Top 3 Animated Feature Films By The Audience At Fantasia International Film Festival

At the International Fantasia Film Festival that's been held every year in Montreal, Canada for 28 years, just recently announced their audience awards for the films featured there. The first, second and third place for 'Best Animated Feature' went to'Ghost Cat Anzu', 'The Missing' and 'Mononoke The Movie: Karakasa' respectively. Two out of the three best animated feature films for this year were from Japan, and all three were from Asia!

The International Fantasia Film Festival's 28th Edition lasted from July 18th to August 4th, featuring a variety of different films from many different countries and many different genres. The audience awards were announced three days after the festival concluded, on August 7th, 2024. For the 'Best Animated Feature' category, 'Ghost Cat Anzu' came first in audience awards, followed by 'The Missing' in second, and 'Mononoke The Movie: Karakasa' in third.

The following is the festival's description for 'Ghost Cat Anzu', "A sort of slacker variation on TOTORO, GHOST CAT ANZU tackles a now familiar trope in anime, the troubled kid's summertime coming-of-age in a countryside inhabited by supernatural creatures, and offsets the bucolic charm of its setting with bone-dry deadpan wit and an emotional tone that's tender like a bruise."

The following is the festival's description for 'The Missing', "'The Missing' marks director Carl Joseph Papa's third feature-length animated film. The queer, surrealist hybrid of romance, drama and sci-fi 'The Missing' once again embraces the challenge of digital rotoscope animation, inviting the audience to join Eric in experiencing the blend of illusion and reality, struggle and relief, love and support as he searches for his own voice."

The following is the festival's description for 'One of the most singular and delightfully innovative works in the history of anime, the 2007 TV series 'Mononoke' has over the years since then retained a cult following among true connoisseurs. Those who fell under the spell of the Medicine Seller's paranormal escapades, and wistfully presumed they were long since concluded, can rejoice. Director Kenji Nakamura has revived his signature work with a full feature film, his most elaborate and opulent adventure yet."