About the Festival
An animation film festival we create together
Connecting the world’s animation production community
Animation—an expressive form with limitless potential—captivates young people around the world, not only in Japan and China.
Japanese animation is highly acclaimed globally, and in recent years Chinese animation has also achieved remarkable results through the use of AI and other technologies. By fostering exchange among animation production communities worldwide, the art and industry of animation can continue to evolve.
Through this powerful form of expression, this festival aims to create a place where the next generation shaping the future can connect freely.
A competition that anyone can join
To discover new talent, the festival created a Short-Short Animation category within the competition. Regardless of age or experience, we hope many aspiring creators will participate. In this category, submitted works will be made available online for a certain period, and we have adopted a format that allows a wide range of internet users to take part in the selection of nominated works.
New possibilities of expression through AI animation
Another hallmark of the festival is the establishment of an AI Animation category. From professionals to amateurs, we are watching with bated breath to see how many new forms of expression in AI-created animation are emerging around the world, and what kinds of works will be submitted.
Fun events and insightful seminars
In addition to fun events such as a red carpet to liven up the festival, voice actor live performances, cosplay events, and animation-making experiences for families, we are also preparing seminars and symposiums that draw strong interest from industry professionals—covering topics such as how animation production may change dramatically in the age of generative AI, new business opportunities for voice actors, and the future of copyright.
From Tokorozawa to the world
Tokorozawa, located along the Seibu Railway line where many animation studios are based, is home to Tokorozawa Sakura Town—a hub for pop culture. It is also known as a place that inspired Studio Ghibli works, making it, in a sense, one of the sacred places of animation.
Just as Cannes is a global celebration of live-action cinema in France and Annecy is a global celebration of animated cinema, we hope to collaborate with the Tokyo International Film Festival and establish a positioning where live-action is Tokyo and animation is Tokorozawa. In the years ahead, we aim for Tokorozawa to be recognized worldwide as an international city of animation.
The Japan-China International Animation Film Festival is a festival that we build together with you.
Why not enjoy the celebration of animation films with us, and immerse yourself in the animation of a new era?
