Selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs Media Arts Creator Development Program (and Recent News)

My short film project in progress, The Animator Cat, has been selected for the creation support program of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Media Arts Creator Development Support Program!

I developed this project last year while being put through my paces in the NeW NeW program, so I really owe it to that, and I’ll do my best until it’s finished to make it a good film.

The other day there was an announcement event and a networking session, and I was nervous because there were so many people who looked like they were no ordinary artists. The people I meet at NeW NeW and film festivals are mostly in animation, so I know them or feel some kinship, but this time it brought together artists from truly diverse fields, so I was nervous.

I chickened out and didn’t talk much with people I’d never met, but I still got to connect a little and greet the advisors who will be helping me, so I’m calling it a success.

My days are spent preparing materials for the first meeting and working on layouts.

When I draw at a small size, I’m afraid there’ll be a gap when it’s shown on a screen, like “it’s bigger than I thought,” so I draw rule-of-thirds lines and keep the proportions within the frame in mind. I’ve also tried adopting a rule from a book on composition in painting: “Placing the weight on the left makes people feel uneasy, and placing it on the right makes them feel at ease.” Apparently in tokusatsu shows the villains are usually on the left too, which is interesting.

I was planning to go location scouting over Silver Week, but the forecast is rain and I’m discouraged. Was autumn always like this? I wish every day had weather like today.

Since I’m in the middle of production, I’d like to properly keep a production diary of all these things on Instagram or somewhere. I’m doing all sorts of things every day, but before I know it, a week has flown by like light.