The Bucheon International Animation Festival recently announced its winners for the 2024 festival. The festival, which took place from October 25-29, awarded honors to several anime films including Fureru., Trapezium, and Gridman Universe.
Among the winners, Trapezium received the Special Distinction Award, while Gridman Universe took home the Audience Prize. Fureru. was honored with multiple awards, including the Korean Society of Cartoon and Animation Studies (KOSCAS) President’s Prize, the DHL Diversity Prize, and the Kinolights Prize.
In addition to these films, three Japanese short films competed in the festival, namely “Maidens of the Ripples” by Michiko Soma, “Extremely Short” by Koji Yamamura, and “Miserable Miracle” by Ryo Orikasa. Maho Takagi’s “Scent of First Love” and Tatsuya Ishihara’s Sound! Euphonium 3 were also part of the competition in the “TV & Commissioned Film” category.
The festival took place at various locations including Bucheon City Hall, Korea Manhwa Museum, CGV Bucheon, Bucheon Arts Center, and Webtoon Complex Center-Bucheon. The aim of the festival is to promote the true charm of the animation genre and establish itself as an expert animation film festival in Asia.
Notably, in the past, films like Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko and INU-OH have received recognition at the festival. Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko won the KOSCAS President’s Prize in the Special Awards category, while Masaaki Yuasa’s INU-OH received the Special Distinction Prize in the International Competition – Feature Film category in 2021. Yoriko Mizushiri’s “Anxious Body” also won the Special Distinction Prize in the International Competition – Short Film category.
Overall, the Bucheon International Animation Festival continues to celebrate and honor outstanding works in the animation industry, showcasing a diverse range of talent and creativity from around the world.