The Wizard of Czech Animation

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2012

In what is sure to be a surreal evening, an all-night marathon of works by Jan Švankmajer, the wizard of Czech animation, will be held at Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.com), March 24 from 10:30pm. Švankmajer developed his trademark, dream-like style by combining live actors, illustrations and props in stop-frame animation, and has applied his time-consuming brand of filmmaking to numerous shorts and features such as Alice (1988; pictured), based on Alice in Wonderland.

Shin-Bungeiza will also pay tribute to the late Takeo Kimura, the most-esteemed art director of Japanese cinema, with a retrospective March 19-24. Kimura created the lush, futuristic sets that characterized Nikkatsu films of the ’50s and ’60s, and debuted as a director at the ripe old age of 90 before passing away in 2010.

Momo Matsuri, a showcase of works by young female directors working in Japan, will be held at Shibuya’s Eurospace (1-5 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku; www.eurospace.co.jp), March 17-30. The fest started in 2006, and this year’s installment features nine shorts on the theme of suki (which translates as “like” or “love,” depending on who you ask). www.momomatsuri.com