Taiwanese artist wins big at Tokyo International Anime Fair

Taken from the 'Asahi Shimbun'


Taiwanese animation artist Tsai Shiu-cheng's "Time of Cherry Blossoms" won the Grand Prix prize in the Open Entries category of the Tokyo Anime Awards (TAA) competition. It is the second work from Taiwan to win the top prize, following "Adventures in the NPM" in 2008. The short film was previously showcased at the 2011 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, as well as at other events in Japan.



Held for the 12th time as part of the Tokyo International Anime Fair, the competition honors excellence in works of animation submitted by amateur artists.

Danish artists Christen Bach and David Tart each won the Outstanding Work Award in the general division of the category.
A Chinese short film won the special prize, with two French works receiving an honorable mention.
Of the 11 award-winning works in the category, six came from outside Japan.

Meanwhile, Laputa Art Animation School student Yuka Aoki won the Outstanding Work Award for her "Nani to Natta" (Nani and Natta), with Ikuo Kato's "My Socks" taking honorable mention in the student division.
Chinese student Hu Yuanyuan from the Graduate School of Film and New Media of the Tokyo University of the Arts won the outstanding award for her "Sunset Flower Blooming," while Keiko Shiraishi's "Hide-and-Seek" and Kaori Iwase's "A Grandma's Goldfish" got honorable mentions.
Winners in the "Nomination Entries" category for commercial anime titles will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at a special stage set up at the TAF 2013 on March 23. A special exhibition dedicated to recipients of the Award of Merit will also be offered.

Visit the official website at (http://www.tokyoanime.jp/en/).