Author: kotatsufestival

  • Welsh Premiere Screenings of Colorful, Patema Inverted and Mai Mai Miracle

    Welsh Premiere Screenings of Colorful, Patema Inverted and Mai Mai Miracle

    The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Film Festival will launch on June 07th 2014 at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, South Wales. Again this year we will screen a number of impressive films including Colorful, Patema Inverted, Mai Mai Miracle and Evangelion 3.0. There is also the prospect of another title being added soon. Here are the details on the films we will screen at the event.


    Colorful

    Colorful is a 2010 anime directed by Keiichi Hara. It won the award for Excellent Animation of the Year at the 34th Japan Academy Prize. It was on the recent 11th Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme.

    Synopsis

    A dejected soul reaches the train station to death but is informed that he is ‘lucky’ and will have another chance at life. The soul is placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Makoto Kobayashi, who has just committed suicide but for a limited time in which the soul must discover why Makoto committed suicide and what the soul’s biggest sin in life was.


    Mai Mai Miracle

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MES8njjlEE8

    Mai Mai Miracle gets a theatrical screening after a highly successful Kickstarter Campaign. Directed by Sunao Katabuchi (assistant director of Kiki’s Delivery Service) and produced by MADHOUSE in 2009, when it was first released it won a slew of awards including Best Animated Film at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montréal along with the Excellence Prize for Feature Length Animation at the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival.

    Synopsis

    Shinko, is a third grade elementary school student with a magically active imagination. She spends a lot of her time listening to her grandfather’s history lessons, imagining what her town was like 1,000 years earlier. One day, a sad and sombre girl called Kiiko transfers to Shinko’s school from Tokyo. A strong friendship soon grows between the two girls as Shinko helps Kiiko come out of her shell and deal with her loss – all thanks to their adventures, both imagined and real.


    Patema Inverted

    Patema Inverted is the latest directorial effort from Yasuhiro Yoshiura, director of Time of Eve and Pale Cocoon OVA. The film was previously shown at the 2013 Scotland Loves Anime Festival, where it won the Audience and Judge awards. It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at 2013’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The official synopsis is as follows:

    Synopsis

    Patema has lived her whole life underground. Following a catastrophic attempt to harness alternative power sources, her community were driven to settle in a dark, cramped network of tunnels below ground. She roams them by torchlight, dreaming of adventures on the surface. Age does not fit in comfortably in school or society as a whole. The world he lives in is known as ‘Aiga’, controlled by the tyrant Izamura’s family for generations. The city at the centre of the kingdom is dominated by a massive ‘Control Tower’ with a vast wasteland lurking on the horizon. Together – the pair are about to be pulled into something much bigger that will turn their worlds on their heads…


    Evangelion 3.0

    This is the third of Hideaki Anno’s Rebuild of Evangelion and the story takes a darkly psychological turn.

    Synopsis

    Fourteen years after the third impact, Shinji awakens to a world that is in ruins and former allies turned against him as Nerv has ceased to exist. He does not know what happened. He is now Trapped in a harrowing cycle of death and rebirth, and an ongoing battle against the angels – even as the world spirals down towards what could be a tragic end.


    By Your Side

    We are also holding a special screening of By Your Side. This film was the collaboration of Tsuneo Goda, the creator of Domo and the singer Sade, created through the project called Zapuni.

    Zapuni unites Japanese visual artists with world-renowned musicians to create and dedicate videos to charities that help children affected by the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan with the power of music.


    More details coming soon, so please keep checking our blog and Facebook, and Twitter.

    For ticket and booking, please contact Chapter Box office.

    Chapter Arts Centre

    Tel: +44(0)29 2030 4400


  • Kotatsu Festival 2014

    Kotatsu Festival 2014

    Kotatsu Festival has been slightly postponed this year but we are now happy to announce the date for the next one. The event will be held on 7th June 2014 at Chapter Arts Centre.

    The festival will be screening the very best in Japanese Anime. Also our market place will be open to the public with our favourite stalls offering a taste of Japan including manga, toys and authentic food Bento box.

    The raffle will be held at the end of the event with lots of exciting prizes on offer. Raffle tickets will be made available nearer the date.

    For any information concerning the event or how you could become a volunteer, please contact us at info@kotatsufestival.com

    We hope everyone will come and enjoy the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2014 in Cardiff.

  • Japan Day at Cardiff Central Library

    Japan Day at Cardiff Central Library

    Japan Day Timetable _25 May 2013_

    Cardiff Central Library will be hosting Japan Day to celebrate Japanese Culture and Literature on 25th May. Japan Day is organized in partnership with local Japanese community members and the Cardiff based Saturday Japanese School in Wales.

