Category: Event

Christmas Screening: Tokyo Godfathers

Join us for a seasonal screening of Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers. Tickets can be purchased via the Chapter website, or from their Box Office on +44(0)29 2031 1050.

Summary of Events

Sat 21st Dec

18:00

Tokyo Godfathers (12)

Also available:
Marketplace
Free Family Activities
Manga Kissa

Mon 23rd Dec

13:50

Tokyo Godfathers (12)

Please note: Monday is screening only – the Marketplace and Manga Kissa will not be available.

Saturday 21st December 2024

18:00 Tokyo Godfathers

© 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Middle-aged alcoholic Gin, teenage runaway Miyuki and former drag queen Hana are a trio of homeless people surviving as a makeshift family on the streets of Tokyo. While rummaging in the trash for food on Christmas Eve, they stumble upon an abandoned newborn baby in a trash bin. With only a handful of clues to the baby’s identity, the three misfits search the streets of Tokyo for help in returning the baby to its parents. Often named one of the greatest anime films of all time, this is a sweet tale of togetherness on the streets.

Japan | 2003 | 88‘ | 12 | Satoshi Kon | Japanese with English subtitles | Trailer

Marketplace 11am – 6pm

Kotatsu Festival Stand

A selection of Kotatsu-related goods, comics, DVDs with affordable price. All money raised on this stand will be used to fund the festival next year. To reduce the use of plastic bags, please bring your own bags and polly pockets if possible.

Wazakka

A variety of handmade items such as bags and pouches.

Japan-bits

A selection of amigurumi (crochet) characters and Japan-related goods.

Free Family Activities (1pm – 6pm) in the cinema foyer

Manga Kissa (Manga Café)

We have a wide variety of manga and reading materials. Why not have a browse and settle down for some reading? We do our best to be sustainable, please consider donating your pre-loved comics/ books/DVDs to us.

Please do not take any of the books home. You can buy them at an affordable price if you like.

Toy Corner

We will have free activities available for families and children. Toybox Project has kindly provided us with pre-loved colouring and sticker books, as well as puzzles and games. After the event, some of the games will be donated to Chapter, while the others will be returned to Toybox Project.

Toybox Project is a Wales-based organisation that collects unwanted toys and redistributes them to families in need. We can’t give away toys this time but you can collect from their warehouse if needed. Please book your visit.

Kotatsu Table

Sit down and warm your feet while reading our comics.

Please take off your shoes before entering.

Monday 23rd December 2024

13:50 Tokyo Godfathers

© 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Middle-aged alcoholic Gin, teenage runaway Miyuki and former drag queen Hana are a trio of homeless people surviving as a makeshift family on the streets of Tokyo. While rummaging in the trash for food on Christmas Eve, they stumble upon an abandoned newborn baby in a trash bin. With only a handful of clues to the baby’s identity, the three misfits search the streets of Tokyo for help in returning the baby to its parents. Often named one of the greatest anime films of all time, this is a sweet tale of togetherness on the streets.

Japan | 2003 | 88‘ | 12 | Satoshi Kon | Japanese with English subtitles | Trailer

Monday is a screening only.

December 6, 2024
Animator Talk – OGAWA Iku: Stop-Motion in Motion

Date: Friday 29 November 2024, 13:00 GMT

Online talk event hosted on Zoom
Free to attend – booking is essential
This talk will be given with British Sign Language interpretation

Book Your Space Now

©2023 Pokémon. ©1995-2023 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK Inc.

About the Event

As part of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2024, and in partnership with Japan Foundation London, animation director Ogawa Iku is joining us for a very special talk revealing the behind-the-scenes of stop-motion film-making.

Giving exclusive insights into the direction and character creation processes of the animated works he has been involved in, such as HIDARI (screened at the 2024 Kotatsu Festival) and Netflix’s Pokémon Concierge, Ogawa will discuss what it is like to work in the Japanese animation industry – don’t miss this rare opportunity to discover its fascinating inner workings!

This talk will be given with British Sign Language interpretation.

©dwarf/Whatever Co./TECARAT

About Ogawa Iku

Born in Tokyo in 1988. Completed a master’s degree in animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts. He started creating stop-motion animations in graduate school and Joined dwarf studios in 2016.

His main works are the Netflix series Pokémon Concierge (nominated for the “Best Direction – TV/Media” category at the Annie Awards), the Netflix series Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure (episodes 2 and 5), the NHK Puchi Puchi Anime Akikan no Tsuna (Tuna in an Empty Can), HIDARI (co-directed with Kawamura Masashi), and more.

