Head to Anima to catch the best and most beautifully animated films of the moment – for young and old.
The Portuguese film 'Nayola' will be opening the festival.
An explosion of colours at the Anima festival
If you are planning on getting out of Brussels during half-term, you should reconsider, as you will miss out on Anima. Year after year, this popular Brussels film festival presents the best and most beautifully animated films of the moment in all their glory: on a big screen and in the warming presence of fans.
In recent years, Anima benefited from the explosive amount of feature films and documentaries popping up worldwide. No longer it’s just about traditional animation superpowers like the United States and Japan. The 42nd edition boasts 22 feature films.
In Nayola, which will be the opening of the festival, Portuguese José Miguel Ribeiro tells the story of three generations of women affected by war in Angola. In the intimist Interdit aux chiens et aux Italiens, Alain Ughetto tells the story of his grandfather, who left northern Italy for France but did not feel very welcome. Pierre Földes has adapted seven short stories by renowned Japanese writer Haruki Murakami in Blind Willow, sleeping woman. The South Korean A Flame that Lives On reconstructs the true story of a young militant of 22 who becomes a key protester against the exploit- ative working conditions he and his family has to endure.
Anima certainly should not be confused with a children’s festival, although it also offers plenty of films for a young audience. Fairly irresistible is the cheerful, Dutch stop-motion film Knor. It is about a nine-year-old girl who loses her heart to a cute little piglet. Certainly, very heart-warming. See you in Flagey?
