Geidai Animation

A motorbike longs to recapture its former glory. One day, it makes a daring jump into its own future. A first-year student project from 2017 at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Candles are flickering. In the dark, endless dreamscape, where do I find myself?

A half-demolished shopping street is the setting. Following a short rain shower, a moment arrives where a different scenery emerges. This is a first-year work from 2015, created at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

In the last minute of the second half, the RED ANIMALS execute a perfect maneuver, slipping past the tough defense of the BLUE BEASTS. As victory appears guaranteed, the ball unexpectedly goes airborne. Which team will secure the victory?

In a world where dark rain falls without end, people rely on umbrellas to survive. The story follows a man who abandons his umbrella and receives a unique green plant, something rare in this otherwise colorless setting. The distinctiveness of this object ignites widespread jealousy and a frantic scramble to claim it among the inhabitants. This animated short was created by Wenrui Huang in 2016 during her first year of study in the Animation Department at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

Should the world end tomorrow, what longings would surface on this last peaceful day? A ray of light swallows a woman and a man, after which the world softly closes its eyes.

Since my birth, the moon has completed 9,125 orbits around the Earth. As time has marched on and we have all grown older with each cycle, the moon has stayed timeless. This story delves into my childhood memories, the life of my grandmother, and her eventual passing.

Using the Japanese term "hanakuso"—meaning nose snot—in place of the word "crap" helps soften an unpleasant situation. This tale seeks to add some cheer and laughter to lift the spirits.

Every day in Watakushiritori starts with shiritori, a word game where words connect by last and first letters. The narrative unfolds through a series of linked images depicting this captivating game.

From the everyday moments of ordinary life, concepts take shape within the mind. These collected imaginings gradually build into a realm of fantasy.

Imagination Trip delves into the mental voyage undertaken when searching for creative inspiration. After a frustrated moment where a woman pulls at her hair during a meeting, she sets off on an imagined adventure intended to spark fresh ideas. Along her journey, she collects various elements that aid her in developing original concepts.

When five o'clock arrives, the delight of playing fades. A vague period appears, connecting the conclusion of amusement with the imminent family meal.

A man who habitually walked only along the white lines came to an abrupt halt. He glanced at his smartphone, where a video titled "The Gods Come" caught his attention. As the story progressed, he turned around and continued on his way.

We can't remain here any longer. We have to depart tomorrow morning. A clown persuades and rushes the inhabitants of an amusement park—a girl, a gay man, a soldier, a dog—so they can make it to the merry-go-round. Graduate Work 2013, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Eyes function as enchanted spheres, holding dreams and protecting memories. Inside them, perceptions of both inner and outer realms merge. When our eyes meet, fresh realities emerge.

In an effort to recreate a girl from his memories, an old man builds a doll with a mechanical body. Even as he tries to mold her into a perfect being, the doll refuses to accept this forced identity. In the end, she destroys herself, proclaiming, "This is not Me!"

A man sits alone in a small boat, waiting for someone. In his solitude, he continues to wait for a person. Who he is waiting for or why is not particularly significant. He desires to witness the sight of shapeless "happiness," which can disappear in an instant, for as long as he can. First-year work 2012, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

As one becomes immersed in the fluctuating forms that emerge and recede among the needle-like trees, the everyday world disappears, leaving only the act of breathing.

In the year 200x, an unknown catastrophe caused all living creatures to stop experiencing birth and death. Living as though under an eternal prison sentence, a man and a girl encounter each other in this transformed world.

Graduate work 2010 by Maho Yoshida, Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Design.

From that day onward, a sense of unease began to take hold in the man's room. He keeps walking simply to avoid sinking into apathy. This is a record of my own anxiety that emerged following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Graduate Work 2016, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation Awards: The 34th Aoi Tsubasa Grand Prix (Animation) PIAFF16 (France) - Student Films Grand Prix

I fear two things: the ocean at night and the baby developing in my mother's womb, who will arrive soon. My fear comes from not knowing what secrets each holds.

