Busan Film Festival Sets Japanese Animation Showcase Featuring Rintaro

The Busan International Film Festival is dedicating a major retrospective to Japanese animation at its upcoming 31st edition, securing an appearance by veteran director Rintaro.

According to a report by Variety, the festival has curated a 13-film lineup under its Special Program in Focus banner. The retrospective tracks a full century of Japanese animation history, mixing foundational heritage titles with contemporary releases.

The event marks Rintaro's first trip to South Korea in 17 years. The director, whose lengthy career includes landmark titles such as Galaxy Express 999 and Metropolis, will attend the festival alongside four contemporary animation filmmakers representing the next generation of the industry.

## Festival Recognition for Anime

The programming decision reflects the sustained mainstreaming of anime across premier international film festivals. Once largely cordoned off into specialty conventions and dedicated niche events, Japanese animation has increasingly become a staple of major festival programming in Asia and globally, driven by strong box office appeal and expanding critical prestige.

Organizers have designed the 13-title slate to illustrate the historical evolution of the craft while highlighting the stylistic approaches of younger creators working across Japan's studio ecosystem today. Full screening dates and venue details are expected to be unveiled with the festival's complete lineup.