Hiroshima International Animation Festival

Overview

The Hiroshima International Animation Festival was an international animation film festival first held in Hiroshima City in 1985. This festival received official recognition from the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) and was counted among the four major animation festivals in the world, alongside Ottawa in Canada, Annecy in France, and Zagreb in Croatia. The festival was organized by the Hiroshima International Animation Festival Executive Committee, Hiroshima City, and the Hiroshima City Culture Foundation, and each edition attracted numerous short animation entries from countries and regions around the world.

The most distinctive feature of the festival was its emphasis on "peace" as a central theme, stemming from its location in Hiroshima, a city that experienced the atomic bombing. A special award called the "Hiroshima Prize" was established in the competition section, awarded to the work that most powerfully conveyed a message of peace. This festival served as a valuable opportunity to promote international mutual understanding and lasting world peace through animation, earning high praise from animation creators and stakeholders worldwide.

History and Origins

The Hiroshima International Animation Festival was first held in 1985 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The first edition took place at the Hiroshima City Hall from August 18 to 23, lasting six days. The festival was founded with the purpose of disseminating a message of peace through the art of animation from Hiroshima, the city that experienced the atomic bombing. Since its inaugural edition, the festival was held biennially in principle, continuing regularly thereafter.

The second edition was held in 1987, and the third in 1990, meaning the intervals between the first three editions were not uniform. However, from the fourth edition onward, a biennial schedule became established. Starting from the fourth edition, the venue moved to the Hiroshima City Asaminami Ward Cultural Center (Aster Plaza), which subsequently became the festival's main venue. Aster Plaza was equipped with multi-purpose halls and exhibition facilities, providing a suitable environment for screenings, events, and workshops.

One of the key figures who supported the festival's operation was Sayoko Kinoshita, who served as the festival director. She dedicated herself to the planning and management of the festival and contributed significantly to building an international network. Thanks to Kinoshita's efforts, the Hiroshima International Animation Festival maintained its accreditation from the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) and grew into a major event where animation creators from around the world submitted their works.

The 18th edition scheduled for 2020 was forced to undergo significant changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, the central competition section was held online, while on-site events such as screenings, booth exhibitions, and workshops were cancelled. With the 2020 edition, the Hiroshima International Animation Festival concluded its history, subsequently transitioning into Hiroshima City's new initiatives: the "Hiroshima Animation Season" and the "Hiroshima International Peace Culture Festival."

Highlights

Competition Section

The competition section was the main program where international judges selected outstanding works from short animation entries submitted from around the world. The number of entries was consistently very large, with the 18th edition in 2020 receiving a total of 2,842 works from 88 countries and regions. This section awarded multiple prizes including the Grand Prix, Hiroshima Prize, International Jury Special Prize, and Debut Prize, and winning works received high acclaim in the animation industry.

Hiroshima Prize

The Hiroshima Prize was a special award presented to the work that most powerfully conveyed a message of peace within the competition section. This prize embodied the festival's founding philosophy of "peace" and was internationally recognized as a distinctive feature unique to Hiroshima, a city that experienced the atomic bombing. Past winners of the Hiroshima Prize include Koji Yamamura's "Mt. Head" (10th edition) and "Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor" (12th edition), highlighting the achievements of Japanese animation creators.

Past Grand Prix Winning Works

The list of past Grand Prix winners includes works by world-renowned creators. The first edition in 1985 awarded the Grand Prix to Osamu Tezuka's "Broken Down Film," with the master of Japanese animation winning the inaugural Grand Prix. The second edition in 1987 awarded the Grand Prix to Frederic Back's "The Man Who Planted Trees," which later also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

International Jury Selection

International juries were composed each edition of animation creators, researchers, and film critics invited from various countries. The selection of jury members followed the guidelines of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) to ensure fair evaluation of works by jurors from diverse cultural backgrounds. This international jury system enhanced the festival's credibility and authority.

Workshops and Educational Programs

Workshops where general participants could experience animation production were held during the festival period. These programs provided opportunities for participants to learn the production process of short animation and actually create their own works. Educational programs targeting children and students in particular played an important role in nurturing future animation creators and contributed to the promotion of animation culture in the region.