During summer vacation, every child in the neighborhood has gone to visit relatives. Yet, beneath the relentless glare of the sun, a boy stands gazing up at the sky. This is a first-year work from 2019 at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Mimi has grown tired of her own pitiful existence. One day, while walking with her gaze fixed on the ground as always, she spots a suspicious flyer. Graduate Work 2018, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Burdened by dangers at home and turmoil elsewhere, a young woman sits in a boat on a peaceful lake. As she begins to find solace in her own breathing, her crushing pain gradually fades.

The anxiety of being destroyed serenely, without any moral awareness. Everyone is becoming warped, thoroughly and tenderly. A first-year work from 2015 at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

The main character is hanging out with friends but finds the discussion uninteresting. His thoughts frequently drift off into his own fantasy realm before returning to the group. As a result, their conversation doesn't flow smoothly. After several mental excursions into his imagination, he gradually senses its emptiness and becomes intrigued by the ongoing dialogue and the evolving connections with those around him. He then chooses to re-engage with the conversation. First-year project from 2010 by Naoaki Shibuta, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

On my way to junior high school one day, I was hit by an unexpected wave of maternal instincts. Those feelings had been buried for ten whole years, making me question whether they were truly linked to motherhood. Over the course of my journey, I examine ideas like virgin birth, genetics, and pregnancy while trying to grasp what maternal essence really means, all spanning a decade.

In the absolute darkness, a man is unable to see anything. The only illumination comes from a light kindled by another person using a match. The light is ignited and then extinguished. This cycle continues for a while, and finally, the man reaches a decision. A first-year project from 2016, produced at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

The grandmother who used to play peek-a-boo is no longer there. In her place, an unfamiliar person approaches the child. Peek-a-boo requires memory and the act of looking straight at the other person. 1st Year Work 2011 by Keiko Shiraishi, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

During the final concert of the band THE PARADISE, three complete strangers are suddenly trapped in an elevator together. As they wait for help, they discover their common devotion to the member Unicorn. A strange atmosphere forms among them until their phones all chime with a notification.

Tosuke works as a home tutor and encounters a girl named Miyako while on the job. She is blind and remains motionless and silent. However, is the Miyako that Tosuke perceives the true Miyako? This is a first-year work from 2017, created at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

In Okinawa, the atmosphere grows tense as a typhoon approaches. Anri initially feels thrilled by the unusual situation, but soon becomes afraid of the looming storm. Then, her older sister tells her that typhoons have an eye...

During that summer, Aki-chan's mother was hospitalized. This particular day of Aki-chan's vacation is marked by sadness as she spends it with her loyal Ryukyu dog, Goyapochi. This is a first-year student work from 2017 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A girl is constantly kept on the move by a witch, endlessly peeling potatoes. Frustrated, she attempts to escape but fails. Growing desperate, she resolves to defeat the witch... In the end, what will she discover? What is her true purpose? Can what has already happened be undone? Graduate Work 2011, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation

In 2021, Minori Matsuoka created "Destiny" as her graduate thesis for the Department of Animation at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media. The story explores a crumbling romance, where Yui feels neglected because her boyfriend does not acknowledge her birthday. Seeking answers, her friend Aya recommends visiting a well-known fortune teller. The plot delves into the fate awaiting these characters, developed during a period of self-isolation, and is delivered as a romantic comedy.

Out of nowhere, Professor Banno from the neighboring class showed up at school one day with his head completely shaved. His students teased him about his bald appearance. Another day, Professor Banno took off in a hot-air balloon. No one has heard anything about him since. A first-year project from 2014 by Yoko Yuki at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A dolphin's perspective guides a mesmerizing voyage toward a startlingly unforeseen final vision. This is a first-year project from 2011 created by Tatsuhiro Ariyoshi at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

The young girl bears a dreadful secret she cannot speak of, while the memory slowly fades. She wonders whether what she remembers is real or merely a dream.

