The 50th anniversary celebration of the Ottawa International Animation Festival concluded Saturday with a significant sweep by Japanese creators. The festival’s highest honor, the Grand Prize for Animated Feature, went to We Are Aliens (Ware Ware wa Uchūjin). Produced by NOTHING NEW with support from French studio Miyu Productions, the film has already established a notable international footprint, having appeared at both the Cannes and Annecy film festivals earlier this year.
Recognition extended beyond feature-length works, with Honami Yano’s Eri taking home the Best Animated Short Award. Meanwhile, the television project Candy Caries—a joint effort between director Tomoki Misato and Wit Studio—was recognized in the Animation for Young Audiences 7+ competition. These wins highlight a strong showing for diverse formats, ranging from independent shorts to studio-backed television series.
We Are Aliens serves as a comprehensive creative showcase for director Kōhei Kadowaki, who managed the project's planning, script, storyboards, and editing. The film’s production also features a score by Yaffle and a theme song titled "Sasakure" by adieu. Following its Ottawa success, the film is set to screen at the 31st Busan International Film Festival in October.
Why it matters: The festival's recognition of these specific titles underscores the growing international visibility of Japanese animation outside of traditional commercial releases. While We Are Aliens has a well-documented festival itinerary, the broader release strategy for Candy Caries remains unconfirmed.
