Born in Japan in 1964. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short, "Mt. Head" (2002) had 6 Grand Prizes and selected 100 Films for a Century of Animation. He has won Grand Prize twice, at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Ottawa and Hiroshima, for "Mt. Head", "Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor" (2007), and "Dozens of Norths" (2021), and has received more than 155 awards, including 21 Grand Prix for his directorial work, including other awards such as the Grand Prix in Zagreb and Stuttgart. "Extremely Short" (2024) is officially selected for Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes.
He is also an active picture book author with 100 titles published, including "Viva Vegetables !" that is published more thn 500,000 copies.
He was awarded the Kawakita Prize and the Art Encouragement Prize in Japan and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2019.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, He is visiting professor of Tokyo Zokei University, China Academy of Art, Aichi University of the Arts and a professor of Tokyo University of the Arts since 2008.
YAMAMURA Koji is a Japanese Director, Producer, Animator and Illustrator. He is visiting professor of Tokyo Zokei University, China Academy of Art, Aichi University of the Arts and a professor of Tokyo University of the Arts since 2008.
He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a sub-chairman of the Japan Animation Association (JAA).
He is a director for the Hiroshima Festival Media Arts Division and Hiroshima Animation Season Artistic Director from 2021.
Born in Japan on June 4, 1964. He made first animated film at 13 years old. Between 1983 and 1987, he studied painting at Tokyo Zokei University. While a student, he has worked in art assistance and special effects modeling for Majors movies. Same time he was influenced by short animated films in Canada, Russia, and Europe. He had a Bachelor of Design and Fine Arts Degree.
After graduation, he started his career as an animation background artist at Mukuo Studio. In 1989, he left the studio to work freelance. In 1993, he founded Yamamura Animation, Inc. with his wife Sanae. In 2002, He signed a contract with Acme Filmworks as an animation director. Yamamura has created many short animation films using a variety of techniques. "Mt. Head" (2002) was nominated for an Oscar® in 2003, and awarded the 6 Grand Prix including Annecy 03, Zagreb 04 and Hiroshima 04. Also "Mt. Head" was selected as one of the 100 FILMS FOR A CENTURY OF ANIMATION and the 50 Best Animated Films for 50 Years of ASIFA. "Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor" (2007) was awarded the Grand Prix at Ottawa in 07 and Internationales TrickFilm Festival STUTTGART. He is only one grand prix winner in 5 major international animation festivals in the world. "Muybridge's Strings" (2011) is first co-production animation with National Film board of Canada as Asian filmmaker and "Dozens of Norths" (2021) is co-production with Miyu Productions in France, it won the Grand Prize for Feature Animation at the 46h Ottawa International Animation Festival Contrechamp Crystal Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. In 2023, VR "My Inner Ear Quartet" (Kodansha) was completed and won the Grand Prize in the VR category at the Ottawa International Animation Film Festival. "Extremely Short" (2024) is officially selected for Directors' Fortnight, Cannes.
More than 350 lectures and master classes at film festivals around the world, including Harvard University and the University of Tokyo; 195 retrospective programs in 32 countries, including the National Film Theater UK, Gothenburg International Film Festival, Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, and La Rochelle International Film Festival. And his films has been screened over 1,000 times at theaters, universities, and studios in Japan and abroad. He has participated in more than 115 exhibitions of his original works at the Aichi Expo 05, the Cinémathèque Québécoise, the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, and more than 80 juries, including the Art Encouragement Prize, the Japan Media Arts Festival, the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
He has been involved in the theatrical release and distribution of five films: "Yamamura Animation Pictorial Book," "'The Old Crocodile & Koji Yamamura Select Animation," "Muybridge's Strings" and "Koji Yamamura: Dreams Through the Right and Left Eyes".
He has been selected as the 2 place at 25 top short animated films directors over the last 25 years at 2021 at Animac, the International Animation Showcase of Catalonia.
