Jukai

The seven short films making up GENIUS PARTY couldn’t be more diverse, linked only by a high standard of quality and inspiration. Atsuko Fukushima’s intro piece is a fantastic abstraction to soak up with the eyes. Masaaki Yuasa, of MIND GAME and CAT SOUP fame, brings his distinctive and deceptively simple graphic style and dream-state logic to the table with “Happy Machine,” his spin on a child’s earliest year. Shinji Kimura’s spookier “Deathtic 4,” meanwhile, seems to tap into the creepier corners of a child’s imagination and open up a toybox full of dark delights. Hideki Futamura’s “Limit Cycle” conjures up a vision of virtual reality, while Yuji Fukuyama’s "Doorbell" and "Baby Blue" by Shinichiro Watanabe use understated realism for very surreal purposes. And Shoji Kawamori, with “Shanghai Dragon,” takes the tropes and conventions of traditional anime out for very fun joyride.

Puppet adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

When Pia plays a mysterious vinyl record single, she suddenly knows how to travel through her own life.

A seven-year-old girl longs for a bicycle so that she can be more like the other kids in her Norwegian town, but her embarrassingly unconventional, modernist architect parents see things differently. Academy Award-winning animator Torill Kove weaves memory and fantasy together in this droll and charming look at the pain of childhood alienation.

A transhumanist romance in the near future. A young boy of modest origins, Marcus, an H- , falls madly in love with an H+.

The aristocratic White Mice and the rustic Creatures Who Dwell Under the Oak battle over the doll of their hearts' desire.

This entertaining film highlights the importance of integrity, justice, and appreciation for the environment. The compassionate and wise Captain is the hero, who is trying to stop long-time troublemaker and master of disguise Zero the Cat as he plans his biggest coup ever. Helping the Captain along the way are the bright Constable Eleméri Ede and seasoned secret agent Góliát. The resourceful Gólíat succeeds in locating Zero's hiding place, where he overhears part of Zero's newest plan. Although unable to get all the details, Gólíat reports to the station and it becomes clear that stopping Zero will be quite a challenge.

A noble warrior seeks revenge against the ruler of his kingdom, who killed his father. At the same time, he also ends up upsetting the neighbouring enemy kingdom's ruler.

Utterly astounding, iridescent sand animation from Aleksandra Korejwo based around Bizet's Carmen.

A man leads a monotone, humdrum existence until he meets somebody.

Eliza and Debbie are two sisters who don't always get along. But their relationship is put to the test when Debbie's life is in danger, and Eliza might have to give up her power to talk to animals....