Diversity of Screening Programs

In addition to competition works, various screening programs featuring animations from around the world were organized. These included retrospective screenings of past award-winning works, themed special screenings, and programs introducing new techniques and forms of expression. These screenings offered attendees valuable opportunities to experience the artistic and technical development of animation.

Event Information and Access

• Event Period: The festival was typically held in mid-to-late August, biennially in even-numbered years. The latest schedule and availability should be confirmed on the official website.
• Venue: The Hiroshima City Asaminami Ward Cultural Center (Aster Plaza) served as the main venue, with screenings and events held in its multi-purpose hall and exhibition rooms. Some programs were also held at other facilities within the city.
• Access: From Hiroshima Station to Aster Plaza, it took approximately 20 minutes by Hiroshima Electric Railway (streetcar) or about 15 minutes by bus. The nearest stops were "Nishi-Hiroshima" or "Tenma-cho." Access was also possible from the Hiroshima Bus Center.
• Admission Fee: Paid tickets were required for competition screenings and special screenings. Some workshops and screenings could be attended for free depending on the program and schedule. Fees varied by program and date.
• Organizers: Hiroshima International Animation Festival Executive Committee, Hiroshima City, and Hiroshima City Culture Foundation. The Japan Chapter of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) participated as a co-organizer.
• Official Website: The official website of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival (hiroanim.org) published information on past editions, award-winning works, and related events. Currently, information on the successor initiative "Hiroshima Animation Season" is primarily featured.

Surrounding Area Information

Around Aster Plaza, the main venue of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, several important cultural facilities of Hiroshima City are concentrated. The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art is located nearby, hosting regular exhibitions of contemporary art. Historical sites such as Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden are also within walking distance, allowing festival attendees to enjoy cultural tourism simultaneously. Hiroshima Castle, in particular, features a reconstructed main keep in the Momoyama architectural style, offering panoramic views of Hiroshima City from its top.

August, when the festival was held, is also the busiest tourist season in Hiroshima City. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony takes place on August 6, drawing many participants from across the country to the Peace Memorial Park. The festival period was close to this ceremony, closely relating to the festival's peace-oriented philosophy. The Peace Memorial Park houses the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, providing festival attendees with opportunities to deeply contemplate peace.

Restaurants in Hiroshima City offer local specialties such as okonomiyaki (savory pancake), oyster dishes, and momiji manju (maple leaf-shaped cakes). Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is particularly known for its unique style of layering cabbage and noodles, popular among tourists. During the festival period, restaurants around Aster Plaza were bustling, offering attendees good opportunities to experience the region's food culture.

Related Information

• International Animated Film Association (ASIFA): The Hiroshima International Animation Festival was accredited by ASIFA and recognized as one of the four major animation festivals in the world. ASIFA was founded in 1960 as an international animation organization aiming to promote animation worldwide.
• Hiroshima Animation Season: A new animation-related initiative launched by Hiroshima City in 2022 as the successor to the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. It continues the festival's spirit while developing a broader range of programs.
• Hiroshima Prize Winning Works: Past winners of the Hiroshima Prize include Koji Yamamura's "Mt. Head" (2000) and "Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor" (2006), as well as Frederic Back's "The Man Who Planted Trees" (1987). These works are highly regarded as masterpieces that express peace messages through animation.
• Hiroshima City Culture Foundation: One of the festival's organizing bodies, a public interest incorporated foundation aimed at promoting culture and arts in Hiroshima City. The foundation also manages and operates Aster Plaza.
• Aster Plaza: The nickname for the Hiroshima City Asaminami Ward Cultural Center, which served as the festival's main venue. The facility is equipped with a large hall (approximately 800 seats), a medium hall (approximately 300 seats), exhibition rooms, and meeting rooms among other diverse facilities.
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: A facility closely related to the festival's philosophy, featuring exhibitions conveying the reality of the atomic bombing. It was an important destination for festival attendees to learn about peace.

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