During
the 2026 Kochi Anime Creator Award webinar, it was confirmed
that producers Yuka Numakoshi of Shogakukan-Shueisha
Productions (ShoPro) and Yuji Matsukura of J.C.Staff are
planning a new anime. The event was dedicated to sharing production techniques
and tips for young creators.
The
seminar, entitled "[Must-See for Aspiring Animators!] Planning
Techniques for Turning Your Ideas Into Anime", also featured Junichi
Katsutani, another producer of ShoPro. Katsutani, who worked on Zo
Zo Zombie in 2020 alongside Matsukura, revealed that he is involved in
several titles planned for 2026 and 2027, in addition to other
projects in development.
Producers'
Tips on Creating Anime
Matsukura
underlined the importance of the producer's role in balancing the
director's creative vision with the interests of other parties
involved in a production. For aspiring entertainers, he recommended
diversifying their skills and sources of inspiration, mentioning that even
disciplines such as kabuki or wrestling can bring new perspectives.
Numakoshi,
for his part, highlighted the relevance of seeking external opinions to
obtain a more objective view during the creative process. She also shared
that Revolutionary Girl Utena was one of her main influences.
Katsutani
commented that works such as Pokémon and the Doraemon films
marked his childhood, and admitted that it is currently increasingly difficult
to produce anime aimed at children.
An event
to discover new talent
The Kochi
Anime Creator Award seeks to promote new talents specialized in short
films between 90 seconds and 15 minutes in length. The prize has a total fund
of 30 million yen and the registration period will remain open
from August 1, 2025 to February 16, 2026.
