International Animation Day 2008 is a celebration of animated works from all over the world. This year, Japan will be hosting these celebrations throughout the months of October and November in the cities of Kyoto and Hiroshima. The main events will be screenings of winning animated films from the International Animation Festival which was also in Hiroshima. Among previous winners of this festival is the renowned Osamu Tezuka who is the creator and director of Astro Boy, the author of Metropolis, and is referred to by many as “the father of anime" and "the god of manga".

The origins of International Animation Day go as far back as October 28th, 1892, when Emile Reynaud, a French inventor, presented the first public showing of animation. Later, an organization known as ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d' Animation) was born in France, and later still, ASIFA branches were founded worldwide, including in Japan. ASIFA-Japan began celebrating International Animation Day in 2005.

This year, some of the works of animation that will be shown are “Mount Head”, by Koji Yamamura of Japan, “The Demon”, by Shin Hosokawa of Japan, “Guard Dog” by Bill Plympton of America, and “Fish Never Sleep” by Gaelle Denis of the United Kingdom. This is just a short list; the full program includes animated films from many more countries.

Some of these animators have already gone on to produce work for major broadcasting corporations. For example, Koji Yamamura has directed and animated a children’s series called “Karo and Piyobupt” for the NHK in Japan.

Source: International Animation Day 2008 Site
Source: Koji Yamamura - Anime in Metamorphosis
Source: Osamu Tezuka
Source: International Animation Festival in Hiroshima