The highly anticipated poster visual for the 3rd Niigata International Animation Film Festival has been officially unveiled, signaling excitement for an event that will take place over six vibrant days from Saturday, March 15 to Thursday, March 20, 2025, coinciding with the public holiday in Japan.
Recognized as Asia’s largest celebration of animated cinema, the Niigata International Animation Film Festival (NIAFF) is hosted in Niigata City, a significant cultural hub that has birthed trailblazing manga and anime figures, including renowned artists like Shinji Mizushima, creator of Dokaben, and Rumiko Takahashi, famed for Urusei Yatsura. The festival aspires to establish itself as the definitive “Animation Capital” of the world. Lauded as the globe’s inaugural film festival dedicated exclusively to feature-length animation, the previous edition in 2024 welcomed a diverse array of filmmakers, including the notable first-time presence of Irish director Nora Twomey. The festival saw an impressive turnout, with a total attendance of 24,000 enthusiastic attendees.
In addition to the main event, it has been excitingly announced that the Niigata International Animation Film Festival in TOKYO will take place, showcasing a selection of popular works from the previous year’s festival. The Tokyo showcase will run for seven days, from Saturday, November 30 to Friday, December 6, featuring a daily schedule of screenings that will include competition entries and captivating period dramas at Eurospace in Shibuya, Tokyo. The festival will kick off with a showing of the Grand Prix-winning film Adam ga Kawaru Toki (When Adam Changes) at 3:00 p.m. on opening day, followed by an engaging talk session featuring program director Naoshi Sudo and distinguished guests. Full event passes will be available for purchase at the theater’s box office, and attendees will receive a special sacoche as a delightful gift.
Event Period: Saturday, March 15 – Thursday, March 20 (6 days)
Locations: Niigata Citizen Plaza, Nippoh Hall, Cinewind, T-Joy Niigata Bandai (screenings)
Kaishi Professional University, Niigata University South Campus Tokimeito (symposiums, exhibitions)
Organizers: Niigata International Animation Film Festival Executive Committee
Festival Director: Shinichiro Inoue (former editor-in-chief of Monthly Newtype)
Program Director: Naoshi Sudo (animation journalist)
Chairperson: Kenzo Horikoshi (Eurospace Representative, Professor at Kaishi Professional University)
Vice-Chairperson: Akio Nashimoto (film director, Executive Officer of Sunny Rain Co., Ltd.)
General Producer: Taro Maki (CEO of Genco, Inc.)
Tokyo Office Director: Atsuya Ihara (Producer at Genco, Inc./Production Division)
Niigata Office Director: Masayuki Uchida (Director-General of Niigata Anime and Manga Project Consortium)
Sponsors (Expected): Cabinet Office Intellectual Property Strategy Promotion Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Niigata Prefecture, Niigata Prefectural Board of Education, others
Special Cooperation (Expected): Niigata City, Niigata Nippo, Niigata Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation, NSG Holdings, others
Grants: Agency for Cultural Affairs Cultural Arts Promotion Fund (Film Festival Support Program)
Niigata International Animation Film Festival in TOKYO
November 30 (Sat) – December 6 (Fri) at Eurospace / Shibuya
Organized by: Niigata International Animation Film Festival Association
Planning and Production: Eurospace + Genco
Screening Schedule Talk sessions are free (approx. 30 minutes)
◎ Competition Section
November 30 (Sat)
15:00 When Adam Changes
Talk: Yoshihiko Yadabe + Naoshi Sudo
17:30 Mantra Warrior: The Legend of Eight Moons
December 1 (Sun)
15:00 Other Shape
17:00 Alice and Teles’ Phantom Factory
December 2 (Mon)
15:00 Krayukaba
17:00 Sultana’s Dream
December 3 (Tue)
15:00 Kensuke’s Kingdom (English version)
17:00 On the Bridge
December 4 (Wed)
15:00 Coyote’s Four Souls
17:15 Mars Express
December 5 (Thu)
15:00 Strange Fish from the Deep Sea
◎ Samurai Animation Special
December 5 (Thu)
16:45 Boy Sasuke Sarutobi
18:00 The Mechanical Tale: Hiwou Senki (Episode 21)
December 6 (Fri)
15:00 Theatrical Version: Sengoku Kitan Youtouden
Talk: Naoshi Sudo
17:15 Stranger: Mukou Hantan
Available at Eurospace official website and Eurospace ticket counter
Single Ticket:
Adult ¥1,500 / Student ¥1,000 / High School and Below ¥500
*For On the Bridge only:
Adult ¥1,000 / Student and Below ¥500
Full Festival Pass:
Adult ¥10,000 / Student ¥6,000 (Festival sacoche included)
*Passes are only available at the ticket counter. Please collect your reserved seat ticket for each screening.
◎ Online Tickets http://www.eurospace.co.jp/
● Available for purchase with credit cards only.
● Please collect your tickets from the dedicated ticket machine in the lobby before the screening.
**Interview with Shinichiro Inoue, Festival Director of the Niigata International Animation Film Festival**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Shinichiro! We’re excited about the upcoming 3rd Niigata International Animation Film Festival. What can attendees expect from this year’s event?
**Shinichiro Inoue**: Thank you for having me! This year’s festival, running from March 15 to March 20, 2025, promises to be an incredible celebration of animated cinema. With a lineup of feature-length films, symposiums, and exhibitions taking place across various venues in Niigata City, we aim to immerse attendees in the vibrant world of animation and the stories it tells.
**Editor**: The festival is renowned for celebrating international animated films. Can you share some highlights from last year’s edition that attendees might be looking forward to?
**Shinichiro Inoue**: Absolutely! Last year’s festival welcomed notable filmmakers, including the first-time presence of Irish director Nora Twomey, and we had a record 24,000 attendees. This year, we’re excited to showcase not just competition entries but also the variety of genres and themes that animated films can explore. The response from filmmakers and audiences has been overwhelmingly positive.
**Editor**: It’s impressive to see the festival evolving into Asia’s largest celebration of animated cinema. How do you envision the Niigata International Animation Film Festival positioning itself as the “Animation Capital” of the world?
**Shinichiro Inoue**: Our vision is to create a platform that not only celebrates animated films but also fosters international collaboration and innovation within the animation community. By inviting esteemed guests and hosting discussions, we hope to inspire new ideas and projects. The upcoming Niigata International Animation Film Festival in Tokyo is part of this initiative—showcasing popular works from our previous festival highlights and broadening our reach.
**Editor**: Speaking of the Tokyo showcase, what can you tell us about the additional program and its significance?
**Shinichiro Inoue**: The Niigata International Animation Film Festival in Tokyo, running from November 30 to December 6, will feature screenings of competition entries and include an engaging lineup of talk sessions. It’s a great opportunity for those who couldn’t attend the main festival in Niigata to experience some of the best works in animation. We want to bring more exposure to these creators and their compelling stories.
**Editor**: It sounds like an exciting time ahead! what message do you want to share with potential attendees of both events?
**Shinichiro Inoue**: I encourage everyone to join us in celebrating the art of animation. Whether it’s in Niigata or Tokyo, our events promise to be an unforgettable experience filled with creativity, innovation, and connection within the animation community. Let’s come together to appreciate the magic of animated storytelling!
**Editor**: Thank you so much, Shinichiro! We look forward to the festivities in March and November!
**Shinichiro Inoue**: Thank you! We can’t wait to see everyone there!