The commercial film sector in Japan is predominantly male-dominated. According to Asahi Newspapers, only three percent of film productions by major companies are directed by women. However, a quick look at the independent sector, especially in the field of short animated films, reveals a very different picture. Beginning in the late 2000s and especially in the 2010s, a new generation of women animation filmmakers has boomed. This strong trend in contemporary Japanese film culture is surprisingly neglected by the main cultural discourse. Without a doubt, there is a problem with a system that excludes young, interesting, talented artists creating such smart, energetic, and original works. This selection brings together an eclectic mix of films by young female animation artists using a diverse array of techniques to question gender roles and the image of the female body in Japanese society.

This program contains nudity. For mature audiences only.