The 3rd Niigata International Animation Film Festival opened on March 15 in Niigata City, with Innocence (2004), directed by Mamoru Oshii, screened as the opening film. Before the screening, a 10-minute video message from Oshii was shown. Below is a summary of his message.

Innocence and Its Enduring Legacy

Q: Innocence continues to be loved and supported by fans across generations. What are your thoughts on this?

Oshii: I was asked to talk about Innocence, and much like GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995), I created this film with the belief that it would remain relevant even 10 or 20 years later. Even if it wasn’t a major hit upon release, I hoped it would eventually be recognized and talked about by many people.

Films are composed of various elements such as drama and characters, but for me, the sheer amount of visual information in a movie is crucial. This isn't simply about higher resolutions like 4K or 8K; rather, it's about how deeply a world can be expressed.

For Innocence, we utilized not only digital technology but also the exceptional drawing skills of animators at the time. Everything—from the animation to the backgrounds and even the smallest movements—pushed the limits of what we could achieve. I believe that is why people still want to watch Innocence today.

The themes explored in the film have not become outdated. The movie questions how humanity may change in the future, and that question remains relevant today. While I don’t know how modern audiences perceive Innocence, one thing is certain: its "power of imagery" continues to move people.

A film like this may never be made again. No matter how advanced digital technology becomes, it alone cannot create something like Innocence. The world of animation and background artistry has always been driven by technique—by "the work of human hands." Unfortunately, these skills are not being sufficiently passed on to the next generation. This makes me realize once again that animation is truly a craft of human hands. To be honest, I believe creating another film like this is impossible.

The Future of Animation

Oshii: I don’t know what the future of animation holds. However, what matters is not "what will happen" but "what we want to happen."

Those involved in animation, particularly young dreamers, must define what they truly want to create and pursue it. That is what ultimately shapes the future of animation. This applies to all forms of artistic expression—when great works continue to emerge, they naturally shape the future. I hope to see as many brilliant works as possible.

As for me, I have done my best, but as I grow older, I want to take a more relaxed approach and simply enjoy movies. Instead, I want young creators to take on the challenge. Regardless of whether they are in Japan or elsewhere, the industry needs young talents willing to engage in this serious battle.

If possible, I hope new movements emerge from the entertainment world. While individual artistic brilliance is important, I also look forward to works with sharp perspectives that arise from collective creative efforts.

A Message to Festival Attendees

Oshii: I served as the jury president for the first competition at this festival. At that time, I thought, "If this festival can continue for three editions, it would be amazing." And now, it has indeed reached its third year. The initial goal has been achieved.

However, whether this festival continues depends on the quality of the films presented. This is one of the very few festivals worldwide dedicated to feature-length animation. While there are many short animation festivals, very few focus on full-length films. I hope this festival gains global recognition.

Ultimately, the festival's future will be determined by the quality of films it attracts. I encourage everyone involved to do their best to make it a success. Perhaps one day, I might even submit one of my own works to this festival.

Finally, a word about Innocence. If you overthink it, the movie might feel overwhelming. So, instead of analyzing it too deeply, I hope you simply enjoy the world of Innocence. Immerse yourself in its visuals and sound design, and you will undoubtedly have a great experience. That’s all from me.

About Innocence

The film is the second installment in the Ghost in the Shell series, based on the manga by Masamune Shirow. The story follows Batou, a protagonist left behind after Motoko Kusanagi (voiced by Atsuko Tanaka) vanishes at the end of the previous film, GHOST IN THE SHELL. Set in Japan in the year 2032, where humans, cyborgs, and robots coexist in an era where the human soul is becoming increasingly fragile, the story unfolds when a childlike companion robot goes rogue, killing its owner. Batou and his partner Togusa begin an investigation to uncover why a machine built to serve humans would turn against them. As they delve deeper, they face interference from a mysterious hacker who attacks their "brains" through cyber networks.

The 3rd Niigata International Animation Film Festival runs from March 15 to 20 across four venues in Niigata City: Niigata Civic Plaza, Niigata Nippo Media Ship, T-Joy Niigata Bandai, and Cine Wind.

Source : ORICON NEWS