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The 50th Annie Awards, also known as the “Academy Awards of Animation,” were held on February 25 (February 26, Japan time) in the United States. The animation works from “Netflix” won a total of 12 awards, including two awards in the TV/Media category (Limited Series) for Best Picture and Best Production Design for Tsutsumi Daisuke’s “ONI – Thunder Gods Tale”. In addition, a comment from director Tsutsumi, who just finished the award ceremony, was also received.

“ONI – Thunder Gods Tale” is directed and produced by Tsutsumi who produced “The Dam Keeper” and written by Okada Mari of “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day”, with the CG animation produced by Tonko House, an animation studio founded by former Pixar director Robert Kondo and Tsutsumi.

The story takes place in a world where eccentric gods and monsters from Japanese mythology live. Onari, a free-spirited tomboy, yearns for a “great hero” whose story has been passed down from generation to generation as a legend and practices hard, but her father, the eccentric god Naridon, for some reason refuses to teach her anything. Meanwhile, the “ONI” threat, feared by the gods of the mountain, is approaching. Can Onari protect the peaceful mountain?

The film is currently the talk of the town, with “Tonko House and Tsutsumi Daisuke’s ‘ONI Exhibition'” also being held in Tachikawa, Tokyo. The film has made another major breakthrough in the world by winning a total of two awards at the 50th Annie Awards.
Director Tsutsumi commented on the awards, “These awards are a credit to all the staff involved in this film. Above all, I am proud that this film, which I made to show the beauty of Japan to many people around the world, has been recognized in this way. I hope that this award will encourage as many Japanese people as possible to watch “ONI – Thunder Gods Tale”.

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” a stop-motion animated feature film by Guillermo del Toro, the genius behind The Shape of Water, which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, won a record five awards, including Best Animated Feature Film, Best Director, Best Music and Best Production Design.

The film, which also won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film, is a classic children’s story of love and sadness, told through del Toro’s signature dark, fantastical sequences and emotional development. Del Toro says, “I have been pursuing this dream project for many years,” and this film is a testament to his abilities.

In addition, the animated short series “Love, Death & Robots,” with David Fincher as its executive producer, the master filmmaker behind “Seven,” “The Social Network” and “Mank,” and Tim Miller, director of “Deadpool,” was selected in a total of four categories: Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Horror, and Comedy. The film, which crosses all genres, won awards for Best Animated Effects and Best Character Design.

As well as that, “The Cuphead Show!” based on the action game in which the overly cheerful Cuphead and his slightly wimpy brother, Mugman, have a big adventure, also won a music award.
Keep your eyes on Netflix for more animated films of all kinds in the future.

Director: Daisuke Tsutsumi

This award is a credit to all the staff involved in this film. Above all, I am proud that this film, which I produced to show the beauty of Japan to many people around the world, has been recognized in this way. I hope that this award will encourage as many Japanese people as possible to watch “ONI – Thunder Gods Tale”. I hope that you will visit the “ONI Exhibition” currently being held in Tachikawa, Tokyo (until April 2), so that you can further appreciate the charm of this work.