    Lots of free activities for all such as Calligraphy, Origami, Haiku, Manga and Language workshops, and much more.

    Please come and experience a taste of Japan!


  • BCExpo in May

    BCExpo in May

    BCExpo 2013

    Kotatsu Festival will be having a table at the BCEXPO which will be held on 11th – 12th May at Brunel’s Old Station, Temple Meads in Bristol.

    Asuka Tanaka will be holding another Manga Workshop. Details to be announced.

    We are currently in the process of confirming the date of next Kotatsu festival. We will let you know shortly. Look forward to seeing you all there.


  • Success at Comic Expo in Cardiff!

    Success at Comic Expo in Cardiff!

    Kotatsu table

    We would like to thank everyone who visited the Kotatsu Festival table at Cardiff International Comic & Anime Expo, at MERCURE HOLLAND HOUSE.

    A big thank you to everyone who signed up to our mailing list to keep updated with all the exciting news from Kotatsu, and to all the people who offered to become volunteers at our next Festival.

    Representing Kotatsu at the Expo were Manga artist Asuka Bochanska Tanaka and Louise BeerAsuka Bochanska Tanaka hosted a Manga drawing workshop that was fully booked and a great success.

    Kotatsu Festival will be attending the Bristol Comic Expo on the 11th and 12th May. Hope to see you all again there.


  • Comic Expo in Cardiff

    Comic Expo in Cardiff

    Cardiff International Comic Expo Logo
    Cardiff International Comic Expo

    Kotatsu Festival will be having a table at the Cardiff International Comic & Anime Expo, which will be held on 2nd – 3rd March 2013 at the MERCURE HOLLAND HOUSE. Please come along to this amazing event and say hello.

    Asuka Tanaka will run a MANGA DRAWING WORKSHOP for teens on Sat 02.03.13 and pre-registration is crucial. Please email comicexpo@hotmail.co.uk for more information. Last year her workshop at the Kotatsu Festival was sold out, so please be quick to avoid disappointment!

  • Kotatsu Festival 2012 Review

    Thank you very much for all the people who came to the 3rd Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival, making it another successful event for Kotatsu.


    The Japanese Marketplace

    We had 5 stalls at this year’s marketplace, one of the highlights was the authentic Japanese Bento boxes by Yakiniku. Toys, anime and manga comics were available from Super Tomato previously known as Otakuzoku.

    Arts and crafts were on sale from local artists Twilight Amoeba offering oil paintings, prints and original felt artwork and Niggleberry Treen offered hand crafted wooden objects, including spoons and fun-birds.

    Japanese multi-designer Asuka Tanaka from Kodawari-Chaya was also at the marketplace selling her self-published fan illustration book Do-jinshi. She was drawing manga characters for people on request.

    Nigelberry Treen
    Super Tomato
    Kodawari-Chaya
    Twilight Amoeba
    Yakiniku

    Screenings

    This year we had 3 Welsh premiere screenings, including:

    ‘Children Who Chase Lost Voices
    ‘Berserk Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King


  • Raffle Cardiff 2012

    Raffle Cardiff 2012

    Raffle tickets are available at Super Tomato and Chapter Box office from the beginning of November for 50p each.

    Star Prizes

    Animation Software: Stop Motion Pro V7

    Cover of Stop Motion Pro Software

    Courtesy of Stopmotion Pro

    Stop Motion Pro V7 has been developed in consultation with Aardman Animations (the makers of Wallace and Gromit). The software offers students, animators and animation producers the most comprehensive and easy to use toolset yet. Stop Motion Pro requires a video camera, webcam or digital stills camera and is compatible with Win XP, Vista and Windows 7. It can also be used on Apple Macs using either Boot Camp or Parallels.


    Framed Art Print: ‘Pine Beach at Miko’ by Utagawa Hiroshige

    Pine Beach at Miko

    Courtesy of The Japanese Shop

    Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was born in the shogun’s capital of Edo (now Tokyo) and is considered to be the last great master of the woodblock (ukiyo-e). In the Japan of his day, his prints fostered a new and far-reaching appreciation for nature in art, and in the west, his work influenced artists such as Whistler, Cezanne and Gaughin. The Japanese Shop has an excellent collection of these superb quality woodblock prints which have incredibly vivid colours having been crafted in the same style as the originals.


    DVDs


    Anime DVDs

    Cover of Broken Blade DVD
    Cover of Rosario Vampire DVD

    Courtesy of MVM Entertainment


    Anime DVD and Manga Selection

    Image of DVD collection

    Courtesy of Super Tomato

    Selection of manga comics and anime DVDs such as Ghost in the Shell.


