Friday January 8, 2010
Gen （はだしのゲン）
Directed by MORI Masaki （守真崎）
1983
110 mins.

This animated movie tells the story of Gen, who was ten when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He and his mother survive the blast and help take care of its victims. One day, Gen notices that plants are growing again in the atomic desert, and this renews his will to live and to overcome the tragedy that surrounds him.

Friday January 15, 2010
Tombstone for Fireflies（火垂るの墓）
Directed by TAKAHATA Isao　（高畑勲）
1998
88 mins.

This animated film, based on the novel by NOSAKA Akiyuki, tells the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko who are orphaned and must try to survive during wartime.

Saturday January 16, 2010
Stormy Night (嵐の夜に)
Directed by SUGII Gisaburo (杉井儀三郎)
2005
110 mins.

The story of a friendship started in one stormy night when one sheep and one wolf accidentally sheltered from the violent thunder storm in the cabin and had a conversation in the complete darkness. Even though they found out later that they are born enemies by nature, they couldn’t destroy the strong friendship that built up between them.

Friday January 22, 2010
Summer Days with Coo （河童のクゥと夏休み）
Directed by HARA Keiichi (原恵一)
2007
138 mins.

A school boy Uehana Koichi finds an unusual looking stone on a river bank, and brings it home. When he washes the stone, a kappa (legendary water-based creature) comes out of the stone. He names the kappa Coo. Coo can speak the same language and starts living with the Uehara family.

Friday January 29, 2010
Taro, the Dragon Boy（龍の子太郎）
Directed by URAYAMA Kiriro　（浦山桐郎）
1979
75 mins.

The film is about a boy named Taro who finds out that his mother has been turned into a dragon and sets out to find her. On the way he has many adventures. Finally he helps her to turn back into a human, and they live happily ever after.