On the 21st local time, the Japan-France co-produced animated film "Ghost Cat Anzu" had its official screening at the ongoing 77th Cannes Film Festival in France. Directors Yoko Kuno and Atsuhiro Yamashita attended the festival for the first time.

Director Yamashita, who directed the 2017 drama "Takayuki Yamada's Cannes Film Festival," has now achieved the goal of producing a film to be submitted to the Cannes Film Festival, as aimed within the drama. "I once made a drama called 'Takayuki Yamada's Cannes Film Festival,' so I thought I shouldn't really be here (laughs). But now I truly understand why people admire it so much and why those who participate get so excited," he reflected emotionally.

The film was selected for the Directors' Fortnight section, known for choosing works that emphasize the auteur's vision and serving as a gateway to success for filmmakers worldwide. Past selectees include Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee, and Aki Kaurismäki, with Japanese directors such as Nagisa Oshima, Takeshi Kitano, and Miwa Nishikawa also having been chosen. It is the first selection of a Japanese feature animation in six years, following Isao Takahata's "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" and Mamoru Hosoda's "Mirai."

The film was screened twice at the Croisette Theatre, the main venue for the Directors' Fortnight. The first screening at 8:45 AM filled all 800 seats, drawing press and film enthusiasts from around the world and showcasing its high level of attention. For the second screening at 2:45 PM, 180 local elementary school students were invited, marking a first for the Directors' Fortnight. Before the first screening, Director Kuno commented, "Since it hasn't been shown to audiences in Japan yet, I'm excited to see their reactions." Director Yamashita added, "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm a bit nervous about what questions will come up, but it's not a difficult film (laughs). I hope they enjoy it."

After the screening, the innovative technique of creating animation from live-action footage was noted, and when asked about the casting of Anzu, Director Yamashita revealed, "Mirai Moriyama, who plays Anzu, is both an actor and a dancer, with great physical ability. We asked him to express Anzu's laid-back side as well as cat-like movements."

When asked about Anzu's charm, Director Kuno, who started keeping a cat around the time of the film's creation, said, "Watching cats, you see how they don't care about things that humans do, yet they are there when you need them. I think Anzu has that kind of charm too."

A question from the audience about the film's rich colors, and whether the original work was also colorful, was answered by Director Kuno: "The original is a black-and-white manga, so the colors in the film came from the ideas of our art director and color designer, Julian, who vividly expressed Japanese landscapes." The audience listened with great interest to this unique aspect of the Japan-France co-production.

The directors also watched the second screening together. Like the adults at the first screening, the children laughed at the scene where Anzu arrives on a motorcycle. They also reacted to Anzu's actions and the various unique characters like Frog-chan and the Poverty God. Applause erupted as the end credits rolled, and the directors responded to a four-minute standing ovation with emotional expressions.

After the screening, Director Kuno said, "Watching it with the audience for the first time made it feel like I was seeing the film for the first time too." Director Yamashita added, "I was a bit nervous. I watched with my heart pounding, but eventually, I became an audience member and felt moved. It was great."

When asked about what they would take back from their Cannes experience to future activities, Director Yamashita replied, "I'm 48 this year, and I think experiencing this in my twenties could have been life-changing. Now, I think I'll return to my usual routine in a few days, but the possibility of another screening at Cannes could change our resolve for the future." Director Kuno said, "This is my first feature film, so I feel like I've really been impacted by this experience. I think it's a kind of luck, and I'd be happy to see this view again, so I'll use this as motivation to keep working hard."

The film is also nominated for the competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024, the world's largest animation film festival, and Directors Kuno and Yamashita are set to visit in June. It will be released in Japan on July 19.

Audience Comments

"It was very enjoyable! I think it's a film that opens hearts to the world." (French, male, 20s)

"It was beautiful and heartwarming. The colorful visuals and rich human drama were wonderful, and it tackled a very big theme." (Russian, male, 20s)

"It was beautiful with a retro atmosphere. It's different from modern anime and has the spirit of an old film. The details, like the cat's movements, were fantastic! I had a great time, it was amazing!" (Dutch, female, 30s)

"I was very moved! It created a fantastic world, continuing the tradition of Japanese animation like 'My Neighbor Totoro,' which I watched with my child." (French, female, 40s)

"The quality of the colors and the careful drawing were excellent. It beautifully combined the traditional techniques and originality of Japanese anime." (French, male, 40s)

Source : ORICON NEWS