Nominees for the forty sixth Japan Academy Movie Prize had been introduced as we speak (Jan. 23), naming 5 winners of the semi-final “Wonderful Animation of the 12 months” honors. Anime-inspired works had been additionally acknowledged throughout the live-action classes. The winners, together with “Finest Animation of the 12 months,” might be introduced on the awards ceremony on March 10 in Tokyo.
The animation contenders are Masaaki Yuasa’s Inu-oh (Science SARU/Aniplex/GKIDS [NorAm]), Keiichi Hara’s Lonely Citadel within the Mirror (A-1 Footage) [trailer], Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume (CoMix Wave, STORY inc) [trailer], Goro Taniguchi’s One Piece Movie Purple (Toei) and Takehiko Inoue’s The First Slam Dunk (Toei) [trailer].
Each One Piece Movie Purple and The First Slam Dunk have been main hits for Toei Animation. The fifteenth One Piece movie is the highest-grossing within the studio’s historical past, and the highest-grossing movie of 2022 in Japan. The Japan Academy beforehand introduced that One Piece Movie Purple is the winner of this yr’s Particular Award, which acknowledges an individual or group’s excellent achievement for the yr. It’s also the sixth One Piece movie to be nominated for the Japan Academy prize.
Shinkai’s earlier hit movies have been acknowledged by the Japan Academy; his most up-to-date function Weathering with You gained Animation of the 12 months in 2020, whereas Your Identify. earned a nomination within the class in addition to a nomination for Shinkai for greatest director in 2017. Suzume might be rolling out to worldwide theaters starting in April, following its abroad premiere on the Berlinale.
Inu-oh has already gained some prestigious honors, together with Fantasia Fest’s Satoshi Kon Award and the Ofuji Noburo Award from the Mainichi Movie Awards (additionally nominated for Finest Animation Movie). Yuasa’s Night time Is Brief, Stroll on Woman gained the Japan Academy prize for animation in 2018.
Based mostly on the award-winning novel by Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Citadel within the Mirror marks the third nomination within the class for Hara, having beforehand competed with Miss Hokusai in 2016, Colourful in 2011 and Summer season Days with Coo in 2008.
One other adaptation of Tsujimura’s work, the live-action Anime Supremacy! — a few first-time animation director decided to outdo the success of the tough, however good anime visionary who impressed her — was notably nominated in 10 classes, together with Image of the 12 months, Director (Kohei Yoshino), Screenplay (Yosuke Masaike) and Artwork Path (Satoshi Kanda). You may watch the trailer right here.
[Source: Japan Academy via Crunchyroll]
