Audiences in Japan are no strangers to the joy of animation, with films like “Chiikawa,” “Detective Conan” and “Demon Slayer” regularly topping the box office. But there’s a whole world of animation beyond the mainstream hits.?
Animation will again have a significant presence at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), the 39th edition of which runs Oct. 26 to Nov 4. This year’s includes nine new films — seven of which are making their Japanese premiere — as well as a three-film retrospective on women directors and multiple panel discussions.
Of the nine new animated titles on offer, three are Japanese films debuting ahead of their official theatrical releases. “Cherry and Virgin,” the feature-length directorial debut of Masanao Kawajiri, is a romance about two awkward young adults falling in love for the first time.
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