Masaaki Yuasa's Animated Vision: From Mind Game to Inu-Oh
In May, Masaaki Yuasa, a Japanese filmmaker, premiered his movie Inu-Oh following its competitive screening at the Venice International Film Festival the previous year. Yuasa first captured attention with his 2004 film Mind Game, which secured the grand prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival. Although it initially struggled, the film developed a dedicated fanbase and earned three jury awards at Canada's Fantasia festival in 2005. Yuasa's distinctive style, influenced by Salvador Dalí and The Beatles, incorporates various animation techniques. Together with Eunyoung Choi, he funded the 2013 project Kick-Heart via Kickstarter, which led to the establishment of their studio, Science SARU. Inu-Oh narrates the journey of two disabled boys in fourteenth-century Japan, focusing on themes of queerness and cultural preservation.
Key facts
- Masaaki Yuasa released Inu-Oh in May
- Mind Game won grand prize at Japan Media Arts Festival in 2004
- Yuasa won Cristal Award at Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 2017
- Science SARU studio was founded after successful Kickstarter campaign for Kick-Heart
- Inu-Oh features vocals by nonbinary singer Avu-chan
- Yuasa worked under legendary animator Isao Takahata early in career
- Devilman Crybaby was released on Netflix in 2018
- Mind Game earned three jury awards at Fantasia festival in 2005
Entities
Artists
- Masaaki Yuasa
- Isao Takahata
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Eunyoung Choi
- Satoshi Kon
- Salvador Dalí
- Tex Avery
- Avu-chan
- Freddie Mercury
- Iggy Pop
- Baz Luhrmann
- Todd Haynes
- Mozart
Institutions
- Venice International Film Festival
- Japan Media Arts Festival
- Fantasia festival
- Kickstarter
- Science SARU
- Annecy International Animated Film Festival
- Netflix
- Tokyo Weekender
- Disney
Locations
- Japan
- Canada
- France
- Venice
- Tokyo