"Atama Yama": Japan's Stealth Oscar Nomination

[Taro Toporific]

List of Oscar Nominations
Animated feature film: "Ice Age"; "Lilo & Stitch"; "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron"; "Spirited Away"; "Treasure Planet."
Animated Short Film: "The Cathedral," "The ChubbChubbs!," "Das Rad," "Mike's New Car," ""Mt. Head." "

The film short Atama Yama(Mount Head), Director(s): Koji Yamamura, Yamamura Animation, Inc., Japan

A drunken man at hanami eats some cherry seeds, a cherry tree grows on his head and he gets into a shit-load of trouble. This animated short is a modern remake of the traditional Japanese Rakugo story set in contemporary Tokyo.

[Big Booger]

Where can we see this head mountain short at? Eigakan? Terebi? inta-neto?
BB

[Taro Toporific]

Where can we see this head mountain short at? Eigakan? Terebi? inta-neto?

Maybe Rob Pongi's site. We both saw clips on the evening news. Otherwise ya can't find it NOWHERE!

Koji Yamamura has collected a swag of international prizes for his whimsical and eccentric work which often deals with metaphorical reflections of youth culture today. Yamamura works in a variety of techniques, including clay, photos, coloured pencils, ink and computers. Japanime will screen a selection of Yamamura's work, including Yamamura's latest film Mt Head (Atama-yama), a slapstick comedy based on an old "raguko" story about a man whose head has become fertile ground for a beautiful cherry tree. Adapted to modern Tokyo, the film deals with co-existence and the present lives of urban Japanese. Yamamura's work crosses the age barrier to appeal to adults and children alike.

[Taro Toporific]

Where can we see this head mountain short at? Eigakan? Terebi? inta-neto?
BB

Here's a possible showing of MOUNT HEAD at a film festival the Marunouchi Building March 10. Note that Mt Head didn't win their contest, but I bet they will put it into festival now.

The Animation Festival's website is confusing---but let's assume that a film schedule will be make in Press Release soon before the starting date March 10.

Animated festival

The Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will host a weeklong international forum on Japanese animated films and "manga" comics, beginning March 10.

The forum, which will be held at the Marunouchi Building in Chiyoda Ward, will feature showings of animated films and a display of original manga produced by Japanese and ASEAN artists.

The first day will feature a discussion involving Susan Napier, a professor of Japanese literature and culture at the University of Texas, and Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator of the popular animation series "Mobile Suit Gundam."

The forum will accept a limited public audience for the Napier-Tomino panel talk and the symposium on a first-come, first-served basis.

Details are available at (03) 3465-6280 or on the Web at http://www.cgarts.or.jp/forum

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In the animated short category,"Mt. Head" is a 10-minute contemporary take on a traditional "rakugo" comic tale titled "Atama-yama," set in Tokyo.

Yamamura, 38, has made short animated films for children and TV commercials, and has illustrated books.

On hearing the news, Yamamura said he is glad that a "small film like this" has been nominated.

He said "Mt. Head" marks a new beginning in his career as a maker of animated films.

http://www.cgarts.or.jp/festival2002e/animation/animation.html