September 26th, 2024 
Lauren Ashton 
The 7th annual Animation Is Film (AIF) festival, running from October 18-20 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, has shared its 2024 lineup. Opening the festival is the North American premiere of The Colors Within, directed by Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice) and distributed by GKIDS. Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie by Pete Browngardt will take the Centerpiece spot, while the festival closes with Memoir of a Snail, the Los Angeles premiere of Adam Elliot’s Annecy Cristal Award-winning feature.
The event will include premieres of acclaimed films from international festivals, including Flow and Sultana’s Dream, along with studio panels for upcoming films like Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Transformers One, The Wild Robot, and An Almost Christmas Story.
Anime highlights include the U.S. premiere of Netflix’s Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain and a special 15th-anniversary screening of Redline.
“Animation Is Film is very happy to be back in Los Angeles, celebrating another year of extraordinary titles from some of cinema’s greatest international artists,” said Matt Kaszanek, Director of AIF. “To be among the first in a city, the country or even a continent to see a new work of art is a unique thrill. We are immensely proud of this year’s lineup, and delighted that Ms. Yamada and others can present their films in person.”
Other highlights at this year’s AIF include a “Work-In-Progress” sneak peek of the upcoming release of YOPPAMAN, by Chibu Okere and Zack Fox; the festival’s popular shorts showcase presented in partnership with Annecy and Women In Animation (WIA), highlighting the best of female-directed animated films; and the annual student film program. AIF will post its full schedule of films and programs on their website, AnimationIsFilm.com, and will add additional films, programs, and sneak peeks leading up to the festival.
“Through seven editions, Animation is Film has become a rendezvous not to be missed for animation lovers, and Annecy is proud of our continuing partnership. This year, audiences will find an incredible selection that celebrates the best of cinema and we are especially proud of our short films program within AIF, ‘Best of Annecy WIA,’ which will give theater-goers the opportunity to watch, among others, Percebes by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves, the recipient of our Cristal Award for a short film earlier this year,” said Marcel Jean, Artistic Director, and Mickael Marin, CEO of Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Returning as Animation Is Film sponsors and partners for 2024 are: ASIFA-Hollywood, Cartoon Network Studios, Crunchyroll, Disney Branded Television, Dreamworks Animation, ELMA, Fathom Events, Iconic Events, Illumination, LAIKA, Locksmith Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Shout! Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, UniFrance, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Warner Bros. Animation. Animation Is Film, founded by GKIDS and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, presents a selection of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America, North America, and Australia, with both juried and audience prizes.
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ABOUT ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF)
ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) fills a gap in the U.S. market with an established world-class animation festival, on par with major events in Europe and Asia, and based in the world capital of animated filmmaking—Los Angeles. By embracing the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form akin to live action, AIF advocates for filmmakers worldwide who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of the medium’s artistic expression. Founded in 2017, AIF is produced by GKIDS in partnership with the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Tickets are currently on sale at AnimationIsFilm.com.
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2024 ANIMATION IS FILM SLATE
COMPETITION SECTION
BOYS GO TO JUPITER (dir. Julian Glander/ USA/ West Coast Premiere)
A surreal 3D odyssey following a teenager striving to make $5,000 in Florida. Self-produced by animator Julian Glander.
THE COLORS WITHIN (dir. Naoko Yamada/ Japan/ North American Premiere) – OPENING NIGHT
Totsuko’s synesthesia draws her toward those with bright colors, including guitar player Kimi and synth-player Rui. Together, they form a band that shows them the power of friendship and connection. From auteur director Naoko Yamada. A GKIDS release.
In-person: Director Naoko Yamada
FLOW (dir. Gints Zilbalodis/ Latvia-Belgium-France/ West Coast Premiere)
Told without dialogue, this fantasy adventure follows a cat at the brink of the end of the world, learning to survive alongside other species. Winner of the Jury Award at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. A Sideshow and Janus Films release.
In-person: Director Gints Zilbalodis
GHOST CAT ANZU (dir. Yoko Kuno & Nobuhiro Yamashita/ Japan-France/ West Coast Premiere)
The budding relationship of a girl and a cat spirit stirs trouble as they seek to reconnect with her deceased mother. Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita and Yoko Kuno, who used rotoscoping to animate over live-action footage. A GKIDS release.
In-person: TBD
MEMOIR OF A SNAIL (dir. Adam Elliot/ Australia/ Los Angeles Premiere)
From Academy Award-winner Adam Elliot, this stop-motion drama captures the life of a snail enthusiast as she undergoes immense hardships and learns to love herself despite them. Winner of the Cristal Award at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. An IFC Films release.
In-person: Director Adam Elliot
SULTANA’S DREAM (dir. Isabel Herguera/ Spain-Germany/ West Coast Premiere)
After stumbling upon a book that alleges a revolutionary country, Ines goes on a journey to find the illustrious Ladyland. Told against watercolor backdrops and Mehndi designs, Sultana’s Dream imagines a utopian land where women live free of oppression. Based on the 1905 short story of the same name.
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SPECIAL SCREENINGS & STUDIO EVENTS
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (dir. Pete Browngardt/ USA/ North American Premiere)
From Warner Bros. Animation, director Pete Browngardt, and the creative team behind the award-winning “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck as unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when facing an alien invasion. In this buddy-comedy of epic proportions, our heroes race to save the world, delivering all the laugh-out-loud gags and vibrant visuals that have made the Looney Tunes so iconic, but on a scope and scale yet to be experienced.
In-person: Pete Browngardt (Director)
MIYAZAKI, SPIRIT OF NATURE (dir. Leo Favier/ France/ North American Premiere)
A documentary exploring the life and influential works of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, known for films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, focusing on his passion for animation and advocacy for the natural world.
