Background

Hiroshima hosted the Hiroshima International Animation Festival every 2 years since1985 until 2020. The festival was to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The theme of the festival was ‘Love and Peace’, and the award was given to the work most suitable for this theme.

After the Hiroshima International Animation Festival ended, the Hiroshima Festival was launched in 2022 (the festival also takes place every 2 years), and one of the main attractions of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival is Hiroshima Animation Season (“HAS”). This is the only Oscar-qualifying animation festival in Japan and is known for its focus on artistic and creative animation rather than commercial animation.

HAS 2024

There are 4 competition categories for HAS 2024 (Short/Feature/Pan-Pacific and Asia Youth/Japanese Commissioned Film). 2,634 films were submitted for the competition from 97 countries and regions this year, and 78 films (73 shorts and five feature films) were selected by the committee. All films shown in the HAS have English subtitles.

The HAS 2024 also provides Networking Opportunities that animators, producers, directors, and fans of animation to connect, collaborate, and share their passion for animation, and also promotes cultural exchange and understanding through the medium of animation, bringing together diverse perspectives and styles from around the world.  

Schedule:        14 – 18 August 2024

Venue:             JMS Aster Plaza: 4-17 Kakomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City

Ticket:             1 program ticket: early bird ¥1,100 (same-day ¥1,200)

                        One-day Pass: early bird ¥2,000 (same-day ¥3,000)

                        All Program Pass: early bird ¥8,000 (same-day ¥12,000)

*Student discounted tickets for student are available

Where to buy ticket:    There are several options to purchase the ticket (reserve online first and purchase it at Seven Eleven or Family Mart, convenience stores, ticket shops and etc.  Please refer to the website below for the details.

Hiroshima Animation Season 2024: https://animation.hiroshimafest.org/en/

If you want to explore about Hiroshima after visiting the HAS2024, please check this site ⇒ https://dive-hiroshima.com/en/:　Dive! Hiroshima <The official guide to Hiroshima>