DEPARTURE, 5min., Japan
Directed by Takayuki Yoshikawa
In a world where God has departed, leaving only religion behind, a lonely robot is left behind in a closed, deserted church.
She longs to leave and explore the world outside, but her abilities are limited due to her immaturity, narrow field of vision, and difficulty in moving her body.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The first and slightly sensitive reason is that I am socially a minority in a certain aspect. I wanted to share with someone the world I see, which most people are not aware of. That was the initial motivation for creating this film.

Secondly, it's from the perspective of being a father. The fact that my two children enrolled in a mission school served as another reason to explore faith as a theme. I believe that modern society has numerous complex issues that were unimaginable in the past. I made this film as a gift to my children, so that they can adapt flexibly to the various problems they may encounter in the future.

Lastly, it's from the perspective of being an artist. I have had a long career as a 3D artist. However, while computer graphics thrive in the entertainment industry, they are unfortunately not widely recognized as an extension of art history. Given the current development of AI and the significant changes happening in computer graphics, I thought it would be good to have a film that discusses these topics in the context of art.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

In terms of total time, it took about four years. The idea was born ten years ago, and the synopsis and storyboard were created shortly afterward. However, the actual production, which involved tasks like 3D modeling and animation, required a significant amount of time. I worked on the film during my leisure time while juggling other work commitments, which also contributed to the lengthy duration. Particularly, the rendering process, which involves calculating and generating images from the 3D computer graphics, took more than an hour per frame for some shots. Considering the time spent on discarded images due to errors or retakes, the calculation time for the frames exceeded 10,000 (although the actual number of frames used was 7,200).

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Longing. Awakening.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle was having to create everything on my own. As I mentioned earlier, since this film is highly personal, it was difficult to seek assistance from others. As a result, it took a significant amount of time to complete, and there were areas in which I was inexperienced, such as character design. However, because I worked on it alone, I was able to convey my emotions directly in the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was an overwhelming and moving experience! I was incredibly happy to see that the audience accurately captured the intended emotional journey and expressed their own emotions in their own words. I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to the dedicated staff who made this possible. Thank you very much!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

It was when I entered art university. Until high school, I was drawing, but I never thought I could create videos. However, while studying film techniques in university and seeing my peers starting to make movies, I began to think that someday I also wanted to create films. And as you all know, I have been able to share my debut work with all of you.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

"The Devil Wears Prada," directed by David Frankel.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Opportunities to have my work seen by a larger audience and networking with like-minded individuals who possess advanced skills. I believe that the efforts of the FEEDBACK Animation Festival in supporting these two aspects are accurate and fantastic. Thank you to all the staff members.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It has been an exciting experience to connect with film festivals worldwide through the portal site. Of course, my encounter with the FEEDBACK Animation Festival is also thanks to FilmFreeway. Additionally, it was interesting to receive direct approaches from organizations I hadn't imagined.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I prefer sandwiches from coffee chain restaurants. There are chain restaurants in Japan, but the sandwiches from American shops are the best. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Currently, I am working as a faculty member at an art university. My primary role is to provide technical guidance in film production to young students. Alongside my teaching responsibilities, I am also preparing to create a new film. The next project will also be an animated film featuring a female protagonist. While my previous work didn't have any dialogue, I am considering making the next film a dialogue-driven piece.