2022/03/25
What an honour! I have been invited to be one of the panelists for this Anime event – Exploring Anime: Panel Discussion which is to be held on Thursday 31st March 2022 at 6:15pm at the National Film Theatre NFT1, BFI Southbank.
I am so excited to see you all and talk about the history of anime and emerging female voices.
Please come along!
Exploring Anime: Panel Discussion
Thursday 31 March 2022 18:15
NFT1, BFI Southbank
Tickets are available from:
2022/03/25
The Japan Foundation, London #JFTFP22, is hosting a roundtable discussion online this month regarding the showcasing of Japanese films to UK audiences.
I will be one of the panelist. Eiko will talk about the joy of running the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival, the only festival in Wales, UK, exclusively showcasing the real diversity of Japanese animation.
The Road to Pressing the Play Button
Date: Tuesday 29 March at 12:30hrs
Free event
Panellists are Sonali Joshi — Curator & Founder of Day for Night
Joshua Smith — Director of Japanese Avant-garde and Experimental Film Festival
Yi Wang — Director of Queer East Film Festival
Eiko Meredith – Director of Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
Please book in advance at https://bit.ly/37hVZU3
2021/03/03
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, WOW Women’s Film Club invited our festival director Eiko Meredith to hand-pick a selection of animated shorts crafted by up-and-coming female animators working in Japan, and to organise an online Creative Workshop by Japanese animator and illustrator Chie Arai.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Choose To Challenge‘, so the Kotatsu Festival team have brought together a number of works by up-and-coming female film-makers, all of which are family-friendly and are rated U or PG.
Date: 13th March 2021
Women Make Animation: Animated Shorts from Japan
Among the films that will be screened online are some from students of Tokyo Zokei University’s animation course such as ‘To Bee Continued‘ by Aki Ezure, the bizarre bee-filled story about a young woman learning to be brave.
‘dress flowery’ is directed by Hikaru Haruta, who is currently studying at Tokyo Polytechnic University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Animation. This is a beautiful animation representing the history of the fashion of Japanese women.
Also screening are some animation from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media Department, including the award-winning ‘Bath House of Whales‘ by Mizuki Kiyama, a short animation using a paint-on-glass technique which details a young girl’s visit to a neighbourhood bath house with her mother.
Independent animators are also well represented with the award-winning ‘Good Night‘ about two warring siblings, and directed by Makiko Nanke, who is herself a mother to three children. There are also shorts by Arisa Wakami, an animator who uses a variety of materials, such as sand, to tell stories. One film which is particularly relevant to our times is ‘Mommy‘, a music video inspired by the relationship between a mother and her daughter; a theme that has become increasingly relevant as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep people at home.
Watch online for FREE using the WOW Film Festival platform via:
https://watch.eventive.org/wow2021/play/602e4314136d40003e56bd73/6036546b5be8a4003ed87023
Dress Up! Creative Workshop with Chie Arai
Saturday 13 March, 2pm
Place: Zoom
Free event for all ages.
Booking required
It’s time to get creative! In this Zoom workshop, Japanese animator and illustrator Chie Arai will demonstrate how draw a girl in a kimono. Viewers will be able to join in and show their country’s own traditional dress.
Please have these items: papers, pencils, pens, colouring pencils, things you need for the drawing (only the things you can get hold of).
During the workshop the audience will have a chance to show their designs to Chie, however as the event will be recorded children should get parental consent first.
Viewers are advised to have drawing materials available, such as paper, pencils, pens, and colouring pencils.
Book now on Eventive
https://watch.eventive.org/wow2021/play/602e3140ef061e005a4b2288
2020/06/26
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Online special
We will broadcast a free online screening of shorts directed by female animators on our YouTube channel on July 25 at 11am, repeated at 6pm. Japan time will be 7pm and 2am.
The same content will be repeated at both times to reach as wide an audience as possible. We have prepared a programme of award-winning short films from an all-female line-up of animators who represent different generations. All family friendly films!
Please subscribe to our Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival channel on YouTube to watch the screening
This event is supported by Film Hub Wales and Film Feels Connected as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by The National Lottery. Film Feels is a UK-wide cinema season, Explore all films and events at filmfeels.co.uk @Filmhubmidlands BFI‘s #BFIFAN #Covid19 Resilience Also supported by Cloth Cat Animation and Testu’s Armature.
