powers or giant mecha humanoids battling it out amongst the stars familiar to us all from the output of the commercial mainstream anime industry lies an even more alien and exotic realm. From the very introduction of the medium to Japan back in 1917, legions of visionaries and artists have laboured away independently to create works that challenge our very notions of the word 'animation'. The Beyond Anime: The Outer Limits programme presents just a sample of some of the most interesting Japanese Indie Animations from recent years, revealing the outer limits of this powerful and expressive form of filmmaking in which anything is possible.

Syasou (Shasô), Ryû Furusawa, 2008, 2 min

Ichigwankoku, Ryô Hirano, 2009, 6 min

Fantasy Girl (Kûsô shôjo), Hanamushi (a.k.a. Akira Noyama), 2009, 6 min

Death of Phonebook, Cinema Iloobia (a.k.a. Tim Grabham), 2011, 2 min

Stinky Winky, Ktooonz (a.k.a. Keiko Nakamura), 2002, 2 min

Requiem For Pioneer (Rekuiemu fo paionia), Yoshihiro Haku and Sachiko Hiraoka, 2008, 3 min

Future Man (Ari-ningen monogatari), Ryô Hirano, 2008, 7 min

Doroningen, Masahiro Ôsuka, 2007, 4 min

Mizutamamoyo, Ryû Furusawa, 2006, 5 min

Enchanted Forest (Mayoi no mori), Ktooonz (a.k.a. Keiko Nakamura), 1994, 9 min

A Labyrinth of Residence (Kyojû meikyû) Naska Saitô, 2008, 5 min

Ta-Ta Tosy Tit, Yoshihiro Haku and Sachiko Hiraoka, 2009, 5 min

The Straw Girl and the Strange House (Mugiwara shôjo to henna ie), Hanamushi (a.k.a. Akira Noyama), 2009, 1 min

Holiday (Horidei), Ryô Hirano, 2011, 14 min

Melting Medama, Sayaka Oku, 2011, 5 min

The Last Train (Saishuu ressha no yoru), Mana Fujii, 2008, 3 min