2026 Programme Cardiff

Adapted from the manga by author Daisuke Igarashi, which won the Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival, Children of the Sea is a must-see feature from Japan’s STUDIO 4°C (known for Tekkonkinkreet, Mind Game, Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight and others). 

Directed by Ayumu Watanabe, the film features a score by award-winning composer and longtime Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro).

Japan | 2019 | 1h 51m | PG | Ayumu Watanabe | Japanese with English subtitles

Anime and CGI: How 2D and CGI Work Together

How is Japanese anime actually made?

In this talk, we’ll take a simple look at how anime is made and discover how CGI helps bring it all together. From traditional animation techniques to using CGI to create challenging scenes, we’ll explore the world behind anime through real examples from the production process. 

Masaya Inaba | Independent Animation CGI Artist&Director

Inaba began his career in 2011 as a CGI artist at Studio 4°C in Tokyo. Working with After Effects and Blender, he creates visual ensembles that combine hand-drawn animation, background art, and CG, and has been responsible for many complex, innovative, and story-critical special cuts. Often described as “the one who can make it work,” he is known for tackling the most challenging scenes; born in Japan in 1986, he spent part of his childhood in Detroit, giving him a slightly unconventional perspective.  

Moderator: Nia Alavezos

Set in the year 20XX, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL follows the story of Rita, a resourceful but isolated young woman volunteering to help rebuild Japan after the mysterious appearance of a massive alien flower known as “Darol”. When Darol unexpectedly erupts in a deadly event, unleashing monstrous creatures that decimate the population, Rita is caught in the destruction—and killed. But then she wakes up again. And again. Caught in an endless time loop, Rita must navigate the trauma and repetition of death until she crosses paths with Keiji, a shy young man trapped in the same cycle. Together, they fight to break free from the loop and find meaning in the chaos around them.

Japan | 2026 | 1h 26m | 15 | Kenichiro Akimoto | Japanese with English subtitles |

JERO11: Summoning the Yōkai 

妖怪召喚

JERO11 「ジェロ十一」 is a heavy metal musician and composer blending traditional Japanese music with instrumental metal. He built his own electric shamisen and has developed his own unique metal shamisen playing style. Heavily inspired by anime, vocaloid and videogame music, he produces his own original music and instrumental metal covers with traditional Japanese elements. A passionate supporter of traditional Japanese fashion, JERO is also incredibly honoured to be a UK ambassador for MISAMARU, a Japanese modernkimono fashion brand.

*This performance has flashing images and loud rock music*

Dojoji

Kawamoto created a film of his own interpretation of Anchin and Kiyohime. This is a story from the Konjaku Monogatari, a collection of folktales collected at the end of the Heian period.

On his pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrine, a young priest seeks shelter at an inn. There, a widow falls in love with him. The priest, devout as he is, rejects her advances and makes a false promise to see her on his return. However, the widow realises she has been tricked. Consumed by love and hatred, she pursues him.

Japan | 1976 | 19m | 12 | Kihachiro Kawamoto | Japanese with English subtitles |

Iconic and game-changing, AKIRA is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look into the future. AKIRA’s arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for future generations of ground-breaking movies 

July, 1988— World War III breaks loose. Then, in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo…As the leader of a group of young robust delinquents, Kaneda spent his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy― the product of human experimentation— and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research facility. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…

Japan | 1988 | 2h5m | 15 | Katsuhiro Otomo | Japanese with English subtitles |

The Castle of Cagliostro is the first feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Here, our iconic super-thief Lupin pulls off a thrilling heist at a Monte Carlo casino, only to discover the spoils are counterfeit. Lupin traces the fake bills to the country of Cagliostro where an evil Count is generating forged money and distributing it worldwide. With partners in tow (including a retired gangster, a modern-day samurai, and a beautiful female thief) Lupin heads to Cagliostro where he also finds a promise of hidden treasure and Clarice, a beautiful Princess in need of rescuing from the Count’s dastardly clutches.

Japan | 1979 | 100m | PG | Hayao Miyazaki | Japanese with English Subs

After fending off a series of skilled assassins, gentleman thief Lupin III and his band of allies follow a strange invitation to an uncharted island. When their plane is shot down, the gang is stranded and soon hunted by the island’s inhabitants, past enemies, and a monstrous immortal being known as Muom, who threatens to destroy Lupin’s legacy. As a deadly toxic fog settles over them, Lupin must confront his greatest enemy in his most daring escapade yet.

Legendary director Takeshi Koike returns to the LUPIN THE IIIRD franchise after six years with his latest devilish spin on Monkey Punch’s original manga. LUPIN THE IIIRD: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline infuses Koike’s signature stylish action with the classic pulpy tones of Monkey Punch’s work for an exhilarating sci-fi tour de force.
This screening will include a special recorded introduction by director Takeshi Koike.

Japan | 2025 | 1h 33m | PG | Takeshi Koike | Japanese with English subtitles |

Tickets for this year’s raffle will be available at the festival, from the Kotatsu stand.

Tickets are 50p each.

Full details of the prizes can be found on our raffle page.