TIFF Daily 3: Anime’s $28 Billion Market; New Awards; Fathom’s Animation Ambitions

Anime’s global growth, a new awards initiative, and animation’s theatrical prospects lead our third and final dispatch from this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

At TIFFCOM, preliminary figures put the broader anime market at $28.2 billion, with overseas spending accounting for more than half. Representatives from Nippon Animation and Production I.G discussed international partnerships and building lasting connections with fans.

We also look at the forthcoming Nippon Anime Awards and hear from leaders at Studio Chizu, A-1 Pictures, and Toho about recognizing anime’s diversity and supporting its next generation of creators.

Meanwhile, Fathom Entertainment CEO Jason Brenek discusses bringing animation audiences into theaters, from established favorites to independent work with devoted online followings.

Rounding out this edition, we revisit Iron Boy, Son of a Bitch, Walking With Animators, and We Are Aliens through filmmaker interviews and trailer coverage.

Check out these stories and more at cartoonbrew.com.

What's Happening in the World of Animation

1. 
   Anime Is A $28 Billion Business: Here’s How Japanese Studios Are Capitalizing On Its Global Growth

   Nippon Animation’s Hitomi Hiratsuka and Production I.G’s Yoko Ueda discuss overseas partnerships, family audiences, and lasting fan connections.
2. 
   Who Gets To Judge Anime? Japanese Industry Leaders Make The Case For A New Award

   At TIFFCOM, executives from Studio Chizu, A-1 Pictures, and Toho discussed recognizing anime’s diversity and nurturing its next generation of creators.
3. 
   Fathom CEO Jason Brenek On Bringing ‘Wildwood’ To 3,000 Theaters, ‘The Amazing Digital Circus’ Surprise, And Finding Animation’s Next Big Audience

   Brenek discusses Laika’s creative control, lessons from a surprise box office hit, and plans to bring more anime to U.S. theaters.
4. 
   Association of Japanese Animations Sets First-Ever Nippon Anime Awards For November 2027

   The AJA-backed initiative aims to celebrate anime’s artists and productions while supporting emerging talent and new business opportunities.

5. 
   ‘Back To Tomioka’ Turns Fukushima’s Forbidden Zone Into A Hand-Drawn Coming-Of-Age Adventure

   Director François-Marc Baillet discusses adapting the graphic novel, his personal connection to the story, and depicting a community with respect.
6. 
   From ‘Wall-E’ To ‘Iron Boy, Louis Clichy On The Unorthodox Journey To His First Solo Feature

   Fresh off its Cannes premiere, the former Pixar animator discusses rural France, hand-drawn animation, and how 'Iron Boy' became his most personal work.
7. 
   Sweeping New Documentary ‘Walking With Animators’ Explores The People Behind The Craft Of Animation (EXCLUSIVE TRAILER)

   Filmmakers Alexandre Poncet and Gilles Penso assemble a vast portrait of the medium through dozens of artists, studios, and educators.
8. 
   Brazil’s Raucous Road Movie ‘Son Of A Bitch’ Unveils International Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

   The filmmakers behind the Brazilian feature discuss its 10-year production journey, festival reception, expressive visuals, and music.
9. 
   ‘Empathy Was Essential’: ‘We Are Aliens’ Director Kohei Kadowaki On Hybrid Rotoscoping, Visual Rhythms, And Childhood Influences

   Kohei Kadowaki discusses blending rotoscoping with traditional animation, crafting emotional realism, and the influences behind his debut feature.