Two boys are at play among ruins, with something lurking in the darkness. This stop-motion animation centers on the theme of fear. A graduate work from 2011 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. Awards: 2012 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival – Jury's Choice; 2012 24th Tokyo Students Film Festival – Grand Prize and Audience Award; 2012 Independent Animation Festival – Jury's Choice; 2012 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival – Scholarship; 2011 Shimokitazawa Film Festival – Grand Prize; 2011 West Tokyo Film Festival – Excellence Award.

The borderland between sleeping and waking is the moment when the daughter melds into her father.

A woman is given a medical diagnosis she finds hard to accept. Her anxieties and fears take shape as an enigmatic, surreal world. This short film, made in 2016 by Yume Ukai, was her first project during her first year in the Animation Department at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

A man moves through a crowd. Unable to tolerate the crowd, he covers his ears. Then the crowd vanishes, and he becomes lost in a white void. In that space, there is no one else but himself. He has nothing to define himself, and his existence begins to fade into nothing. He starts to struggle to escape from that place. 1st Year Work 2010, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation

The story follows a family operating a chicken farm. The boy longs for birds, while his younger sister watches over him. The father has a deep affection for eggs. The mother has feelings for someone else. Within the family structure, each member remains present with their own biases or hidden secrets. Graduate Work 2012, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation

The setting is an upscale restaurant known for its live tango shows. The food and the patrons are flawless, and all are completely satisfied. However, the arrival of one customer shatters the peace. A first-year project from 2011, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A boy and a girl use sticks fashioned from black fish to draw images on a wall. One day, a blue fish washes ashore to them. This is a first-year work from 2017, produced at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

At a certain point, young people begin to stray from the perfect course their elders have laid out for them. This transformation is usually set off by what seems like a trivial occurrence.

The short film "My Secret School Days" centers on a girl who hates attending school. To cope, she withdraws into a corner of the classroom and immerses herself in a fantasy world, where she hopes everyone else will simply disappear. Produced in 2017, this piece was a first-year project by a student enrolled in the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

Drawing from fifteen years of diary entries I have kept since I was eight years old, this work represents my attempt to break free from my fixed ideas about animation and myself. It is a first-year graduate project from 2021 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Around four years ago, while taking a walk in Ome, I happened upon an interesting stone about 30cm in diameter. That find sparked a strong curiosity to thoroughly explore its visual qualities. This piece is Tatsuhiro Ariyoshi's 2013 graduate thesis from the Animation Department at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

In "Recruit Rhapsody," a typical college student gets thrown into the cutthroat realm of job hunting, where their peers exhibit fierce ambition and unrealistic dreams. The story offers a critical examination of this facet of Japanese society, blending in dark humor. The film was produced as a graduation project in 2012 by a student at the Graduate School of Film and New Media within Tokyo University of the Arts.

In 1960s China, an older lady finds comfort in her garden as the daylight fades. As the sky shifts through shades of orange, an evening primrose starts to open. This moment stirs her memories of her younger years and the times when she felt most beautiful. The story is depicted using traditional Chinese paper-cut art, emphasizing the delicate feel of the paper and the vivid richness of its colors.

A boy encounters a street vendor hawking chicks. Even as a child, he knows these birds will not live long. In his eyes, the vendor is offering nothing less than death itself.

The Nighthawk, the main character of this story, is considered so hideous that other creatures believe he has falsely taken on the name. The Hawk orders him to abandon the title, but the Nighthawk refuses. As this confrontation unfolds, the Nighthawk starts to realize that he and the Hawk have far more in common than he originally believed.

During the night, a man extends his own leash into the void. To escape, he must explode. This is a graduate work from 2017 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A boy becomes pregnant. Enduring the pain of morning sickness and facing various prejudices, he finally gives birth. This is a graduate work from 2020 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Why do you seek approval? If it's never going to come, then let go of whatever you wanted to be recognized for and simply have some soup, as you always do. Graduate Work 2019, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A man is agonizing at his desk. On that desk, there is a tiny man also agonizing at his own desk. The larger man stays motionless, lacking any ideas. The tiny man frantically moves around, trying in vain to capture an idea that is supposed to reside within him. Both men become trapped in their search for an idea, growing desperate, and after dawn, the larger man is suddenly struck by an idea... Winner of the animation category at the Chitrakatha'13 film festival.

In a small town, two brothers lived. The elder one lived by himself, while the younger still lived with their parents. Their relationship was neither close nor hostile—they simply stayed in touch from time to time. The older brother had a quick temper and often let his emotions get the better of him, spending most of his time absorbed in work. The younger brother, on the other hand, followed his own path at a steady pace. One day, without any explanation, the older brother's face turned into a tomato.

This is the true love story between a mother and her deceased child. To bring her child back to life, the mother made a promise with an old man. Graduate Work 2011, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

After being let go from his corporate job, a man begins working part-time distributing balloons while dressed in a rabbit costume. He finds solace in hiding his identity behind the disguise, as no one can recognize him. Eventually, he chooses to wear the costume constantly in his everyday life. The costume then merges with his body, trapping him inside it. This is a first-year project from 2010 by Toshiko Hata, created at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A massive fish that devours boys exists. A boy attempts to catch it by using himself as bait. He sets sail on a boat in order to eat this enormous fish. First-year work from 2014 by Ai Sugaya, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A person does not know where to go but must keep moving forward. They have to reach their destination. Continually changing, their heart and mind wander and race toward that goal once it is found. Graduate Work 2015 by Yukie Nakauchi, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. Prize: Fukui Film Festival 10th, Animation Division, Special Jury Prize AES Japan Conference Sound Award 2015, Sound Design Division, Grand Prize / Winner: Sound Engineer Misaki Hasuo

Numbers stations saw extensive use during the Cold War era. While adjusting the radio in a snowy mountain, a boy accidentally tuned into a shortwave broadcast transmitting coded messages. This is a first-year work from 2016 by Ryotaro Miyajima, created at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Malice arrives without warning. As though it is blinking. Unpredictable like a fluttering insect. One day a young hermit discovers a winged insect and destroys it in revulsion. Meanwhile, the elephant observes everything but remains silent. From that day forward, the boy is pursued by the shadows of winged insects. Graduate Work 2021, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Mayumi is a pampered girl whose parents purchase every item she desires. She gives the name "Mayumi" to all of her belongings, and over time her room becomes crowded with countless Mayumis. Eventually, Mayumi herself is consumed by the characters that spell out her own name. This is a first-year project from 2016 by Chinami Taniguchi at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Graduate Work 2016, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. One always stumbles before achieving success. The glass in one's hand chips with every attempt. Thus, everything must begin anew from the very start. Yet, there are certain things that can only be discovered through repetition. The answer lies within oneself.

In modern society, nearly everyone is lifted and moved by forces resembling a Sugoroku game, with "Parents" being the first to take that role. A boy matures along this Sugoroku path, a journey chronicling his reliance on his parents. Within this family structure, each member assumes a specific Sugoroku function: his father rolls the dice while his mother lifts him, leaving the boy to move forward passively. However, how long can this family system, modeled after Sugoroku, persist? Eventually, the boy resolves to sever his ties with his family. This is a graduate work by Tanaka Miki from the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

A stone pillar stretches endlessly upward, with climbers steadily making their way up its surface. Each climber devotes time to the ascent, serving as a symbol of accumulation. This Graduate Work from 2010 was created by Nonaka Akifumi at the Department of Animation within the Graduate School of Film and New Media at Tokyo University of the Arts. The piece received the Silver Blade Prize at the 2010 Digital Creators Competition, the Entertainment Prize at the 16th Campus Genius Award in 2010, the Award for Excellence in the Students Department at the 2011 Miyagi Sendai Animation Grand Prix, the Incentive Award at the 14th CHOFU Short Film Competition in 2011, and the Jury's Special Award at the CREATIVE MARKET TOKYO 2011.

