TIFF 2026: Anime’s Co-Pros; Hungry Ghosts; Feature Spotlights

International collaboration takes center stage in our second dispatch from the Tokyo International Film Festival, where international producers discuss how to bring animated projects across borders, and Ervin Han offers a closer look at an upcoming feature putting those ideas into practice.

In a TIFFCOM panel, Han joined Taiki Sakurai (Salamander Pictures) and Ilan Urroz (Foliascope) to examine the opportunities and challenges of international co-production, from financing structures to finding partners with complementary strengths. Their discussion highlighted the differences between Europe’s extensive public funding systems and Asia’s reliance on private investment, as well as the creative possibilities of connecting artists across countries.

Han also spoke with us about A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, an animated horror anthology bringing together studios from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ireland. Following the Annecy success of The Violinist, the producer is developing four tales built around Chinese dishes, with distinct visual approaches and a shared ambition: make the food look delicious before things turn horrifying.

Expanding into the festival’s feature lineup, we spoke with the filmmakers behind four titles in Tokyo’s lineup about their craft. Atsushi Nishigori explores the contrasting styles of Grotesqqque, while Masanao Kawajiri breaks down Cherry and Virgin’s inventive combination of manga imagery and rotoscoping. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado discuss bringing Filipino culture and memories to Forgotten Island, and Sun Xun reflects on the decade of handmade experimentation behind Magic Atlas.

Check out these stories and more at cartoonbrew.com.

What's Happening in the World of Animation

1. 
   International Anime Producers Discuss Challenges And Benefits Of Co-Production At TIFFCOM

   Producers compare public funding in Europe with Asia’s reliance on private investment, exploring how international partnerships can bridge the gap.
2. 
   Making Your Mouth Water And Your Skin Crawl: Ervin Han On ‘A Banquet For Hungry Ghosts’

   The filmmaker discusses adapting Chinese food-themed ghost stories, coordinating four studios, and making animated meals look both delicious and terrifying.
3. 
   Taiki Sakurai Bets On Original Anime With ‘20001 An Earth Odyssey,’ Salamander Pictures’ First Short (EXCLUSIVE TRAILER)

   'Ghost in the Shell' writer and former Netflix exec Taiki Sakurai on his new studio Salamander Pictures and its debut sci-fi short, '20001 An Earth Odyssey.'
4. 
   Aliens, Battle Royales, And Vampire Romance: Atsushi Nishigori Poured His All Into ‘Grotesqqque,’ A Three-Course Anime Omnibus

   The director discusses digital animation, contrasting visual styles, and balancing creative roles in his ambitious three-part feature.

5. 
   ‘Cherry And Virgin’ Director Masanao Kawajiri On Rotoscoping Sex And The Emotions That Come With It

   Masanao Kawajiri discusses using rotoscoping and shifting art styles to explore sex, desire, and intimacy in his animated feature ‘Cherry And Virgin.’
6. 
   ‘Forgotten Island’ Directors Break Down Two Sequences That Bring Jo And Raissa’s Friendship To Life (EXCLUSIVE)

   Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado discuss the film’s shifting light, camera effects, and a 40-second shot that follows Raissa through Jo’s memories.
7. 
   Peering Through the Cracks: How Sun Xun Spent A Decade Creating The Chinese Epic ‘Magic Atlas’ With 500 Artists

   Sun Xun discusses the decade-long production of 'Magic Atlas,' its handmade animation, shifting visual styles, political themes, and spiritual ideas.