Sunao Katabuchi

The size of the Japanese animation market was 2,426 billion yen by 2020. More than half of that amount came from overseas sales. The manga market is also expanding, reaching 675.9 billion yen in 2021. Those unique visuals and stories from Japan have struck a chord with fans around the world and are growing into a huge industry. ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION will actively feature major works that are highly recognized by overseas fans and reveal the secrets of Japanese anime and manga creation through the series.

Japan, 1943, during World War II. Young Suzu leaves her village near Hiroshima to marry and live with her in-laws in Kure, a military harbor. Her creativity to overcome deprivation quickly makes her indispensable at home. Inhabited by an ancestral wisdom, Suzu impregnates the simple gestures of everyday life with poetry and beauty. The many hardships, the loss of loved ones, the frequent air raids of the enemy, nothing alters her enthusiasm…

YouTube Originals documentary on the making of "Get To The Punchline", the first film written and directed by Non (formerly, Nounen Rena). It covers the pre-production, 13-day shoot, and post-production of the film showing the wildly creative but inexperienced film-maker's struggles to make her first film.

Cardcaptor Sakura tells the story of Sakura Kinomoto, a ten-year-old girl who accidentally releases a set of magical cards called Clow Cards. Her job then is to gather all the cards before they cause trouble in the city where she lives.

Inspired by her grandfather's stories, young Shinko embarks on wild flights of fancy about the history of the little town she lives in. But dreams can't fend off the realities of growing up.

While documenting a controversial tragedy that shook her community, a filmmaker must put her morals to the test when a perverse secret in her own life is revealed.

The size of the Japanese animation market was 2,426 billion yen by 2020. More than half of that amount came from overseas sales. The manga market is also expanding, reaching 675.9 billion yen in 2021. Those unique visuals and stories from Japan have struck a chord with fans around the world and are growing into a huge industry. ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION will actively feature major works that are highly recognized by overseas fans and reveal the secrets of Japanese anime and manga creation through the series.

YouTube Originals documentary on the making of "Get To The Punchline", the first film written and directed by Non (formerly, Nounen Rena). It covers the pre-production, 13-day shoot, and post-production of the film showing the wildly creative but inexperienced film-maker's struggles to make her first film.

Japan, 1943, during World War II. Young Suzu leaves her village near Hiroshima to marry and live with her in-laws in Kure, a military harbor. Her creativity to overcome deprivation quickly makes her indispensable at home. Inhabited by an ancestral wisdom, Suzu impregnates the simple gestures of everyday life with poetry and beauty. The many hardships, the loss of loved ones, the frequent air raids of the enemy, nothing alters her enthusiasm…

Japan, 1943, during World War II. Young Suzu leaves her village near Hiroshima to marry and live with her in-laws in Kure, a military harbor. Her creativity to overcome deprivation quickly makes her indispensable at home. Inhabited by an ancestral wisdom, Suzu impregnates the simple gestures of everyday life with poetry and beauty. The many hardships, the loss of loved ones, the frequent air raids of the enemy, nothing alters her enthusiasm…

Cardcaptor Sakura tells the story of Sakura Kinomoto, a ten-year-old girl who accidentally releases a set of magical cards called Clow Cards. Her job then is to gather all the cards before they cause trouble in the city where she lives.

Inspired by her grandfather's stories, young Shinko embarks on wild flights of fancy about the history of the little town she lives in. But dreams can't fend off the realities of growing up.

Inspired by her grandfather's stories, young Shinko embarks on wild flights of fancy about the history of the little town she lives in. But dreams can't fend off the realities of growing up.

While documenting a controversial tragedy that shook her community, a filmmaker must put her morals to the test when a perverse secret in her own life is revealed.

Imprisoned by a sorcerer who fears she will rob him of eternal life, guileless young Princess Arete befriends a villager who helps her plan an escape.

Imprisoned by a sorcerer who fears she will rob him of eternal life, guileless young Princess Arete befriends a villager who helps her plan an escape.

A little girl, Molly, loses her doll, Belinda, in the Blinkin wood and the Blinkins find it and make it their mission to return her to the owner. In the process, Flashy gets kidnapped by Mr Bear and the Blinkins are given a ransom from Mr Bear and Mr Grogg in the form of food from their winter store in exchange for Flashy's safe return.

The famous blue ruby is stolen in such an elaborate way, that only one villain can be suspected - Professor Moriarty. It is up to Sherlock Holmes to return it and, in the process, to turn a young pick-pocket on the right path. In the second part, Moriarty sets his sights even higher, stealing a top-secret submarine from the Navy. What does he need it for? Holmes is once again on the trail.

A collection of two theatrical rereleases from 1984 and 1986, each containing two episodes from the Sherlock Hound TV series

John is a cheerful and energetic young boy, who lives in a small coal-mining town in England. One day he finds a small dog lost in a flock of sheep. John takes him back home and names the puppy Lassie. Soon they become good friends, just like real siblings. Lassie is a very lovely and smart dog, so everyone in the town loves her very much. But their happy life doesn't last long. Suddenly a coal-mine owner closes his company because there is no more coal left in the coal mine. John goes to meet the coal-mine owner to request a further investigation. The owner accepts John's request, but in exchange for that, he takes Lassie to Scotland. Priscilla, the owner's granddaughter and also John's friend, cannot just stand by and let Lassie suffer in a cage. She opens the cage and sets Lassie free. Lassie sets out on a very long and hard journey from Scotland to her hometown.

In Baker City, London, the city of fog, the famous trademark Detective Holmes has a pipe as its trademark. Together with his assistant Watson, he uses his clear mind to solve difficult cases.

Sophie, a French philosopher, visits Fukushima Prefecture for the first time to attend a friend’s wedding.

Sophie, a French philosopher, visits Fukushima Prefecture for the first time to attend a friend’s wedding.

Kyoto during the Heian period (the 10th century) in Japan. Tens of thousands dead, gutters filled with corpses, children abandoned in the mountains, and groups of wild dogs vigilantly watching outside the city. The elegant image of the Heian period has been shown in many literary and artistic works. However, Katabuchi's new work takes us back to Kyoto a thousand years ago, when the city was shrouded in darkness due to repeated epidemics of plague.

Kyoto during the Heian period (the 10th century) in Japan. Tens of thousands dead, gutters filled with corpses, children abandoned in the mountains, and groups of wild dogs vigilantly watching outside the city. The elegant image of the Heian period has been shown in many literary and artistic works. However, Katabuchi's new work takes us back to Kyoto a thousand years ago, when the city was shrouded in darkness due to repeated epidemics of plague.

A celluloid film based on Hiroyuki Kakudo's paper animation of the same title (1981).

A celluloid film based on Hiroyuki Kakudo's paper animation of the same title (1981).

Animated video for mishmash＊Aimee Isobe's "Korekarasaki, Nando Anata to."

A promotional animation for the video game "Rockman Zero 2".

A sensitive girl who lives in a port town develops a strong interest in the wider world when a young man she meets sets off on a journey. What kind of world is waiting beyond the sea?

A promotional animation for the video game "Rockman Zero 3".

The short portrays the main character Outafukuko, a 1,028-year-old woman, making and sharing Issenyousho in a scene set in Hiroshima after the Second World War. Issenyousho is considered one of the early dishes that would eventually inspire okonomiyaki. October 10, the day the short went live, is "Okinomiyaki Day" in Japan.

"Hana wa Saku" is a song written by Shunji Iwai and Yoko Kanno to support NHK's reconstruction efforts in the areas hardest hit by the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. An animated music video was created in commemoration of the two-year anniversary of the disaster and broadcast on NHK G.