Book Your Space Now

November 14, 2024
April Collab: Kotatsu at Cardiff Animation Festival

Get ready for a double dose of Japanese cinematic brilliance this April as Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival joins forces with Cardiff Animation Festival to bring you an exclusive bundle of Japanese animation goodness, featuring two remarkable films, BLUE GIANT and Lonely Castle in the Mirror.

Cardiff Animation Festival kicks off 25th April 2024, bringing you another great selection of all things animation. Check out their complete programme line-up over at https://www.cardiffanimation.com, or search using #CAF24.

Saturday 27th April

3:50pm Lonely Castle in the Mirror

©2022 “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” Film Partners

Cinema 2

Seven teens discover their bedroom mirrors are portals, and they’re pulled from their lonely lives to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways and watchful portraits. A girl in a wolf mask invites them to play a game.

For ticket information please contact Chapter Box Office Box Office on +44(0)1970 62 32 32

Japan | 2022 | 116m | 12A | Keiichi Hara | F-Rated | Japanese with English subtitles | Trailer (TBC)

8:30pm BLUE GIANT

©2023 BLUE GIANT Movie Project
©2013 Shinichi Ishizuka, Shogakukan

Cinema 1

Dai Miyamoto is in the basketball club in middle school. One day, his friend takes him to a live jazz performance, which touches him on a deep level. From that point on, he begins to practice the tenor sax by himself, with no formal education, and no ability to read sheet music. He aims to become the world’s best saxophone player.

For ticket information please contact Chapter Box Office Box Office on +44(0)1970 62 32 32

Japan | 2023 | 120m | 12A | Yuzuru Tachikawa | Japanese with English subtitles | Trailer

Join us this April as Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival and Cardiff Animation Festival proudly present these two exceptional films. With captivating storytelling and stunning animation, this showcase is sure to delight. Don’t miss out on this unique cinematic experience!

Also available in our Marketplace – open all day (11am – 5pm)

Kotatsu Festival Stand

A selection of Japan/Anime/Manga related goods. All money raised on this stand will be used to help fund future Kotatsu Festival events. To reduce the use of plastic bags, please bring your own bags if possible.

Wazakka

Hand made bags, small pouches, Japan-themed items.

Japan-bits

Selection of cute amigurumi – hand made characters, and Japan-themed items.

March 16, 2024
Machine As A Hero? Free Online Talk

Free Zoom Talk with FUJITSU Ryota
10th Nov 2023 @ 6:30pm

Anime fans! If you love giant robots, this one’s for you! Join us November 10th for an online talk by FUJITSU Ryota, an anime critic, as we explore the evolution of machines as characters in Japanese animation. The talk will take place on Zoom, so you’ll need the Zoom client installed on your device to take part.

Book Your Space Now

In partnership with Japan Foundation London.

As part of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2023, 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.

October 13, 2023
Tokyo Godfathers Xmas Special

We are very excited to announce a special Xmas screening of Tokyo Godfathers, written and directed by Satoshi Kon. Tickets can be purchased via the Chapter website, or from their Box Office on +44(0)29 2030 4400.

Saturday 17th December 2022

17:30 Tokyo Godfathers

© 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved

On Christmas Eve, three homeless people living on the streets of Tokyo discover a newborn baby among the trash and set out to find its parents.

Japan | 2003 | 88‘ | 12 | Satoshi Kon | Japanese with English subtitles | Trailer

Also available on the day

Manga Kissa (Manga Café)

The manga kissa reading area makes a welcome return. Why not settle down in our comic corner and read some of your favourite manga or general Japan-related books or magazines. If you have any spare reading material, please consider bringing them along and donating them to our reading area for others to enjoy.

The majority of reading materials are kindly donated by Andrew Offiler from Calon. Thank you Andrew!

Please don’t take them home, so others can enjoy!

Wazakka

Hand made bags, small pouches, Japan-themed items.

November 23, 2022
Koji Yamamura: In The Studio Where Japan’s Leading Animation is Born

Koji Yamamura: In the studio where Japan’s leading animation is born.

Kotatsu Festival teams up with our partner The Japan Foundation (London) again this year, to offer the opportunity to virtually meet Koji Yamamura, leading creator of Japanese animation such as the Oscar-nominated Mt.Head (2002) and a regular contributor to the UK animation scene, including the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival. Koji returns this year to discuss his stellar career spanning over three decades.

In conversation with film critic, film-maker, and visual artist, Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi, this online event will be an unmissable opportunity for animation-lovers and aspiring makers of animated work to gain a first-hand practical insight into the workings of a successful animation studio.

Tickets are free but booking is required.

To attend the event you will be required to use Zoom, so please download and install the Zoom client prior to the date of the event. Once your registration is accepted, we will send you an access code on the day of the event.

Saturday 15th October from 13:00 (BST)

Booking Available Here

Suitable for all ages

October 6, 2021