France, Japan, Hail Growth Of Film Animation In Nigeria

The Japanese and French embassies in Nigeria have expressed delight at the steady growth of film animation in Nigeria.

 Representatives of both embassies expressed this satisfaction on Wednesday at a news conference to announce the 4th Animated Film Festival holding between Nov. 7 and No. 9 in Abuja. 

Mrs Marina Lacal, Cultural Programme Officer, French Institute, said the film festival was the biggest in the Country with an increasing participation from local animators.

 “We have a lot of short films from Nigeria in animated form and we want them to know about a lot of styles in film animation.

 “Last year, we had a special Nigeria night where we tried to show the best of Nigerian animated movies,’’ she said. 

Lacal further said the festival would include a cocktail of French and Japanese animations. Mr Hiroki Ogawa, First Secretary, Japanese Embassy, said the film festival would further break the stereotype that animation was created for a particular audience.

 “Animated films can be enjoyed by everyone, not just children. “One of the reasons of this festival is to introduce the culture of film animation and break the stereotype of animation thought to be just for a particular audience,’’ he said. 

The film festival would be jointly hosted by the French and Japan embassies with the screening of three films each from both countries and Nigeria. 

Ogawa also said a joint French and Japanese movie would be premiered. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day festival would also feature movies for both children and adults.