    Igam Ogam – Wakey Shakey! DVD

    Cover of Igam Ogam Wakey Shakey DVD

    Courtesy of Calon TV

    Have fun watching 8 Episodes of the fun loving cave girl Igam Ogam!


    Books


    NEO Magazine – 1 year’s subscription

    Cover of Neo Magazine

    Courtesy of NEO Magazine


    Igam Ogam Book 1 – Where’s My Doggie?

    Cover of Igam Ogam Book

    Courtesy of Calon TV

    From the famous Children’s TV series Igam Ogam.


    Igam Ogam Book 2 – I’m Not Igam Ogam

    Cover of Igam Ogam Book

    Courtesy of Calon TV

    From their famous Children’s TV series Igam Ogam.


    Food


    Gift Vouchers

    Image of Yakiniku Food Voucher
    Image of Yakiniku Food Voucher

    Courtesy of Seoul House Restaurant

    Treat yourself to some excellent cuisine at the reknowned Japanese and Korean restaurant on the east side of Cardiff.


    Toys


    Miniature Kotatsu

    Image of Kotatsu Package

    Courtesy of Re-ment


    Bitbots, Jinny

    Image of Bitbots

    UK’s newest premier limited edition vinyl toy.

    Courtesy of the SHO


    Sali Mali Doll

    Image of Sali Mali Doll

    Courtesy of Calon TV

    A pretty Sali Mali doll, the famous character from the Welsh TV series.


    Arts & Crafts


    Origami Sets

    Image of Origami Craft Set

    Courtesy of Toyo

    Great fun to be had building your very own origami creations, with full instructions on each and every fold required to make some truly amazing designs out of plain paper. These sets feature sweets such as birthday cake, boats and cars, and Rilakkuma bento box.


    Painting Set

    Image of Painting Set

    Courtesy of: Major Brushes

    This painting set comes complete with paints, brushes and canvas.


    Clothing


    Hand Knitted Scarf

    Image of Scarf

    Courtesy of Euro Japan Trading Co

    Beautifully hand knitted and perfect for keeping you warm this winter.


    Artists


    Abstract Painting

    Image of Painting

    Courtesy of Louise Shazeela Beer


    Handmade Wooden Bowl

    Image of Bowl

    Courtesy of Nigel Leach, from Niggleberry Treen

    A hand carved, fruit wood bowl with a whale tail handle.


    Handmade Badges

    Image of Badge

    Courtesy of Saemi Takahashi

    Beautifully handmade, these badges are adorned with a cute Japanese girl’s face.


    Original Postcard

    Image of Postcard

    Courtesy of Saemi Takahashi


    Original Postcards

    Image of postcards

    Courtesy of Miho Yata, Japanese animator.


    Books

    Image of Books

    Courtesy of Miho Yata, Japanese animator


    Book of 30 Postcards

    Image of Postcards

    Courtesy of Chie Arai, Japanese animator.


  • Manga Drawing Workshop

    Manga Drawing Workshop


    We are happy to announce a fantastic event at this year’s festival.

    Manga drawing Workshop – ‘Let’s draw your character’

    (3pm ~4pm)

    The teacher is Japanese multi-designer Asuka Tanaka. People attending the event will see Asuka demonstrate how Manga characters are drawn and have the opportunity themselves to create their own manga characters with professional advice.

    Previously stated as 15 years and over but due to the popular demand this has been lowered to 12 years.

    The event will be held in the Chapter foyer at 3pm.

    Tickets are 5.00 each and are only available via the festival website as tickets are not available at the Chapter box office.

    Bookings via email to info@kotatsufestival.com

  • Programme Cardiff 2012

    Programme Cardiff 2012

    Summary of Kotatsu Cardiff 2012

    11:00 Japanese Marketplace
    11:00 Arrietty – Cinema 1
    13:00 Komaneko -The Curious Cat- / Komaneko’s Christmas – Cinema 2
    15:00 Arrietty – Cinema 1
    15:00 Manga Drawing Workshop “Let’s draw your character!”
    15:30 Children Who Chase Lost Voices – Cinema 2
    17:45 Raffle Prize Draw
    18:00 Berserk Golden Age Arc 1 The Egg of the King – Cinema 2
    20:00 From Up On Poppy Hill – Cinema 1

    For ticket information please contact
    Chapter Box Office on +44(0)29 2030 4400

    Thanks to NEO magazine we have over 100 copies of their latest issues to give away at the event.

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