He won 13 achievement awards and rewards, Distinguished Artist Award of 2006 in USA, ALBÍN BRUNOVSKÝ HONORARY MEDAL in Slovakia, Kawakita Prize in Japan, Prize of the Cultural Department of the City of Wiesbaden – Wiesbaden in Germany, Special prize for the contribution of the art of animation in Serbia, Pulcinella Special Award in Italy, Education Award for Fine Arts in Japan and the Prix Klingsor from the Biennial of Animation Bratislava Committee for lifetime achievement. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon (the Shiju Hosho) in 2019
In 2013, he opened the animation store and gallery Au Praxinoscope began exhibiting original animation drawings and supervising and producing films directed by Yano Honami ("A Bite of Bone" won the 28 awards include the Ottawa Short Film Grand Prix ) and Yuki Yoko ("In the Big Yard Inside the Teeny-Weeny Pocket" won 9 awards include TDC Grand Prix 2023).
From 2021, he will be the director of the Media Department of the Hiroshima Festival.
He is also an author of picture books such as "Parade," "Tiny, Giant Tree" (winner of the 65th Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award), "For the Sake of Mr. Whale, We'll Do Whatever It Takes" (22nd Japan Picture Book Award), "Long is Beautiful" (White Ravens 2016), "Notes on Monstropedia" and "Bells are Ring". His "Fruits Friends' Fresh Talk", "Viva Vegetables !" and "Athletes of Sweets" have sold more than 956,000 copies in total. He has published 100 titles picture books and translated into 6 foreign languages.
Web Site, SNS
Yamamura Animation
Archive of YAMAMURA Koji's Works
YouTube
vimeo
instagram
facebook
X (twitter)
note
Retrospective Screenings
1998 "Special retrospective program Koji Yamamura's Animation Works ", Seoul International Family Film Festival, Korea
1999 "Koji Yamamura's works", Malaysian Video Awards, KL
"Nouvelles images du Japon : films d'animation et cinema digital", nouveau forum des halles, France
2000 "New Japanese Animation The Unique Universe of Yamamura ", SPROCKETS・Toronto International Children's Film Festival, REEL TO REEL - A Celebration of Moving Images for Youth, FLICKS International Film Festival for Children, Canada
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura works", Children Animated Films Festival- Girona, Spain
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura works" Oulu International Children's Film Festival, Finland
2001 "Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", NFB, Canada
"New Japanese Animation "The Unique Universe of Yamamura " at Asian International Children's Film Festival, US
2002 "Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" at Le Festival du Dessin Anime et du Film d’Animation, Belgium
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" at 8e Festival d'un jour, France
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" at Freeze Frame Film Festival, Canada
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" at Japanime 2002, Australia
2003 "Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Frecrikstad Animation Festival, Norway
"Bat Boy, Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Tough-eye Turuk International Animation Festival, Finland
"Retrospectiveof Koji Yamamura", Anima Mundi, Brazil
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Tai International Short Film Festival, Tailand
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Gwangju International Film Festival, Korea
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Raindance Film Festival, UK
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", cortimolafestival, Italy
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura", Nouvelles images du Japon 3: films d'animation et cinema digital, France
Yamamura Animation Zenseiki, Japan
Retrospective of Koji Yamamura, Nouvelles images du Japon 3: films d'animation et cinema digital, France
2004 "Koji Yamamura Animation World", National Film Theater, UK
Nippon Conection, Germany
Pusan Asina Short Film Festival, Korea
Taiwan International Animaion Festival
Koji Yamamura Animation World, National Film Theater, UK