MONONOKE THE MOVIE: PHANTOM IN THE RAIN (Kenji Nakamura/ Japan / US Premiere)
A 2024 Japanese animated supernatural psychological horror film based on the Mononoke anime television series, a spin-off of Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales anthology. Two young girls begin work in a harem and are drawn into a world of schemes and lurking evil. The mysterious Medicine Seller reveals terrifying truths about the demons of the human heart.
REDLINE
A special 15th-anniversary screening of Takeshi Koike’s Redline in honor of the seminal anime film’s milestone.
AN ALMOST CHRISTMAS STORY (dir. David Lowery/ USA)
Moon, a curious young owl, unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. He befriends a lost little girl named Luna, and together they embark on a heartwarming adventure. Produced by Disney Branded Television and Esperanto Filmoj, “An Almost Christmas Story” is streaming soon on Disney+.
In-person: David Lowery (Director) & Alfonso Cuarón (Producer)
INSIDE OUT 2
In partnership with Write for Animation, an in-depth conversation with writers Meg Lefauve and David Holstein on developing the screenplay for Inside Out 2, the highest-grossing animated feature of all time!
In-person: Meg Lefauve and Dave Holstein (Screenwriters)
MOANA 2
Be among the first to see never-before-seen footage from Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming Moana 2!
In-person: TBD
TRANSFORMERS ONE
A panel discussing the collaboration between Paramount Animation and ILM on Transformers One, exploring the creative and technical challenges of bringing this world to life in 3D animation.
In-person: Josh Cooley (Director), Jason Scheier (Production Designer), Steven King (Animation Supervisor), & Amy Christensen (Lead Character Designer)
Chris Sanders & THE WILD ROBOT
In celebration of his new Dreamworks film, Chris Sanders will sit down with Variety’s Peter Debruge to discuss his career and creative process, featuring clips from Lilo & Stitch, How To Train Your Dragon, and The Croods.
In-person: Chris Sanders
YOPPAMAN (Work-In-Progress)
Special Agent Zack Fox introduces YOPPAMAN, a society under siege by late-stage capitalism and unspeakable monsters. This work-in-progress will include a concept short and a deep dive into the show’s ethos.
In-person: Zack Fox & Chibu Okere (Creators)
INVINCIBLE FIGHT GIRL
An action-comedy about Andy, a young girl aspiring to be the greatest pro wrestler of all time. Joined by a found family, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, adversity, and, most importantly, delivering smackdowns!
In-person: Juston Gordon-Montgomery
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SHORTS PRESENTATIONS
AWARD-WINNING SHORTS
A collection of Oscar-qualifying short films from around the world, including:
BEAUTIFUL MEN (France-Belgium-The Netherlands / Nicolas Keppens)
A satirical animation about toxic masculinity and beauty standards, following a young man obsessed with his appearance.
A CRAB IN THE POOL (Canada / Jean-Sebastien Hamel & Alexandra Myotte) Zoe, a young adolescent, is filled with anger and haunted by an intimate fear. Theo, still a child, escapes reality by retreating into a fantastical world. On one scorching summer day, the two children must confront the growing tension in their relationship to avoid losing each other forever.
NUBE (France-Mexico-Hungary / Christian Arredondo & Diego Alonso Sanchez de la Barquera Estrada) Noma, a puffy white cloud, witnesses the tragic demise of an old stormy cloud as it rains itself into oblivion. She soon realizes that her daughter Mixtli, also a dark stormy cloud, is in danger of raining prematurely, and Noma must act before it’s too late.
WANDER TO WONDER (The Netherlands-Belgium-France-UK / Nina Gantz) In the 1980s, Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton were the stars of the children’s TV show Wander to Wonder. But after the creator of the show passes away, the three characters are left behind in the studio, uncertain of what the future holds for them.
YUCK! (France / Loic Espuche) Little Leo finds the idea of kissing on the mouth utterly revolting. Yet deep down, he secretly longs to try it.
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THE BEST OF ANNECY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WOMEN IN ANIMATION
A collection of remarkable short films from Annecy, curated by our partners at Women In Animation (WIA).
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I DIED IN IRPIN (Czech Republic-Slovakia-Ukraine / Anastasia Falileieva)
On February 24th, 2022, I fled Kyiv with my boyfriend to the nearby town of Irpin. We were trapped for 10 days in a blockaded city, barely managing to escape on the last evacuation convoy. Although time has passed, I still feel like a part of me died in Irpin.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS (Iran / Hossein Molayemi & Shirin Sohani) A former captain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder lives a tough, secluded life with his daughter in a house by the sea.
WINNER: BEST ANIMATED SHORT, Tribeca Film Festival.
MAYBE ELEPHANTS (Norway-Canada / Torill Kove) From Oscar-winning filmmaker Torill Kove, this story follows three rebellious teenage daughters, a restless mother, and a father who’s struggling with potatoes. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Nairobi, the family faces chaos—and possibly some elephants. What could possibly go wrong?
PERCEBES (France-Portugal / Laura Gonçalves & Alexandra Ramires) Set against the backdrop of the sea and the urban Algarve, this short film explores the complete life cycle of the PERCEBES, or goose barnacle, from their formation to their role on a dinner plate. Through various contexts, viewers are given a deeper understanding of the region and the people who call it home.
WINNER: CRISTAL, Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
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STUDENT SHOWCASE
A spotlight on films from the next generation of artists, presented in partnership with our educational collaborators: California Institute of the Arts; University of Southern California; California State University, Long Beach; and California State University, Fullerton.
(Titles to be announced soon.)
- EVENT: 7th “Animation Is Film” Festival Announces 2024 Lineup - September 26, 2024
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