Incredible animation films tonight with two mid-length works that are testaments to the enormous wealth of creativity, imagination and dedication within the world of Japanese independent animation.

Expect a mad scientist, fear of robots, love, friendship and lots of puppets.

2 SHORT FILMS:

1. ENCOUNTERS (Takashi Iitsuka, 30min, animation, 2011)

John takes his lovesick pal Max to the countryside in order to cure a broken heart. A friendly stray dog looks set to initially cheer his flagging spirits, but what’s that coming over the hill being it? Using a technique labelled by its director as 'Super Organic Battle Action', this exuberant one-man labour-of-love defies all expectations!

SUPER ORGANIC BATTLE ACTION

 "Encounters uses neither stop motion animation nor any CG effects.  It is purely old school live action puppet action – a technique which Iizuka has christened “Super Organic Battle Action.”  Using handmade action figures and monster puppets, Iizuka carefully manipulates the characters either by hand or fishing wire.  The result is a loving send up of the great monster movies of Ishirō Honda (Godzilla, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla).  The campiness of the film and the use of marionette effects recalls the “supermarionation” techniques employed in the UK cult classic Thunderbirds (Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, 1965-6)."

According to this great blog on Japanese animation: http://nishikataeiga.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/takashi-iitsukas-super-organic-battle.html