Picture book Anime
Takara-sagashi
A short film only screened at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. The nine-minute short adapts a picture book by Rieko Nakagawa and Yuriko Yamawaki, the author and illustrator of two previous books that inspired Ghibli shorts (Sora Iro no Tane, The Whale Hunt).
A boy named Yuji and his friend Gick, a rabbit, find a walking stick. To decide which of them will keep it, they try a foot race, a long jump and sumo wrestling, but each ends up in a tie. Out of ideas, the children go to Gick's Granny for help. Granny tells the children to go treasure hunting. Who will be the winner?
(Source: Anime News Network, Ghibli Museum)
Annyeong, Tyrano: Yeong-wonhi, Hamkke
A joint production between South Korea, Japan and China. Based on the Tyrannosaurus series of picture books by Tatsuya Miyanishi.
Two dinosaurs, differently unfit for life, a T-Rex who doesn't want to be a predator and a little pterodactyl who doesn't want to fly, begin a long and hard journey to reach a legendary valley called Paradise
(Source: IMDB)
Shounen to Sakura
In postwar Tokyo, while his mum works, Taichi spends his days alone and misses his dad who was killed in the war. Through his friendship with an old man who tends a seemingly dead cherry tree, Taichi learns about the tree and gradually becomes more positive.
(Source: Treasures of the Heart)
Zannen na Ikimono Jiten
The book series offers humourous introductions to surprising aspects of living creatures, such as "raccoons don't really wash their food," and "dolphins would drown if they fall completely asleep."
(Source: Anime News Network)
Aoi Hane Mitsuketa!
The story centers on Haru and Hina, two siblings who live in the city and get along well. One day they find a beautiful blue feather on the road, and they set out to find its owner. A mysterious crow appears before them, and acts as a guide. The three then go on a journey to find the owner, meeting various birds along the way.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Oshiri Tantei Saraba Itoshiki Aibou (Oshiri) yo
Oshiri Tantei's partner who disappeared 10 years ago suddenly reappears. He receives a mysterious message from Suisen and soon finds himself embroiled in a case of counterfeit art involving a massive plot to shake up the art galleries around the world.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Zannen na Ikimono Jiten (Special)
Two additional Zannen na Ikimono Jiten episodes that will be televised 7 months after the original TV series. They will focus on manatees and chipmunks.
Moom
Every forgotten object has a memory with its previous owner still attached. This is a story of Moom, one of those memories stuck in this world. One day, Moom meets another memory just like him. Based on a children's picture book written by Genki Kawamura and illustrated by Yuuki Mashiko.
Insect Land
Anime based on "nature learning picture books" which explore the lives of insects, while also celebrating the themes of ecology and diversity.
(Source: Anime News Network)
PIHOTEK: Hokkyoku wo Kaze to Aruku
A picture book written by Arctic adventurer Yasunaga Ogita and illustrated by Nana Inoue has been turned into a short animation. The entire film can be enjoyed about two minutes!
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Fuwa Fuwa Fuwari to Kumo no Kuni
Anpanman, his friends, and the cloud child Fuwari strive to save Cloud Country. In order for flowers and plants to be healthy, Cloud Country travels to distribute clouds that can make rain and rainbows to various towns and stars. A cloud baby born in Cloud Country runs across Baikinman and his friends. After meeting them, the baby gets the name Fuwari and quickly grows while developing a bond with Dokin-chan.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Yousei Rinrin no Himitsu
Pâtisserie no Monster
Pâtisserie no Monster focuses on the titular monster Powan, the owner of a small pastry shop in France.
