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Screening as part of Japan 2021: Over 100 years of Japanese Cinema, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.
Born in 1980, Atsushi Wada started making his self-produced animated films in 2002 after studying at Tokyo University of the Arts. He has now made 15 short films which have screened at numerous festivals worldwide and been awarded several times over, including the ‘Silver Bear’ Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for ‘The Great Rabbit’.
These films, beautifully rendered in fine pencil-line drawings with understated splashes of colour, are more than just animated stories – watching them you can literally feel movement and experience sudden but subtle emotional jolts to the subconscious. Atsushi is very interested in the Japanese traditional concept called “Ma”, the tension produced between movements. These minimalist films, influenced by Noh Theatre, music and dance, shine a light on strange worlds and take a sideways look at human relationships with humans and human relationships with animals using only what is essential – nothing is superfluous.
LIAF is very proud to present a comprehensive retrospective of one of Japan’s most singular, fascinating and independent animators.
Find out about our other BFI Japan 2021 programmes: Into the Unknown – The Trippy Worlds of Indie Japanese Animation and Junk Head
Dancer of Vermicular – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Based on a poem by Kenji Miyazawa. A worm in this river looks shiny to me.
2004 6 mins
The Thing of Rotation of Child – Atsushi Wada, Japan
For whom does the girl keep rotating? A story of a weird relationship between a child and adults.
2004 3 mins
A Clerk in Charge – Atsushi Wada, Japan
A clerk does his own work. This is what a clerk should do.
2004 6 mins
Day of Nose – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Nucnuc means pleasant in English. We cannot be without Nucnuc for long – if we are, we become unpleasant.
2005 10 mins
Day of Nose – Atsushi Wada, Japan
A lot of mistakes may happen, but no problem. A whistle, a bird, a stone, a human, they are gentle.
2005 4 mins
A Manipulated Man – Atsushi Wada, Japan
If there is a fixed number of words that a person speaks within his/her lifetime, and if that number is controlled from somewhere by someone, then it would probably be like the story in this film.
2006 5 mins
Well, That’s Glasses – Atsushi Wada, Japan
How was this made? Why? For what purpose and using what materials? What is this anyway? There are lots of things we need to find out about.
2007 6 mins
In A Pig’s Eye – Atsushi Wada, Japan
A huge pig lies near a house. The family of the house go about their everyday life, pretending to ignore the pig’s existence.
2010 10 mins
The Mechanism of Spring – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Everybody is excited to see the arrival of spring. This film tries to depict the excitement spring brings.
2010 4 mins
The Great Rabbit – Atsushi Wada, Japan
If you believe in the Rabbit, it means that you’ll believe anything. If you don’t believe in the Rabbit, it means that you won’t believe anything. Your choice.
2012 7 mins
Anomalies – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Some people have faith in religion. Others believe in the existence of anomalies, such as unknowable and uncontrollable monsters.
2013 3 mins
My Marsh – Atsushi Wada, Japan
The activities of cats, kobito, carp, and an uncle dressed as a woman on a swamp.
2017 4 mins
Autumn from Antonio Vivaldi “The Four Seasons” – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Dear Mr. Vivaldi, I apologise for setting your music to animation without your permission. But I wanted to depict “autumn” in my own way with various animals. Thank you for understanding. Yours sincerely, AW.
2017 11 mins
My Exercise – Atsushi Wada, Japan
Our Funding Partners
With Special Thanks to the Arts Council England
Event supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.
