Tokyo Animation Business Accelerator:
Project Outline
Tokyo is a thriving hub of animation production, yet much of its creative output is to be discovered by the global market. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is committed to bridging this gap by supporting the global expansion of our exceptionally innovative animation studios and creators. Since 2016, our presence at MIFA has been a key part of this mission.
Representing the vibrant animation scene of Tokyo, these talented animation studios and creators offer unique vision and technical expertise presenting significant opportunities for collaboration. We invite you to explore their work, showcasing notable originality and technical skill, and to discuss potential partnerships.
Tokyo Animation Pitch Grand Prix: Outline
Results from Feb. 13, 2026
At the Tokyo Animation Pitch Grand Prix, participants showcased advanced know-how and skills through a series of seminars and workshops. Entrants competed for prize money and the opportunity to exhibit their animation work in overseas markets. The winning companies have now taken their first steps toward gaining global recognition.
Top Prize Winner
| Name of Company | Address | Project/Production Title |
| Salamander Pictures | Toshima-city | ALICES |
Prize Winners
| Name of Company | Address | Project/Production Title |
| Tohru Patrick Awa | Mitaka-city | FUZZYROBO ∞ |
| Studio Selfish LLC | Suginami-city | In the Forest Something |
| PONORI LLC | Nakano-city | PONORI |
| Kotaro YANAGIHARA | Shibuya-city | ZEN CAT : The Strange Art of Not Fighting |
(Note) Companies are listed in the order of Japanese syllabary.
Works of Prize Winners
Top Prize Winner
Prize Winners
Top Prize Winner
ALICES
Synopsis
This story explores the life of Alice Liddell—the real-life inspiration behind Alice in Wonderland—to deliver a powerful message of empowerment and the journey to finding one’s true self.
Feeling lost in the shadow of her fictional double, Liddell embarks on a path of self-discovery through travel, art, and her bond with her family. It is a soul-stirring tale of a woman who confronts her "curse" and ultimately transforms it into a lifelong blessing.
Creator's Message
Alice in Wonderland is a masterpiece with the power and depth to be enjoyed at any stage in a person's life. The story of its creator and the real-life model for Alice is no less dramatic. Since childfood, I have been captivated by Alice, dedicating myself to researching its illustrations, translations, and historical context. Through this journey, I encountered the story of Alice Liddell—a young girl who was "discovered" in the name of art by Lewis Carroll, a man who possessed both a clear vision and the immense talent to realize it. I conceived this project to unravel Liddell’s journey by tracing the diaries she left behind—a search for a "true self" that may or may not even exist.
Credit
Developed by : Yumiko Yoshizawa(Salamander Pictures)
Creator Profile
Salamander Pictures
Salamander is an animation production company that manages the entire process from initial concept to final delivery. Beyond assembling the ideal creative team for each project, our defining characteristic is our commitment to developing the most effective and innovative production methods tailored to each specific work.
Company Contact
Prize Winner
FUZZYROBO ∞
Synopsis
“A world with only the right answers can feel a little suffocating.”
In a future city where AI decides the “correct” way to live, Lumina—an indecisive middle schooler—has always believed that her inability to choose is her greatest flaw.
But her life takes a turn when she encounters Fuwatto Robo, a mysterious robot that softly shifts shape in response to her wavering heart.
Alongside her classmates Makoto and Sorakos, Lumina begins a series of quirky, heartwarming, and chaotic adventures—slipping just outside the perfectly optimized life that the AI has planned for them.
As the system seeks to erase human uncertainty and guide the world toward a single “perfect” answer, Lumina and her friends begin to discover something:
detours, mistakes, and moments of doubt might be exactly what make life meaningful.
Maybe the future is better when it stays a little “fuzzy.” You might think so too.
Creator's Message
When was the last time you made a decision entirely on your own?
Today, AI can instantly give us the “right” answer on a silver platter. Convenient, right?
To be honest, I enjoy convenience too.
But isn’t there something a little unsettling about a world that becomes too convenient?
With Fuwatto Robo, I wanted to celebrate the value of hesitation—
taking detours, trying things, and sometimes making mistakes.
Because it’s often in those uncertain moments that people truly grow.
This is a story for anyone who has ever hesitated.
Credit
Created & Directed by TOHRU PATRICK AWA
Creator Profile
Tohru Patrick Awa
Director / Character Designer / Concept Artist
After spending 20 years in Hollywood—mostly just "drifting along," as he modestly puts it—Patrick has contributed to numerous global hits as a character designer and concept artist, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Love, Death & Robots. His design work also spans acclaimed Japanese titles such as Lupin III: The First. His directorial credits include the Netflix series Mech Cadets. His favorite Photoshop shortcut is Shift+F6 (Feather).
Company Contact
Prize Winner
In the Forest Something
Synopsis
In the "Forest of Something"—a place where those who wander in lose their most precious memories—a young girl named Ruby finds herself lost.
"Where was I supposed to go? Did I have a promise to keep?"
Confused and alone, Ruby grabs the tail of the forest’s caretaker—a Wolf—and bombards him with questions. But Ruby is not the only one trapped in this haze. There is a pair of siblings, a boy and a girl, searching for each other but never crossing paths; a postman searching for the recipient of a letter he wrote himself, though he can no longer remember who it was meant for ; and a pastry chef who has forgotten his recipe.
In this forest, footprints vanish without a trace. Yet, with every mystery solved, a forgotten memory returns. To remember her promise and find her way home, Ruby must team up with the Wolf—who seeks to break his own curse and protect the trees of the forest. Together, they begin to unravel the secrets of the forest.
