Machine as a Hero? Unfolding Japanese Mecha-Anime Talk by Fujitsu Ryota

Date: 2023 October 21 11:50

Posted by Joe

The good folks at the Japan Foundation London and Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival have got in touch to tell us about a online talk they'll be hosting. Machine as a Hero? Unfolding Japanese Mecha-Anime by Fujitsu Ryota is set to run on Friday 10th November 2023 at 18:30 GMT. The online talk hosted on Zoom, is free to attend, but registration is required.

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Details as follows:



Online Talk
Machine as a Hero? Unfolding Japanese Mecha-Anime
Talk by Fujitsu Ryota

Date: Friday 10 November, 18:30 (GMT) Online Talk Event hosted on Zoom

The globally well-known Japanese anime is not just about girls with round eyes. One of the strongest characteristics of the moving image version, in fact, lies in the genre called 'mecha-anime,' which either includes or indeed features robotic machines. Evangelion may be the first work evoked as mecha-anime, but the history goes back to the 1970s, and since then, Japanese have grown up with memories of machines as compelling characters.

As part of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2023, with which the Japan Foundation joins as a partner, FUJITSU Ryota, Japan's leading animation critic, will unveil mecha-anime from Japan, overviewing its characteristics. He will also discuss in this special online-talk, the progress of this genre in story as well as style while referring to the social circumstances and viewership when these works were made.

FUJITSU Ryota

A Japanese anime critic. He became a freelance writer after working as a newspaper reporter and weekly magazine editor. His writing primarily focuses on anime-related topics and has been featured in magazines, BD booklets, and web media. His books include Anime 'hyoronka' sengen (The Declaration of an 'Anime Critic', 2003), and Channeru wa itsumo anime (Channels Are Always Anime, 2010). FUJITSU Ryota serves as an adjunct lecturer at Tokyo Polytechnic University and holds the position of programming advisor for the anime section of the Tokyo International Film Festival.

This online event is free to attend but registration is essential.

To reserve your space, please book your ticket here.

The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2023 continues until November. Immerse yourself in Welsh premieres and the finest examples of Japanese animation!

Date: Friday 20 October - Sunday 22 October
Venue: Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Click here for programme

Date: Saturday 11 November - Thursday 16 November
Venue: Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor
Click here for programme

This event is jointly presented by the Japan Foundation and Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival.