Japan»

Shuzo John SHIOTA President & CEO, Polygon Pictures Inc. Shuzo John Shiota joined the Nippon Steel Corporation in 1991. Shiota went on to participate in the launch of Dream Pictures Studio in 1997. He moved to Polygon two years later and in 2003 assumed the position of President and CEO. As studio head Shiota has spearheaded efforts to cultivate Polygon's overseas presence, helping the studio to become a leading developer of TV series and content targeted at the foreign market.Shiota has also served as a judge at major Japanese and international film festivals including Prix Ars Electronica (AUS), SIGGRAPH (U.S.) and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France). In 2008, he was selected as one of the "25 Toon Titans of Asia" by popular industry publication Animation Magazine. He will also preside as conference chair for SIGGRAPH Asia in December 2021.

Yuichi ITOH Animation Director Born in 1962. President of I.TOON. He is very active in many fields especially, his animations and character designed using various techniques focusing on clay. One of his masterpiece 26th Anniversary "KNYACKI!" (NHK educational television), “Grasshopper Monogatari” (NHK Minnanouta), Original short animation based in Yokohama harbor, “HARBOR TALE”(Awarded best short animation, etc. at ZLIN FILM FESTIVAL), designed “Garden Bear” (Official character for Garden Necklace YOKOHAMA 2017) and more. International Jury at the 18th Hiroshima International Animation Festival. A member of the ASIFA-JAPAN. A member of the board of directors of the Japan Animation Association. Professor at Graduate School of Film and New Media Tokyo University of the Arts, Animation Department.

Tatsutoshi NOMURA Director/Animator/Professor Born in 1964. Tatsutoshi joined ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC. in 1987. After he worked as a director for commercials, he created original animations applying different types of methods. These include Fuji Television’s “STRAY SHEEP” and NHK’s “Jam the HOUSNAIL.” Tatsutoshi has also been involved in creating commercials, picture books, illustrations and exhibit visuals. He has been teaching animation at his alma meter Tama Art University, Department of Graphic Design since 2011. A member of the board of directors of the Japan Animation Association.

Kanae TAKEUCHI Reporter Takeuchi has reported from more than 100 countries in the world for over 30 years as a Mystery Hunter for the Japanese TV program “Discovery of the World's Mysteries”. She is still active as a reporter in Japan and abroad, and also produces hats, bags and shoes using her expertise from her many years of travels.

Ryota NAKANO Film Director Ryota NAKANO was born in 1973 in Kyoto, Japan. After graduating the university, He went to the Japan Institute of the Moving Image for 3 years and has been fascinated by directing films. Independent film “Capturing Dad)” awarded the best director at SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL, invited to the Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin, and won 14 awards outside Japan. 2016, his major debut film “Her Love Boils Bathwater” was awarded as the Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and other 6 awards. The film was won 35 awards in Japan and selected as representing Japan of The Academy Awards, a foreign film. 2019, “A LONG GOODBYE” based on the book was hit. 2020 “THE ASADAS” awarded Best Supporting actress involved other 8 awards. He was directing the FAMILY from his point of view.

Noriko MATSUMOTO Producer, dwarf dept. xpd Inc. Noriko Matsumoto is a producer of animation films and the head producer of dwarf studios.
She started her career as a TV commercial producer. After producing both 'DOMO' (1998) and the exhibition showcasing what goes on behind the scenes of animation films, that was the trigger of creating 'Komaneko' by Goda, Domo's creator, she shifted her field to the animation and character industry and she supported Goda when he started the studio dwarf.
Ms. Matsumoto was one of the first producers in Japan to work with international streaming services, bringing the superior quality stop-motion techniques that dwarf is renowned for to an even wider audience. First to be released was the 2016 Amazon Prime pilot season of 'The Curious Kitty', based on 'Komaneko'. After that came 'Rilakkuma and Kaoru' with Netflix in 2019.
In 2021 she worked with theater production people on a collaboration to support the industry during the pandemic, releasing the film 'Gyoro Goes to the Theater'

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