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 (Shasō) (車窓)
Dir. Ryu Furusawa 2008 2min

Ichigwankoku (一目国)
Dir. Ryo Hirano 2009 6min

Fantasy Girl (Kūsō shōjo) (空想少女)
Dir. Hanamushi (Akira Noyama) 2009 6min

Death of Phonebook
Dir. Cinema Iloobia (Tim Grabham) 2011 2min

Stinky Winky
Dir. KTOOONZ (Keiko Nakamura) 2002 2min

Requiem For Pioneer (Rekuiemu fo paionia) (レクイエム・フォー・パイオニア)
Dir. Yoshihiro Haku + Sachiko Hiraoka 2008 3min

Future Man (Ari-ningen monogatari) (蟻人間物語)
Dir. Ryo Hirano 2008 7min

Doroningen (ドロニンゲン)
Dir. Masahiro Osuka 2007 4min

Mizutamamoyo
Dir. Ryu Furusawa 2006 5min

Enchanted Forest (Mayoi no mori) (まよいの森)
Dir. KTOOONZ (Keiko Nakamura) 1994 9min

A Labyrinth of Residence (Kyojū meikyū) (居住迷宮)
Dir. Naska Saito 2008 5min

TA-TA TOSY TiT
Dir. Yoshihiro Haku + Sachiko Hiraoka 2009 5min

The Straw Girl and the Strange House (Mugiwara shōjo to henna ie) (麦わら少女とへんな家)
Dir. Hanamushi (Akira Noyama) 2009 1min

Holiday (Horidei) (ホリデイ)
Dir. Ryo Hirano 2011 14min

Melting Medama
Dir. Sayaka Oku 2011 5min

The Last Train (Saishū ressha no yoru) (最終列車の夜)
Dir. Mana Fujii 2008 3min