Exhibition of Japanese art anime opens today at Ajyal Festival

Japanese art genre anime will be on display at the four-day Otaku Exhibition from today at the first Ajyal Youth Film Festival, organised by Doha Film Institute (DFI) at the Katara Cultural Village. The exhibition features works from a number of galleries, artists, and social clubs, the 'Otaku Exhibition' brings to life the world of novels, comic books, and the beloved art of manga, in one dynamic celebration. With works curated by Abdulla Al-Mosallam, visitors to the exhibition can gain insights into works by local artists including Fatima Alnesf, Kholoud Al-Ali, and Abdulaziz Yousif. The artists are working alongside an array of cultural institutions and organisations including AnimeQtr and Qatar Japan Youth Association, DFI said. Anime are Japanese animated productions featuring hand-drawn or computer animation. The word is the abbreviated pronunciation of 'animation' in Japanese. In English usage, the term is defined as a Japanese-disseminated animation style often characterized by colourful graphics, vibrant characters and fantastic themes. Fans of Anime looking to embody their favourite characters can participate in the 'Otaku Cosplay Event' on November 29 where visitors will have the opportunity to win awards across a number of categories including costumes for Best Male, Best Female, Best Group, and Open Category (open to all other costumes styles). Visitors will also be able to participate in an array of workshops spanning The Making of a Comic Book; Qatari Japanese Traditional Games; Cosplay Costume Making; Cosplay Hair and Makeup; Origami making; Introduction to Shogi; Anime History; Qartoon workshop; and Anime Stop Motion workshop. Over the three days, visitors can trade collectible cards; purchase anime merchandise and games; participate in the 'Super Villain Hunt'; Munny Painting; and 'Make-your-own- Manga', enabling them to understand the various facets of anime, DFI said. Ajyal Youth Film Festival builds on the DFI's history of community-based programming. Ajyal invites generations to come together to discuss cinema through workshops that inspire creative interaction, opening up a fun, collaborative environment where young people can express themselves.