Deep forcus Koji Yamamura, SICAF2004, Korea
2005 "World of Yamamura Animation" Anime Explosion!", Kennedy center, US
2006 "Animated Genius: The Films of Koji Yamamura", Cinema K: Children's Film Festival Seattle, US
"The World of Yamamura Animation", Harvard University, US
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" Norwich International Animation Festival, UK
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland
Animated Genius: The Films of Koji Yamamura, REDCAT, Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater, US
Retrospective of Koji Yamamura Festival Image par image", France
2007 "The Unique Universe of Yamamura ", Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia
anilogue Budapest Animation Festival, Hungary
2007 animateka International Animation Film Festival, Slovenia
KOJI YAMAMURA: THE UNIQUE UNIVERSE OF YAMAMURA, Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia
Japan Cartoon Koji Yamamura in Moscow, Russia
2008 Göteborg International Film Festival, Sweden
Animac, Spain
Ankara Inaternational Film festival, Turkey
Lisbon International Animation Festival MONSTRA, Museu do Oriente, Portgal
THE SPIRIT OF ÉMILE COHL, 100 YEARS OF UNBRIDLED ANIMATION, Musée-Château, France
Animac 2008, Spain
"Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" 15th KROK International Animation Festival, Russia
Biennial of Animation Bratislava International Festival of Animated Films for Children 4 Retrospective progtram, Belgium
"Animation Nation 2008" Yamamura Show Case, Singapore
2009 "Retrospective of Koji Yamamura" Japanese October, Italy
"anima" Animation Project 2009 -Flip. Flap, Animation- Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences, Japan
16th Etiuda&Anima, Poland
Yamamura Koji. For Children, Yamamura Koji. For Adult"Japanese Octobe", Italy
Ault program and Children program at Festival International de Film d'Animation de Meknes, Morocco
International College Peace Film Festival, Korea
2010 Koji Yamamura Une métaphysique des rêves Salle Norman-McLaren, Cinémathèque québécoise, Canada
Sakai Komako&Koji Yamamura, Futatsu no Tobira at the Konika Minolta Plaza, Shinjuku, Japan
NFB Cinema Koji Yamamura: MASTERY OF THE FORM14th Toronto reel asian International Film Festival, Canada
2011 Retrospevtive, Yamamura Kôji ou les œuvres du temps, Festival International du Film de La Rochelle, France
Retrospevtive, Kavalan International Short Film Festival, Taiwan
Varna World Festival of Animated Film Koji Yamamura Retrospective, Brlgaria
2019 4th GLAS Animation Film Festival, Berkeley, USA
59th Annecy International Animation Festival, France10th Anibar International Animation Film Festival, TRANSFORMING THE INTANGIBLE INTO THE REAL - PRESENTATION BY: KOJI YAMAMURA, Beya, Kosovo
5th Indie AniFest, Seoul, South Korea
9th Guandu International Animation Film Festival, Taipei, Taiwan, 2019
2020 18th Ravenna Nightmare Film Festival (online version): OCTOBER JAPANESE PRESENTS THE SHORTS OF YAMAMURA, Ravenna, Italy
10th Kotatsu Japan Animation Festival, UK
25th Open Russian Animation Film Festival, Retrospective Screening, Suzdal, Russia
Koji Yamamura Retrospective Screening, Moscow, Russia, organized by Japan Foundation
2021 Cult Puppet Animation Special, 2021.12.18-31, Fukui Metro Theater
The 1st Minato Cinema Festa (affiliated program of the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival)
13th Reanimania Yerevan International Animation Film Festival, Armenia, Arabkir, Armenia
The Zukan CINEX Film School "Collection of Koji Yamamura's Works", CINEX, Yanagigase, Gifu, Japan
2022 22nd MONSTRA - Lisbon Animation Festival, Portugal
International Animation Festival, Taiwan
Hiroshima Animation Seson 2022
12th Tehran International Animation Festival (TIAF)
2023 16th Traler ZEN Festival: Competition "Grand Prize for Trailer"
International Animation Film Festival Nikozi, Retrospective Koji Yamamura, Georgia
NFAJ program No.46 Koji Yamamura Retrospective, National Film Archive of Japan
21st Anifilm International Festival Animated Film, Czech Republic, Liberec
2024 2nd Cannes Directors' Fortnight in Tokio 2024, Human Trust Shibuya, Japan, and more.
