Tokyo Anime Fair 2009

Whether it is for taking a snapshot of a favorite anime character, being the first to see exclusive clips of titles still in production, or for expanding DVD collections by rare specimens, the Tokyo Anime Fair is the place that all anime-lovers would like to visit. It is an annual, four-day international anime trade show, taking place in a large exhibition centre, Tokyo Big Sight, situated in an ultramodern business district of the city. Running from March 18th to 21st this year, the fair attracted as many as 130,000 visitors.

Since the event is traditionally divided into two parts, the first two days for business meetings, and the last two for anime public, it is during the second half of the event that the show is the busiest. With as many as 50,000 visitors a day, the exhibition hall of the size of about four football fields is filled with anime fans, all eager to learn what’s hot this year. Given the numbers of different production and distribution houses present, the competition for attention is tough. Some try to attract curious eyes by hiring cosplay actors to impersonate their best known characters, some by handing out thematic souvenirs. The biggest studios do all that and additionally host live shows, install large screens for viewing of exclusive trailers, as well as mark their location in the huge hall by erecting giant balloons depicting anime characters. With all the noise and spectacles, the fair is like any other market square where every merchant claims to have the freshest brussels sprouts, but it’s up to the buyer to find out who’s really got the best ones.

One of the most exiting spots was definitely the showcase of Nippon TV. Together with Mad House and Kadokawa Pictures, Nippon TV announced a new title, "Summer Wars" by Mamoru Hosoda. Given the success of Hosoda’s 2006 title, "The Girl Who Leapt through Time", the news of "Summer Wars" was received with great enthusiasm, and even though only about a minute of the film was screened, it certainly looked as if it would become at least as good as its predecessor. Most probably the high expectations will also be met when the film is released this summer, the crew list being as impressive as it gets. Next to the award-winning director Mamoru Hosoda, the crew includes Youji Takeshige as the art director ("Howl’s Moving Castle"), Yoshiyuki Sadamoto as the character designer ("Evangelion 1.0" and "Evangelion 2.0"; "The Girl Who Leapt through Time"), and last but not least Satoko Okudera as the screenwriter ("Angel", "The Girl Who Leapt through Time", "Miyori no mori").

Another highlight was the sales booth of Studio 4°C, releasing a limited edition DVD of "Genius Party Beyond". Being a sequel to the popular "Genius Party" compilation, the new DVD contains a collection of works by Mahiro Maeda, Kazuto Nakazawa, Shinya Ohira, Koji Morimoto and Tatsuyuki Tanaka; and also included in the package is an additional disc with interviews, as well as one with the making of "Genius Party Beyond".

As a tribute to Osamu Tezuka, considered one of the greatest manga artists and the father of Japanese anime, the Tezuka Productions announced that his beloved comics, "King of Jungle", will be made into an anime series. The series is expected to go on air this summer under the title of "Kimba the White Lion", commemorating the 80th anniversary of the artist’s birth.

Last but not least, many production companies but also schools and institutions were presenting past works, rewarding devote fans with take-away goodies or the chance to meet familiar anime figures in life size. This approach of a general anime celebration rather than a mere trade show is also reflected in that the Anime Fair hosts an award ceremony for the Anime of the Year award, the most valued distinction in the industry; this year given to the wonderful "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" by much acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki.