FEATURE FILM   < back to films     < short films           Komaneko - The Curious Cat 01 DEC 07 11 AM   2006/ Japan / Japanese (with English subtitles) / Colour / Animation / Comedy / 35mm/ 60 min/ G Directed by: Tsuneo Goda Original Story & Character Design: Tsuneo Goda Animator: Hirokazu Minegishi, Tokiko Ohmukai, Mina Nohara Editor: Makoto Hoashi, Megumi Yoshida Production Design: Shinji Yabe Editor: Makoto Hoashi, Megumi Yoshida Music: aikamachi+nagie               Directed by Tsuneo Goda, Creator of "Domo Kun" the station identity character for NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Komaneko is an episodic story of a young cat who decides to create a "stop-motion" animated film of her own. She soon begins writing the storyboards, making the stuffed animals, and drawing the background art. Before long Komaneko starts making her film - taking one picture after another with her small 8mm camera, carefully checking each frame. Award/ Festival - 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival (Jury Recommended Works)                     I am a Bear ( To be screened with Komaneko )   2006/ Japan / Japanese (with English subtitles) / Colour / Animation / Comedy / Beta SP/ 3 min/ G Directed by: Tsuneo Goda               A day of "a pillow bear" starts. He wakes up to find that "she" is gone. Waiting for her alone, he reads a book, skateboards on a toy car, waters a plant and plays the guitar. Lonely, he says to himself, "I wonder if she is coming home…" and when she is home, he rushes to bed and turns into a pillow again. Tsuneo Goda Tsuneo Goda started his directing career in TV commercials. Developing DOMO-KUN, the station identity character for Japan Broadcasting Corporation, led him to move onto the field of animation. Goda is also know for his talent in illustration and children's books. By reflecting his feelings and experiences in every day's life, the titles all have a touch of reality.