Animalia festival

Almaty, January 07, 2010 (Khabar) - Almaty is witnessing the second Asian festival of animation. For people of Japan, anime means even more than football for Brazilians. Everything began with comic books. In 1814, the Japanese animator Katsushika Hokusai invented the word “manga”, which means jolly pictures. But the first page in the history of animation was opened 100 years ago, when in 1917 the first cartoon was released. Osamu Tezuka is considered to be the founder of the modern anime, since it was he, who borrowed the Disney technique of depicting large eyes on a character to emphasize the emotional impact. Currently, Yoshiharu Ashino is working at Studio 4°C.
The First Squad: The Moment of Truth, which opened the festival and was directed by Yoshiharu Ashino, is the joint work of Japanese, Russian and Canadian animators.

Yoshiharu Ashino, director and animator:
- I am very glad to meet Kazakhstan’s animators. At this festival I am acting not just like a guest but I am also aimed at discussions on a joint project. I’ve got an idea for a film but I cannot tell you the details yet. If the idea is successful I would be glad to cooperate with Kazakhfilm.”

As part of the festival, residents of Almaty can enjoy a demonstration of anime by famous Japanese directors.