Toshikazu Tamura produced this work during their initial year at the Tokyo University of the Arts, within the Graduate School of Film and New Media's Department of Animation. The piece employs repeated cat illustrations stamped onto a notebook to assemble brief animated sequences.

I attempt to position this piece—a film constructed with text, or a film-book—somewhere between seeing and reading. This movie is devoted to J.L. Borges, a magnificent creator who translated Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince in his early youth, rose to become one of the most important authors of the 20th century, and kept producing works through dictation even after going blind. Graduate Project 2011, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Mizuki Kiyama’s short film employs a paint-on-glass technique to depict a young girl’s trip to a neighborhood sento with her mother, filled with dazzling sensuous wonder. Evoking a childlike fascination with everyday routines, this ordinary act within a space of feminine intimacy becomes a realm of otherworldly fantasy. Bath House of Whales received the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in Germany. The film was created as a graduation project at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

This story takes place in a realm from long ago, existing before birth and before death, a place familiar to all yet unknown to anyone. Graduate Work 2018, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

On a summer day, a peculiar man teaching Russian at the beach leads me to a town. Though the town is familiar, viewing it from a new perspective makes it appear completely fresh. The man is expected to return to the beach tomorrow. This 2015 graduate work by Yoko Yuki was created at the Department of Animation, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts. Prizes: - ASK? FILM FESTIVAL 2015 11th ANNIVERSARY, ASK? award - Image forum Festival 2015, audience award - Inter Collage Animation Festival 2015, audience award - MPTE AWARDS 2015, Aoi thubasa award

A girl composed of snow that never melts has developed feelings for the dragon that heralds the arrival of spring. A tale of seasonal change and the gradual warming of frozen emotions. Graduate Work 2019, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

The film is set in a residential area that once offered a beautiful view of both the ocean and the mountains. From that day onward, this town was engulfed in pitch-black darkness. Hidden within that darkness are the lights of the town, my path home, my mother, and the baby I am carrying in my belly. This animation reveals the truth concealed behind the facts. This is a graduate work from 2012 by Keiko Shiraishi, from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A graduate project from 2017 at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. Self-replicating beings that evolved across multiple planets combine and multiply at an exponential rate. They consume other stars while searching for additional energy sources.

People reveal a different side of themselves while eating. Some turn into herbivores, chewing each bite countless times. Others act like carp, swarming around bait. Some resemble hamsters, stuffing their mouths full. Each person is distinct and worth watching. First-year project from 2012, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Animation Department.

Cooperation is the most important thing for friendship. This is a first-year work from 2015 by Iku Ogawa at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

"Googuri Googuri" is a made-up secret word shared between a girl and her grandfather. To the girl, her grandfather is sometimes like a mountain, a tree, or an ocean, serving as a warm and comforting presence. Her thoughts take flight into her boundless imagination. The things we have seen, smelled, thought, and every experience we have had extend and expand within the infinite expanse inside ourselves. This piece is a 2010 graduate work from the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

A man sought to flee. He wished to remain oblivious, yet he discovered them all. 1st year work 2014, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Missing You is the graduate project of Satomi Maiya from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. The story follows a mother who discreetly throws a letter written by her daughter into a snow-covered sea. Sensing something is not right, the daughter secretly gets into a rowboat to follow her mother.

In a nursing home, the elderly residents have their heads shaved. The protagonist, employed there, watches them but cannot grasp what they are feeling. After a certain incident, he starts studying their faces with greater intensity.

I am the only person who cannot survive in the underwater world without an oxygen tank. No matter how much I struggle to breathe, I maintain peace and harmony by acting as though the selfish girl and my friends with difficult family situations do not affect me. Graduate Work 2021, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Inspired by the distinctive Japanese folklore concept of Red Uncleanness, or blood-related defilement, this work follows a girl whose thoughts leap unpredictably without logical progression. She confines her scattered ideas within the other side of a mirror and inside sliding doors, allowing them to venture outward. This is a first-year production from 2012 by Yumi Kawai, created at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A landscape emerges within a deep dream, viewed through shapeless eyes. This peaceful vision slowly warps, and as anxiety and an upsurge rise behind us, nightly liberation commences. This piece is the 2016 graduate work of Tomomi Komazaki from the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

Fluffy turtles, fluffy monkeys, fluffy lizards. Explore a world inhabited by these oddly endearing imaginary creatures. With their irresistibly fluffy bodies, they are appearing more and more frequently in everyday life. Graduate Work 2018, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Large cities are overflowing with data. A hidden sense of wonder, lying beneath a veneer of disinterest, lures us into a chaotic loop. This piece was created in 2017 as a first-year work at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

With eyes half-closed, drifting between waking and sleep, my consciousness journeys across time and space, taking the form of every living thing. I become the universe, and the universe becomes me—until I finally drift off. This is a song offered as a prayer for the persistence of heart and soul at the moment of awakening. Graduate Work 2015 by ShiShi Yamazaki, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A girl receives the news from her doctor that she is pregnant. Shocked by the sudden revelation, she sinks into a state of distress. She drifts between visions and fantasies. The transient dream is a dream of hopelessness. 1st Year Work 2011 by Mayuko Yamakita, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Satomi Maiya's first-year project at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation, focuses on a young girl who craves her mother's love. But her mother's attention is taken up by looking after the newborn baby sister. Consumed by envy, the girl chooses to hide her baby sister away inside a dark closet.

A woman repeatedly strokes a cat that tries to resist her touch. This is a first-year work from 2015, created at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A pet fish tells a boy one day, "I want to leave home." The boy reluctantly takes the fish out to the sea, claiming he must "keep his promise," as the fish says. Their memories along the way become slightly inconsistent. This is a first-year work from 2013 by Onohana, produced at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Beneath the surface lies an underground world. Above ground, countless people pass by. In this subterranean space, a garbage bag exists. It has no job, no shelter, and no family. This tale follows a grimy black garbage bag as it discovers a new life through a series of diverse experiences. 1st Year Work 2010 by Aki Kono, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

This film depicts how every dog eventually becomes a dusty dog, with that dust formed from their own pride and the pride you hold for them. It recounts the memories, love, and appreciation of these dusty dogs, along with countless other canines, as they revisit their feelings and recollections, all as a tribute to those who loved them.

One morning during the rainy season, a woman with curly hair awakens. Surreal visions of self-loathing flood her mind one after another. This is a first-year work from 2015 by Tomomi Komazaki, created at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Aoko takes pride in the documents she produces at her job, but receives no recognition for her efforts. One day, she catches a colleague secretly altering the documents she had made. To silence her, Aoko is transformed into a piece of candy... First-year work from 2017, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Growing in number, tiny rabbits look after a large dolphin. Will the dolphin be able to fall asleep thanks to the rabbits' tender touch? May many people enjoy restful sleep and pleasant dreams tonight, even in a world filled with complaining noises and the twisting of yin and yang. Graduate Work 2013, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation

During a village festival at dusk, a young boy named Bunroku heads out with a friend and stops by a clog shop along the route. It is there that he hears an ancient superstition concerning the fox. This 2015 graduate work by Miyo Sato from the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts, has received numerous accolades. It won the Grand Prize in the Student Competition at the 2015 Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival and the Grand Prize in the Short Film Competition at the 2015 Aichi International Woman's Film Festival. Additional honors include the Yotsuba Prize at the 2015 New Chitose Airport International Animation Film Festival, the Jury Special Prize at the 11th Kichijoji Animation Film Festival, and a Special Mention in the Elephant Competition at the 2015 ANIMATEKA International Animation Film Festival. The film also earned a Jury Honorable Mention in the International 2015 Student Competition at the 2016 MONSTRA - Lisbon Animated Film Festival, an Award of Excellence at the 9th Children Animation Festival, and the Jury Prize at the 21st Campus Genius Awards.

A woman looks from one window to another, triggering a recollection of various scenes. The transformed windows shift, expand, reflect, preserve, and occasionally glow like a lighthouse. First-year work from 2014 at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

One day, a letter brings a blood sausage to its companion, a liver sausage. And so, he set out... This story is inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "The Strange Feast." This is a graduate project from 2016 by Iku Ogawa, completed at the Tokyo University of the Arts, within the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A boy suddenly begins playing hopscotch. Kicking a stone is a simple game, but it does not go as simply as it appears. He struggles under the rules he created for himself. This is a first-year work from 2013 by Yutaro Kubo, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

As the mind utters "aah," the body responds with "hee." I move through the uncertainty and the agreement, and my entire existence is shaped by these movements. A 2014 first-year piece by Shishi Yamazaki, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

The scutes shimmer at the edge of her thoughts, prompting her to unearth her recollections. What was the museum director like whom she met when she was lost? Graduate Work 2015 by Megumi Ishitani, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Chinami Taniguchi finished this graduation piece in 2017 while studying at the Tokyo University of the Arts within the Graduate School of Film and New Media's Department of Animation. The story follows a boy who gets lost in a forest and comes across Nosferatu vampires.

The two of them are left alone in the house, alone with her father's body. Memories, ideals, and reality all become buried in the mud. Everyone is isolated. Everyone exists in solitude. Graduate Work 2014, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

A massive pig lies outside a house. Inside live a father, mother, grandmother, six children, and a dog. Everyone knows the enormous pig is there, and the pig is aware of the family. Yet no one truly comprehends each other's thoughts or feelings. The mother has difficulty understanding her husband's point of view... This tale delves into the intricacies of ordinary family relationships.

The elementary school boy named Kuchao is despised by his classmates. While everyone else releases balloons, he alone refuses to let go of his. As soon as he starts chewing bubble gum, he enters an imaginary world after school. When his balloon transforms into a face and begins chewing gum itself, it changes into various forms. His imagination accelerates even further. Then, a bird flies toward him and... This is a first-year work from 2010 at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

She hasn't had control over her body for what feels like an eternity. Completely drained, she finds herself longing to cast off her physical form. This film was created as a graduate project in 2019 at the Department of Animation, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.

An elderly woman who deeply adores her goldfish experiences a dream centered around it. In this dream, she remembers a moment from her childhood that explains why she has such a strong affection for goldfish. This is a brief animated work created by Kaori Iwase.

A boy is perpetually by himself, whether at school or at home. One day, while walking home, he discovers a sandlot and gets the idea to build a "town" of his own. Another boy observes his play and begins to copy him. First-year project from 2013, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

Naoko argued with her brother about something insignificant and shoved him aside. She was aware of her immaturity, yet she still fled from home. A first-year project from 2014 by Megumi Ishitani, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.

This comedy anime follows a young girl as she explores a mysterious town where peaceful landscapes blend with urban structures, joined by an assortment of monsters. Her daydreams and emotions are depicted either on a screen or through the monsters' shapes, providing a vivid window into her reflective world set against an energetic soundtrack. The artwork, with its soft colors and finely detailed lines, produces a distinct and transparent atmosphere.

In "My Little Goat," a mother goat saves her children from a wolf, but her oldest, Toruku, goes missing. When Toruku finally returns, he must face his greatest fears together with the mutilated bodies of his siblings. As the wolf strikes again, the truth behind Toruku's long absence is revealed, and the family struggles to survive.

One day, a boy who loses hold of his mother's hand has his fingers taken from him. When his mother's love reveals a different aspect, his fingers transform into larvae and detach from his hand. The house keeps hidden the bond between the two from the outside world. How does the boy who has his fingers stolen grow up? Graduate Work 2010, Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation

Spanning eight seconds, this work inserts intervals between frames and progressively enlarges them. The focus lies on expansion and growth rather than the mere passage of time, rendering those eight seconds significantly more luxuriant. Created as a 2014 graduate project by the Department of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts, it received several accolades: Best Gallery Film at the 2014 Anima Mundi, the Jury Special Prize at the 2014 ANIMPACT, and the Graduation Work Adobe prize at the 2014 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.