Creator's Message
In our daily lives, buried under a constant flood of information, many of us feel a sense of anxiety about "forgetting" things.
However, when we stopped to think about what it is we truly don't want to lose, we realized it is the memories and experiences that exist only within ourselves.
Through the episodes of these characters, I hope the audience will find moments to relate to and laugh along with. My wish is that as you watch, your own cherished, happy memories will warmly return to you.
Credit
Planning, Design & Direction：Taka Kato
Series composition/Script : Taka Kato, Azuki Mashiba
Production, Copyrights : Studio Selfish LLC
Creator Profile
Studio Selfish LLC
Representative: Taka Kato (Takako Kato)
Studio Selfish is dedicated to delivering "little moments of happiness" to people around the world through their daily lives. The studio specializes in high-quality planning, storytelling, and design for animation and picture books.
Key Works:
3D CG Animation:
BabyTV: Rocco – Director / Character Designer
HTB: On-chan – Director
Doggy Bones in Twinkle Winkle Somewhere Land – Director / Character Designer
2D Animation:
NHK E-Tele: Kutsudaru. – Director
Picture Books:
Vivivi in My Pocket
Vivivi in the Biscuitia Land
Laidback Lu -Lu’s leisurely happiness-
Company Contact
Studio Selfish LLC
#214 Wakore Ogikubo, 5-14-5 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: http://studio-selfish.jp/WP/
Prize Winner
PONORI
Synopsis
Ponori is a tiny wind spirit gifted with a mysterious power: the ability to rewind time by exactly ten seconds.
Set against the timeless backdrop of Kyoto, Ponori appears at the "pivotal turning points" in the lives of ordinary people. With a flick of this power, Ponori grants them the chance to undo a single choice and try again. While these ten seconds can alter the course of a future forever, whether the change leads to happiness or heartbreak remains to be seen. Ponori does not judge or intervene; the spirit is a quiet witness to the unfolding of human life. This is an omnibus collection of stories, capturing the fleeting yet life-changing crossroads of the ordinary people of Kyoto.
Creator's Message
I believe that a person’s life is not shaped solely by dramatic events, but can be altered by the smallest of moments and a single flicker of the heart.
Even a mere ten seconds has the power to change the future. I truly believe that those ten seconds can be the spark that creates a kinder, more compassionate world.
Through Ponori—this tiny presence—I want to share a story that brings peace to your heart and makes tomorrow just a little easier to face. That is the story I wish to deliver to you.
Credit
Director / Screenplay / Character Design: Kozutsumi PON
Producer: Noriyuki Boda
Creator Profile
PONORI LLC
Founded in 2025 by animation director Kozutsumi PON and creative producer Noriyuki Boda, PONORI LLC was established to pioneer new frontiers in animation by integrating generative AI into the creative process.
Building upon a solid foundation of expertise and technical know-how gained through years of experience in traditional animation and 3DCG production, PONORI aims to be a "next-generation animation studio." We leverage the power of AI to achieve a perfect synergy between high-quality craftsmanship and production efficiency.
Company Contact
Email: info@ponori.jp
Website: https://ponori.jp/
Prize Winner
ZEN CAT : The Strange Art of Not Fighting
Synopsis
In the peaceful era of Edo, the samurai Shoken is haunted by a secret trauma. Ever since surviving a late-night ambush, he has been consumed by a singular, haunting fear: "To be weak is to die; only the strong survive."
But Shoken harbors a secret no one knows—he can speak with cats.
One day, a monstrous, giant rat appears in his manor. Desperate, Shoken summons three master feline warriors: the Shadow Cat of Skill, the Tiger Cat of Might, and the Ashen Cat of Harmony. Yet, even their most polished techniques and overwhelming strength are effortlessly repelled by the beast.
Finally, a frail, tottering old cat appears—the Hollow Cat. It takes no stance; it simply stands before the rat, its legs barely steady. It does not resist. It does not fight. To Shoken's disbelief, it is the giant rat that eventually retreats.
Why was only the old cat able to win? The moment Shoken reaches for the answer, his reality begins to warp. The scenery distorts, the world turns inside out, and Shoken realizes at last: the true enemy lies within himself.
Creator's Message
Our goal is to create a visceral piece of entertainment—one that makes the hearts of both children and adults race through a fusion of dynamic action and overwhelming immersion.
In this story, true power is not found in the edge of a blade. Instead, we explore the fragile architecture of the human mind: the paradox that the more we strive for perfection, the more we begin to waver and crumble. I wanted to capture the precise, terrifying moment when a tiny flicker of mental unrest triggers a total collapse of reality—flipping the world upside down and transforming the inner psyche into an epic, otherworldly battleground.
Through this "Mental Action Fantasy," I aim to offer a cathartic experience for everyone navigating today’s high-pressure era—a sensation of transcending the shadows of our own inner fears.
Credit
Director：GAZEBO
Creator・Producer：Aya Kohzumi
Production： TETRA Inc.
Character Design： Aiko Fujii, Sumire Abe
Based on the Novel： ZEN CAT : The Strange Art of Not Fighting by Yu Takahashi
Creator Profile
Kotaro Yanagihara (GAZEBO)
Director
Independent after working as an assistant director, in production design, and at a commercial production house. Under the name of GAZEBO, he handles planning, directing, and screenwriting.
Directing short films since 2019. Specializes in taking new values and weaving them into universal themes. Awarded the Branded Shorts of the Year at SSFF & ASIA 2022.
Interests: Fujiko Fujio, Eiichi Ohtaki, and late-night radio.
Company Contact
Mail: gazebosan@gmail.com
Portfolio: https://gazebosan.myportfolio.com
SNS: https://x.com/GAZEBO3