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Kawauso

Berlinale Shorts 2024
© Studio Mangosteen
A girl walks through the tall grass. An otter catches up with her and joins her on her walk. The two try in vain to communicate with each other. Humanity’s junk is slowly raining down from the sky and threatens to bury everything beneath it. The otter leaves the scene. A farewell song, drawn in delicate black and white.
The Japanese otter has been considered extinct since 2012. Kawauso, which is Japanese for otter, is a popular character in Japanese folklore.
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by Akihito Izuhara Japan 2023 Japanese 15’ International premiere | Animation

Crew

Director Akihito Izuhara
Screenplay Akihito Izuhara, Ikuko Mizokami
Editing Akihito Izuhara
Music Soragoro Uwanosuke
Sound Design Tetsuro Nishi
Animation Akihito Izuhara
Producer Akihito Izuhara

Produced by

Studio Mangosteen

https://www.studio-mangosteen.com https://www.studio-mangosteen.com

Photos

Akihito Izuhara

Born in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan in 1964, he has had video installations and exhibitions in Japan since 1990. In 2010, his film Akai Mori no Uta was the first work he presented at the Berlinale. In 2012, LI.LI.TA.AL screened in Berlinale Shorts; in 2016, Vita Lakamaya was his third film to screen in the Berlinale Shorts competition.

Filmography (short films)

2005 Selnef 2007 Chiisana Tokage (Topy and Little Creature) 2008 Kagayaku Ki (Brilliant Tree) · Akai Mori no Uta (The Song of Red Forest) 2012 LI.LI.TA.AL. 2016 Vita Lakamaya 2023 Kawauso

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024