We are pleased to announce the following three artists who will be invited to come and participate in the Animation Artist in Residence 2011-2012Tokyo.
About “Animation Artist in Residence 2011－2012Tokyo”
This project, organized by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Image Council, is an artist in residence program which aims to provide three outstanding young artists from around the world with an opportunity to come to Tokyo and create new works while directly interacting with Japanese animation culture. In doing so, we aim to promote both the creation of excellent animation pieces and better understanding of Japanese culture itself.
From 20 June through 5 September 2011, the program received 31 applications from 20 different countries, all comprising of artists between the ages of 20 to 35. Applications underwent three stages by the selection committee and the three finalists will be invited to stay in Tokyo for 75 days, starting December 2011 through March 2012. During their residence, workshops, screenings and tours to local animation production houses will be scheduled as part of the cultural and learning experience of this program.
Invited Artists :
Ms. Ewa BORYSEWICZ (Poland)
Mr. Immanuel WAGNER (Swiss)
Mr. Mikey PLEASE (U.K.)
Profile of the invited Artists
Ewa BORYSEWICZ (female, Poland, 26)
Born in 1985, Ewa Borysewicz grew up in Podlachia, Poland. In 2009 she graduated from Cracow Academy of Fine Arts. Her graduation animated film “Who would have thought?” has been acclaimed both by audience and the critics and received important festival awards in Poland and abroad. She’s working now on her debut animated film. She’s also a graphic artist and illustrator.
http://ewaborysewicz.blogspot.com/
2009 Who would have thought? (Received the Theatre Optique Special Mentionat at Fresh Film Fest in Czech Republic)
2007 Alright
Project Overview
Her new project “ABC” will be shot in Japan. Using red and blue ink, the animation style will be simple and depict peoples’ everyday life doings, somewhat like a manual. It will contain emotive narration (Polish/English) and incorporate many aspects of “everyday rituals, ordinary situations, their repeatability” seen in Japanese culture.
Immanuel WAGNER (male, Swiss, 27)Born in 1984, Immanuel Wagner was raised in Switzerland. After studying for 3 semesters of fine arts at the University of Luzern HSLU, he graduated the Animation division in 2010. His graduation film has been shown in over 20 International Short Film Festivals and has also won 2nd Prize at Animator Festival in Poznan, Poland. He is currently working as a freelancer being involved in several Swiss commercial projects, and is also engaged in non-profit art projects.
http://imma.tv/
BAKA!! (2D animation film, 2010) script, direction, animation (Winner of the Silver Pegasus Award at the 4th Animator International Animated Film Festival Poznan)
SCAN, (experimental film, 2009) co-direction, postproduction
YURI (puppet animation film, 2009) co-directing, co-writer, postproduction
Project Overview
Using “Imma’s Lab” a 3D CG lab environment that will be first developed before arriving in Japan, he will develop a figures and character designing platform. “Imma’s Lab” will be brought over and will then be used in production to create collaborative works with students and other artists in Japan.
Mikey PLEASE (male, U.K. 26)Born in 1984. Mikey Please graduated with a BA in Special Effects at UAL and then went on to direct animation commissions for Virgin, Transgressive Records, Rough Trade, Ninja Tune and Universal Records before doing an MA in Direction at the Royal College of Art. He is now represented commercially by Agile Films, Independent Talent and developing long form projects with Warp Films for 2012.
http://mikeyplease.co.uk/
2010 The Eagleman Stag (Winner of Best Short Animation Award at
the 2011 British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Hugo for Best Short Film at the 2011 Chicago International Film Festival)
2009 We Are As Men As We Were Once
2009 The Shunning
Project Overview
His latest project “The Innumerable Benefits of Quitting” is about a middle-aged man who suddenly finds that he has become infinitely smaller in the world surrounding him. As with his earlier works, this project will also be using an angular graphical style. Through his interactions with the Japanese culture, the script will be further developed under those influences.
