2019 Taichung International Animation Festival has announced this year's theme and the first list of movies to be screened today (26th)! According to the Information Bureau, the theme of this year's festival is Music and Sound, featuring an exciting line up of movies including Children of the Sea, which saw participation from Japanese master composer Joe Hisaishi and voice talents from numerous prominent actors in Japan. In addition, On-Gaku: Our Sound – a film adapted from a Japanese manga and 8 years in the making – and North of Blue – which received wide acclaim at Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France and Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada – will also be screened during October 11-20 at the Kbro Cinemas in Taichung. All animation film and music enthusiasts are invited!

According to Information Bureau Director General Huang-sheng Wu, a list of movies will be meticulously selected for the Taichung International Animation Festival every year based on the annual theme. This year's theme is Sound and Music, and seasoned animation scholar Chang-chieh Shih will be appointed as the curator, while NTNU scholar Yen-jung Chang and British Animation Awards Director Jayne Pilling will be invited as guest curators. By collecting a multitude of animation films from domestic and abroad, the aim is to inspire the creative energy of Taiwan's animation industry and expand the audience's horizon.

TFDF CEO Ying-chih Lin pointed out that a special screening of Japanese master composer Joe Hisaishi's Children of the Sea will be conducted for this year's feature film. Adapted from Little Forest and Adventure of Kabocha by Daisuke Igarashi, the film portrays an outspoken girl who meets 2 mysterious youths living in the ocean, and the 3 of them embark on an adventure. Besides voice talent from renowned actress Mana Ashida, a former member of SMAP Goro Inagaki and the winner of Best Actress Award at the Japanese Professional Movie Award Yu Aoi. Produced by STUDIO4°C, which also created hit series Tekkonkinkreet and Mutafukaz, this film is often touted as the animation film of the year. TFDF will also invite cast members from the film to meet the Taiwanese fans!

CEO Lin also mentioned that the list also includes On-Gaku: Our Sound – a film adapted from Japanese manga by Hiroyuki Ohashi called Ongaku to Manga. The film describes a trio of delinquents who form their own rock band. The film not only features voice talent from songwriter/singer Shintaro Sakamoto as the lead character but also actor Naoto Takenaka from music videos such as Nodame Cantabile and Swing Girls. Director Kenji Iwaizawa took 8 years to produce the animation film through crowdfunding and by gathering live-action footage at rock festivals. After it was premiered at Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada in September, the film will be screened in Taichung in October.

American film North of Blue was directed by award-winning animation director Joanna Priestley. The production of her first animated feature film commenced in 2012 by drawing inspiration from natural landscapes during Priestley’s time in the Arctic Circle. These were complemented by videos captured in Canada's Yukon region and postproduction of photos to generate over 43,000 pictures, creating a kaleidoscope of vibrant scenes. The film not only received screening invitation from over 20 countries but also garnered wide acclaim at Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France and Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada.

According to the Information Bureau, British Animation Awards Director Jayne Pilling has been appointed as the guest curator, and the curatorial team has meticulously selected 35 classic animations and emerging creations that offer an impeccable fusion of music, sound, and animation images; they are condensed into 3 short films entitled Flow of Sound and Image, Activation of the Senses, and Sound Games. The award-winning films include Circles by German master animator Oskar Fischinger; Begone Dull Care, the recipient of the Silver Bear Award (Short Film) at the inaugural Berlin International Film Festival, also a collaboration between Canadian animation maestro Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart; No Objects, winner of Animafest Zagreb Short Film Special Mention Award; Don't Know What, the winner of Off-Limits Award at Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

The Information Bureau mentioned that the Taichung International Animation Festival will kick off on September 6 with Taichung International Animation Festival – Award-winning Films of 2018 as the curtain-raiser, where free screenings will be held at various branches of Taichung Public Library, Taichung Central Area Art and Culture Center, and National Library of Public Information. This is followed by 2 free outdoor activities inspired by the annual theme of the film festival at the front square of the Old Taichung Train Station.

In particular, the Summer Fluorescent Light MV Concert will be held on September 21, inviting singers to perform with classic animation MVs shown as the backdrop. The Frozen Interactive Singing and Dancing event will be held on September 28, turning the front square of the Old Taichung Train Station into a large open-air Karaoke venue. Everyone including adults and children is invited to sing along, and exquisite gifts will be handed out to the movie fans in both events! For more information pertaining to the film list and fringe activities, please refer to the Taichung International Animation Festival official website (http://twtiaf.com), Facebook fan page (http://facebook.com/tiaf.taichung) or Instagram (http://instagram.com/tiaf.taichung).