Special Achievement Prize

Following the Jury's recommendations, we commend the person who has made a great contribution to the media arts.

Awardee

DAIKUHARA Akira

DAIKUHARA Akira (Animation director)

Born on November 23, 1917. Animation director. A person who laid down the genesis of Japanese animation. Established a totally different style for every piece of work and worked as an animation director for many early feature length animation films at Toei Doga (current Toei Animation Co. Ltd.) with his versatile technique and speed. There are a lot of younger staff who set out on their own with improved skills which were developed under his flexible coaching. He was involved in a various old hit films such as with original drawings of THE WHITE SNAKE EHCHANTRESS, Kid Magician Sasuke and Adventure of Sindbad and as the animation director for DOGGIE MARCH, Fables From Hans Christian Andersen and Alibaba and The Forty Thieves.

Reason for Award

Mr. DAIKUHARA had engaged himself in the studio work since the genesis of manga movies in Japan. Although he had a good experience in the production of feature-length manga film after the World War II, he had to go through a lot of hardships at the time TV animation started, which overlapped the evening of the film industry. Even so, he did not give up seeking his originality from the viewpoint that DISNEY films or TEZUKA Anime were not the whole of animation film. His stance tells us there are things that should be done as long as you live within the industry where it is difficult to hold unmovable will as an acting animator. This award shows our respect to our senior in this industry.

Comment

It is more honor than I deserve to receive this prestigious prize. Also I would be pleased if I have made some contributions to the development of Japanese animation. I hope the young animators will make a great endeavor in order to see the smile on children’s faces all around the world.
[The Orphan Brother] [Dwarf and Caterpillar] 1950 [The Orphan Brother] 1961 [Fables From Hans Christian Andersen] 1968
[The Orphan Brother]
Sketching the actor,
Ms SAKUMA Yoshiko
[Dwarf and Caterpillar]
1950
[The Orphan Brother]
1961
[Fables From Hans
Christian Andersen]
1968

© TOEI ANIMATION