Free event! Join us at JAPAN HOUSE LA for a rare in-person talk and live drawing session with notable animator, Hirokazu Kojima (“ChaO”). Witness Kojima’s creative process in real time as he shares insights into his creative process and approach to character designs in STUDIO4°C’s psychedelic new feature film, ChaO. This unique dialogue offers a … ChaO Live Talk & Drawing with Hirokazu Kojima
Animation Is Film is immensely proud to shine a spotlight on some of year’s most extraordinary and innovative shorts across a series of four discrete Short Film Presentations. Featuring the best in-class animation from students across the globe, this shorts program highlights all we’ve got to look forward to from the next generation of artists … Shorts 4: Student Showcase
Animation Is Film is immensely proud to shine a spotlight on some of year’s most extraordinary and innovative shorts across a series of four discrete Short Film Presentations. In SHORTS 3, a selection of highlights from the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, curated by our partners at Women in Animation. AFTERGLOW (Hungary / Sophia Belleli, … Best of Annecy, in partnership with WIA
Animation Is Film is immensely proud to shine a spotlight on some of year’s most extraordinary and innovative shorts across a series of four discrete Short Film Presentations. In SHORTS 2, international storytellers, working across a vast array of canvases and techniques, chronicle and celebrate the terrors and triumphs of (mostly) human existence – from … Shorts 2
Animation Is Film is immensely proud to shine a spotlight on some of year’s most extraordinary and innovative shorts across a series of four discrete Short Film Presentations. In SHORTS 1, award-winning storytellers from Cartoon Saloon, Dreamworks Animation, Locksmith Animation, and Walt Disney Animation (some working within the studio, others independently) tackle themes of parenthood, … Shorts 1
In an ancient time, a monkey and his dog traverse the dangerous forests, jungles, and tundras of the world to reach the Holy Mountain. A task that once belonged to his mother, the monkey must now bring warmth back to his tribe. Though the harsh conditions and lack of food tests his friendship with the … A Story About Fire
In-person Intro + Q&A with Directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han Precocious, open-hearted, and knowing everything and nothing all at once, nearly three-year-old Amélie recounts her beginnings in post-war Japan, seeing the world with wide, emerald-eyed wonder. Caught between cultures, she is devoted to her beloved housekeeper Nishio-san, while her Belgian family does their best … Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
In Chinese folklore, a “Yao” is a spirit often feared as evil — an animal that gains supernatural powers through years of cultivation. From Lang Lang Mountain comes one such Yao, a mischievous little wild pig, who dreams of proving himself worthy to join the prestigious King’s Cave. But when a mishap enrages the King, … Nobody
In-person Q&A with director Mamoru Hosoda! From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword-fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in an “Otherworld,” she encounters an idealistic young … Scarlet
After contact with alien organisms places her in a time loop, introverted 18-year-old Rita is forced to relive the same day over and over as she battles the extra-terrestrial invaders. Think Groundhog Day, but with giant carnivorous plants. Despairing at first, Rita gains confidence after meeting a young man stuck in the same loop, and … ALL YOU NEED IS KILL
Exploding with energy, music, and wit, Lesbian Space Princess is an inter-gay-lactic space romp for the ages from Australian writer/director duo, Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs. After her bounty hunter ex-girlfriend is kidnapped by the incel Straight White Maliens, introverted space princess Saira (played by Shabana Azeez of The Pitt) is forced on a … Lesbian Space Princess
“The world is a wonderful stage, but has a deplorable cast,” growls an ominous owl in Decorado, nodding to Oscar Wilde. The film’s cast includes a pyromaniac chicken, a self-hating mermaid, a pack of homeless rats, and other critters in various states of spiritual unease. In the middle of it all is Arnold, an unemployed, … Decorado
In-person Q&A with Roy Ambriz & Arturo Ambriz Mexico, the 19th century. Frankelda is a brilliant young writer of ghoulish stories, but society has no place for a girl with her talents. Disheartened, she retreats into her imagination, which teems with mythological monsters and occult oddballs. This realm is hardly more accommodating than the real … I Am Frankelda
In-person Q&A with Animation Director Hirokazu Kojima The acclaimed Studio 4C, known for their inventive designs and avant-garde storytelling, has spent 7 years working on Chao, a film about love persevering despite a prevalent divide. In a world where sea people live in tandem with humans, tensions are high due to boat propeller incidents. Ambitious … ChaO
In-person Intro + Q&A with Director Ugo Bienvenu Acclaimed French illustrator and graphic novelist Ugo Bienvenu makes his luminous feature debut with Arco, carrying his unmistakable humanist-futurist voice to the big screen. Known for his crisp linework, expressive color, and expansive worldbuilding, Ugo translates his graphic sensibilities into cinematic scope — vast yet intimate, imagined … Arco
In-person Q&A with director Mamoru Hosoda! From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword-fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in an “Otherworld,” she encounters an idealistic young … Scarlet Encore
Thanks to our friends at Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, and Disney+, we’re chuffed to bring you a lineup of Bluey episodes from the acclaimed series on the TCL big screen. Come see which favorites made it into the mix — and share a big “For real life” Animation Is Film moment. Bluey is a loveable, … Bluey
In-person Q&A with Creator Kiana Khansmith, Voice Actors Anairis Quiñones and Christine Marie Cabanos, and Editor Emily Rifkin With awe-inspiring powers, courageous storylines, and jaw-dropping transformation sequences, everyone wants to be a magical girl, right? Wrong! Dive into Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl Panel, the independent animation project from … Filmmaker Panel: Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl
KPop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm — now Netflix’s most-watched animated film — with its powerhouse soundtrack rocketing straight to the top of the Billboard charts. The film has sparked a social phenomenon with audiences from around the world celebrating through cosplay, covers, and fanart. Its authentic celebration of culture and folklore, … Filmmaker Panel: KPop Demon Hunters
Screening with all-new short film, “ParaNorman: The Thrifting” starring Anna Kendrick and Finn Wolfhard. In-person intro with Writer-Director Chris Butler and co-star Anna Kendrick. Post screening Q&A with Chris Butler, moderated by Carolyn Giardina For its thirteenth anniversary, ParaNorman, the sophomore feature from the stop-motion wizards at LAIKA, returns to the big screen in newly … ParaNorman Remastered 3D – Screening with World Premiere of Brand New Short Film ParaNorman: The Thrifting
Presented in-person by Yvett Merino (Producer) and Carrie Liao (Head of Story)! An Animation Is Film tradition continues… Be among the very first to see new footage and hear exclusive behind-the-scenes commentary from the creative team behind Zootopia 2, the much-anticipated sequel to Walt Disney Animation’s Academy Award®-winning Zootopia. Former adversaries turned partners, Detectives Judy … Behind the Scenes: Zootopia 2
FREE SCREENING! Q&A with Director Phil Johnston to follow the screening! Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest people in the world who also happen to own and operate the most disgusting, dangerous, idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia. But when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave orphans and … Pre-Festival Preview: The Twits
For the first time, Chainsaw Man slashes his way onto the big screen in an epic, action-fueledadventure that continues the hugely popular anime series. Denji worked as a Devil Hunter forthe yakuza, trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, until the yakuza betrayedhim and had him killed. As he was losing … Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc