Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival Returns For 2025

The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival was first held in Cardiff, Wales in 2010. Created by Eiko Meridith, it was designed to screen the best in Japanese animation and culture to a wide audience. In the years since it has screened the best in anime features old and new, as well as running cultural events and activities. The festival is returning this September, to its original home of Chapter Arts Centre, in Cardiff.

This year features classics from Mamoru Hosoda and Satoshi Kon, as well as some newer future favourites like Totto-Chan, (aka Totto Chan: The Little Girl In The Window) Ghost Cat Anzu and The Colours Within from acclaimed director Naoko Yamada.

The festival will run on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at Chapter. The Line-up consists of:

Saturday

• 11:00 AM Toto-Chan (PG Tbc)
• 13.25 PM The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (12)
• 15:30 PM Summer Wars (12A)
• 18:30 PM Jero11 Live Performance
• 20:30 PM Perfect Blue (18)

Sunday

• 11:30 AM Ghost Cat Anzu (PG)
• 13:35 PM The Colours Within (U)
• 15:45 PM Wolf Children (PG)
• 18:10 PM Raffle
• 19:00 PM Reception In Foyer

All films will screen in Japanese with English subtitles. The Kotatsu films will be judged by a panel of critics, who will select this year's prizewinner. They are Dr Dario Lolli, an assistant professor in Japanese and visual cultures at Durham University, Seiji Kano, a scholar and specially appointed professor at Tokyo Zokei University, and Yuichi Ito, animation director and co-director of I TOON Ltd. 

The festival will additionally screen programs at TAPE Community Music and Film on October 11 and at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre from 24-26 October, but the exact line-up for those is to be confirmed.

Tickets will be available for the Chapter screenings from the Chapter box office.