Discover a curated program of short films exploring the many meanings of “play,” presented in the Event Hall. With a total runtime of just under 60 minutes, the program features a dynamic mix of:
- Animated shorts selected by renowned animator YAMAMURA Koji, made by current and former animation students of the Tokyo University of the Arts.
- Live-action shorts chosen from SAMANSA, a Japanese streaming platform specializing in short films.
The film program runs on alternating timeslots with language activities on Saturday and loops continuously on Sunday.
WATAKUSHIRITORI わたくしりとり
One day is presented by shiritori, a word game of last and first. A chain of images in one line evolves the story of this game.
Created by OKUSHITA Kazuhiko • 2013 • 3:55
PLAYGROUND あきちあそび
A boy is always alone, at school, or at home. One day he finds a sandlot on the way home and thinks of making a “town” of his own. Another boy was watching his play and starts to imitate him.
Created by OSHIRO Ryosuke • 2013 • 5:09
KICKING ROCKS 石けり
All of sudden, a boy starts to play hopscotch. Kicking stone is a simple play but it doesn’t work simply as it seems. He struggles by the rule he made himself.
Created by KUBO Yutaro • 2013 • 5:00
BRICK GAMES
There lives a little girl with her brother in a city full of skyscrapers. One night when they were playing with their favourite game Jenga, something strange happened.
Created by LAM Man Yee • 2016 • 3:22
JINXES わたしルール
A girl heading home from school is met with a bigger version of herself who poses arbitrary challenges with unspeakable consequences. The little girl tries to keep up but suddenly the stakes are raised.
Created by MAEHATA Yuki • 2018 • 2:47
ROUND TRIP おうふくにくふうお
Kaibun are palidromes in which words sound the same when read backwards and forwards. Sometimes the meaning changes, and sometimes not. I brought this playful and poetic world to life.
Created by ABE Yuka • 2021 • 4:00
FOOTBALL ANIMALS フットボールアニマル
Only one minute left in the second half. The RED ANIMALS are slick, pushing through the deadly defensive line of the BLUE BEASTS. And just when you think it’s all over, the ball goes up in the air. Who will smell sweet victory?
Created by NAGASAKA Kohei • 2023 • 1:35
THE VOICE ACTRESS
Kingyo, a veteran voice actress working in Tokyo, possesses a unique ability to see the soul in all things, living and inanimate. The voice acting world is changing and she must find a way to reconcile her way of living with the modern industry.
Directed by Anna J. Takayama • 2022 • 15:11
DING DONG DITCH
“I want to disappear” is written in the dirt of the park. A correspondence between a boy who longs to be a villain and a girl who waits for her mother in the park at night. The two, who do not even know each other, communicate only through messages left in the dirt.
Directed by Chavo • 2024 • 10:59