Organizer：Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
2019/08/22
Great news!
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
We are happy to announce the dates for Kotatsu 2019! The Cardiff event will be held from 4th to 6th October at Chapter. The date for Aberystwyth will be held from 19th to 20th October.
Kotatsu festival will be bringing you even more quality films and Anime song disco, and our usual Japanese Marketplace showcasing Japanese themed goods and traditional bento boxes. We have special guests from Japan, Award-winning director and stop-motion animator Takeshi Yashiro will be joined by his producer Satoshi Akutsu to give a talk about their careers in the animation world.
Date：4th – 6th October
Place: Chapter
Date: 19th -20th October
Place: Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Organizer：Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Steering Committee
2019/02/07
So excited to announce, I am going to give a talk about Japanese Animation at Animangapop in Plymouth next month.
Animangapop is the South West’s BEST Anime, Manga and POP-Culture event.
This year, for a 2 day, action-packed, non-stop mad weekend full of convention goodness!
Tickets are available from here.
My talk will be held on both days. Please come along!
Date：Saturday 9th Febriary 15:00-
Sunday 10th February 12:45-
Place: Future Inn, Plymouth
Organizer：Animangapop
2018/08/07
Great news! 
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
We are happy to announce the dates for Kotatsu 2018! The Cardiff event will be held from 28th to 30th September at Chapter. The date for Aberystwyth will be held from 20th to 21st October. Thanks to the growing audience, we are expanding every year !
Kotatsu festival will be bringing you even more quality films and our usual Japanese Marketplace showcasing Japanese themed goods and traditional bento boxes. We have special guests fro Japan, Tsuneo Goda, the creator of Domo kun and Hirokazu Minegishi, one of the best stopmotion animator in Japan!
Date：28th – 30th September
Place: Chapter
Date: 20th -21st October
Place: Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Organizer：Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Steering Committee
2018/06/25
Lecture: The world of Anime
I gave a talk about Anime for the volunteers party at Cardiff Museum.
2018/06/19
Interview by Together and Sunspell
I was interviewed by Together and Sunspell. Please have a read from here!
2018/04/10
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival presents: Japanese Animated Shorts
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will be presenting a special programme of animated graduate films from Japan’s top National art University, Tokyo National University of Arts Graduate School at
Cardiff Animation Festival 2018. Tickets are available!
Date: Saturday 21st April 11:10am
Sunday 22nd April 5:00pm
Place: Chaper, Market Road, Canton Cardiff, Wales, UK CF51QE
2017/10/13
Life in Japan
I am going to do a talk about the Life in Japan at Beddau and Tynant Community Library on16th October from 10:30 to 12:00. Anybody who would like to know about the culture of Japan and wear Yukata, which is summer version of Kimono, please come along!
Date: 16th October
Time:10:30-12:00
Place: Beddau and Tynant Community Library Tynant Rd, Beddau, Pontypridd CF38 2DA
2017/06/14
Taste of Japan: Japanese Culture and Language Day
Japan Day will be held at Cardiff University on 6th July. Lots of interesting activities will be happening such as Kendo Demonstration, Koto Concert (Japanese traditional music instrument).
I will give a lecture of Japanese Anime from 3pm. No admission fee, everybody is welcome. Please come along.
Date: 6th July
Place: Concert Hall, School of Music Corbett Road Cardiff CF10 3EB
2017/05/24
Great news! Date for Aberystwyth Arts Centre is now confirmed!
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
We are happy to announce the dates for Kotatsu 2017! The Cardiff event will be held from 29th September to 1st October at Chapter. The date for Aberystwyth will be held on 28th October.
Due to the increased popularity last year at Chapter, this year’s festival will take place over 3 days, bringing you even more quality films and our usual Japanese Marketplace showcasing Japanese themed goods and traditional bento boxes.
Date：29th September – 1st October
Place: Chapter
Date: 28th October
Place: Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Organizer：Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Steering Committee
2014/05/23
I am currently working on my shortfilm ‘Looking for a Star’. The full length version will be filmed this year.