California Reel

Gestalt(ja)

Gestalt was shot over the course of a year in a Tokyo dormitory. Each day, Ishida would paint on the wall and photograph it using the available light from the window. The 7-minute long film, which is accompanied by haunting organ music composed by J.S. Bach, consists of those several seconds of film Ishida shot daily.

Imagination Practice(ja)

The description of Suwami Nogami's minimalistic line drawing piece, Imagination Practice, calls it an unending "thought loop". It depicts an artist sitting in front of a window with a self-portrait, like a miniature mirror image, on the desk in front of him. The window frame and the blue sky filled with moving clouds are in colour, but the figure of the artist is not coloured in. The soundtrack sounds like a skipping record that is punctuated by humourous springing noises (a la Bugs Bunny) as the image 'bounces' in an unending loop from the establishing shot into the "drawing." A philosophical piece, Imagination Practice considers the circular dialogue between an artist and his work.

Consultation Room(ja)

In Kei Oyama's grim Consultation Room, a medical diagnosis triggers a wave of traumatic fantasies, portrayed in greyish pencil drawings that waver as if left out for too long in the rain.

The Thaw(ja)

A young boy becomes interested in the bodies of living things and starts to develop phobias after seeing a dog's corpse. Before long all manner of things begin to appear grotesque to him.

Home Delivery(es)

Jennytown, on the island of Deer, Maine, is a sleepy provincial town. Life in this coastal place will be savagely affected by the arrival of a plague that infects the whole planet: the dead are rising from their tombs and devouring the living. What seemed impossible is happening. Zombies have invaded earth.

Spike(fr)

Festive children's animation following the adventures of a young elf who graduates to Santa's workshop. Unfortunately, as hard as Spike tries, he struggles to adapt to life in the workshop and cause no end of trouble. From the award winning producer of Jungle Bunch, Spike is the amazing story of how a little elf save Christmas.

Welcome, Aliens(ja)

A short animated film by Tadanari Okamoto

Kocia Wielkanoc(pl)

Britannia(en)

The history of empire. A British bulldog answers his mistress's call. He tacks down the Union Jack to cover the British Isles, then begins playing with a small ball that's the world. At first it's innocent play. The dog discovers tea in India; then, the dog shakes gold out of Africa. Gradually, innocence gives way to more and more ferocious play with the ball. We see terrorized women and children as the dog becomes an enslaving potentate. Harmless English archetypes benefit from colonial riches. Then the world begins to grow, and the dog changes too, from bulldog to effete lap dog.

Body Beautiful(en)

A heavyset woman who keeps being harassed by her aerobics instructor and her attempts to get even with him on a Body Beautiful contest.

Behind Closed Doors(en)

Troubled by his conflicting parents and haunted by the monster that dwells in his bedroom closet - Gregory must confront his demons and defeat the true evil that exists behind closed doors.

Monsieur Clown Among the Lilliputians(fr)

Stop-motion film from Émile Cohl has a clown walk out in front of a group of people and do various tricks including standing on his head, riding a horse and falling face first off the horse.

Delicate Porcelains(fr)

Several unique specimens of highly ornamented porcelain are shown in series. In each case the various pieces of ware are in reality formed of living people. After a short time has been allowed for admiration of each article, it disintegrates into the individual models, who pose in various figures and dances. In the following pictures are seen a powder box, a clock, candle sticks, a loving cup and a vase, all of wonderfully ornate design, beautifully colored. (Moving Picture World)

Mac 'n Cheese(xx)

When you find yourself running scared and running out of energy, there's only a few options left to outrun your opponent through the southern desert. Stopping at nothing, watch these two guys wear each other out and rip through boundaries hitherto unbroken. Enjoy the ride.

Who's That?(ja)

A short animated film by Tadanaro Okamoto.

Five Small Stories(ja)

A short animated film by Tadanaro Okamoto.

The Strong Bridge(ja)

A short animated film by Tadanari Okamoto.

Chikotan(ja)

A short animated film by Tadanaro Okamoto.

Old Frypan(ja)

An old frying pan accidentally gets tossed out and ends up encountering many animals in his journey.

The Flower and the Mole(ja)

The Robot Moles is an adorable story about flowers, moles, dumb scientists and a little girl.