Textbooks that introduce Koji Yamamura's work:
Total Support New Japanese Language Handbook Revised Edition
Taishukan Shoten, April 2025, Japanese language supplementary textbook for high schools »Site
Published in "Learn Classical Literature through Video" (page 224)
Art 2
2023 High School Art (Art), Textbook approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
, Publication: Mitsumura Tosho Publishing Co., Publication: Japan, 2023.02.05 »Site
Included Yamamura Koji's work "Mt. Head" in the "History of Animation" page.
Art for High School Students 1
High School Art Textbook, Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan, Publication: Japan, 2022.01.10 »Site
Koji Yamamura's work "Mt. Head" published
Art 1
2013 High School Art Textbook, Hikarimura Books
Somatrope "Kipling Jr. and Chair" published, 2012 »Art1
Doga de hirogaru Bijutsu no seka
Art for high school for teachers, 2013, Nihon Bunkyou Shuppan, Japan »Site
With DVD for teacher's textbook: Interview of Koji Yamamura, Filp book wokshop, "Mt. Head"(2002)
Art Materials
Published by Shugakusha, Which way do you want it?, 2007
Art 2nd and 3rd lower
Art textbook for lower secondary school, 2002, Nihon Bunkyou Shuppan
"Imagination"(1993)
The Paper Bridge
Edited by Wojciech Otto and Grzegorz Ziółkowski
Language: English, Published: Poland, 2021 »PDF
"Transcultural Exchange in the films of Yamamura Koji" 17 pages
Animation Culture: 55 Keywords
Edited by Yonemura Miyuki and Sugawa Akiko, Minerva Shobo »amazon
Rubin's Point: Artistic Body and Mind
Written by Aya Saito, Iwanami Shoten »amazon
Floating Worlds: A Short History of Japanese Animation
by Maria Roberta Novielli, CRC Press, 2018.01.17 »amazon
LES EXPÉRIENCES DU DESSIN DANS LE CINÉMA D'ANIMATION
by Patrick Barrès et Serge Verny, Editions L'Harmattan, 2016.03.09, France »amazon.fr
Animation: A World History: Volume III
by Giannalberto Bendazzi, Focal Press, 2015.11.06 »amazon
Animerama Storia del cinema d'animazione
by Maria Robert Novielli , 2015, Italy
SouZou no Genba Pen Books
Monthly Pen Editorial department, Photo by Benjamin Lee, 2014.09.24, Hankyu Communications Company. Atria photos and interviews posted »Pen Books »amazon
Japanese Animation Creators
by 朴紀昤Korea, Essey for Koji Yamamura Works, 2013.02.27
Listen to the movie: a new movie story starting with hearing
by Junichi Onuma, Disk Union, 2013.03.15 »amazon
music / sound / voice "Koji Yamamura Animation"
Japanese movies in the digital age-for new movies-
by Mitsuyo Wada Marciano, Nagoya University Press, 2010.12.27 »amazon
Japanese Animation: Time Out of Mind
by Mitsuyo Wada Marciano, Nagoya University Press, 2010.12.27 »amazon
DEEP IMAGES
Film Art Sha, 2009.11.16 »amazon
Animation Now!
»TASCHEN, 2007.10.23 »amazon.com/»amazon.ca/»amazon.co.uk/»amazon.de/»amazon.fr/»amazon.it/»amazon.es/»amazon.jp
Who's Who in animated cartoons
by Jeff Lenburg, Applause Books, 2006.06.01, US »amazon
Beginning with da Vinci
by Fuse Hidetoshi, x-knowledge, 2005.01.20 »amazon
ANIMATION ART
From Pencil to Pixel, the World of Cartoon, Anime, and CGI, Harper Design, 2004.11.01 »amazon
A Wonderful World of Art Animation
Esquire Magazine Japan, 2002.06.20 »amazon
Nippon Movie TV Complete Works
Kinema Junposha, 1997.11 »amazon
Animated Ball Box
by Yoko Gomi, Fusion products, 1997
Utsuru Ugoku "Video Game" Expedition
Children's Castle AV Division / Edited, Central law, 1997.8.25 »amazon