Inspiring The Next Generation: Creating TV Anime in Japan – High School Talk and Screening

Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is one of the few Black Americans working in the anime industry in Japan. Starting his career in television, he worked as Co-Director and Lead Character Designer on The Boondocks, Producer and Supervising Director on Black Dynamite, and contributed as a Story Artist and Animation Production team member on The Legend of Korra. He then transformed his career by moving to Japan, where he created, directed and executive-produced Children of Ether for Crunchyroll, followed by creating, executive producing and directing Netflix’s Cannon Busters. His most recent work is Netflix’s Yasuke—a project LeSean created, directed, and executive produced.

Japan Society is excited to bring LeSean back to New York City for a weekend-long film series showing the anime that inspired him to pursue a career in Japan.

As part of this major event, Japan Society in collaboration with The Imagination Project Inc. is hosting a free screening and talk with LeSean Thomas focused on high school students. In this event, LeSean will share one of his works and answer questions based on his unique experience. His goal is to return to his hometown of NYC and inspire the next generation of creators, artists, animators and directors.

Outline:
10:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Doors Open
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM – Introduction and Children of Ether Screening
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM – LeSean Thomas Talk and Q&A

Audience:
This event is for high school students with an interest in art, animation, creativity or Japan. No experience is required, only a passion to create.

RSVP:
This is a free event for high school students. To sign up, teachers should reach out to [email protected] to request tickets for their classes. Students should not email directly. Please note seating is limited. RSVPs will close once all seats are filled.

About Children of Ether
Written and directed by LeSean Thomas, and with an all-star team including character designer Hiroshi Shimizu (Michiko & Hatchin), storyboard director Shingo Natsume (One-Punch Man), animation director Yuichi Takahashi (Blue Giant) and animator Mitsuo Iso (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Children of Ether is set in a future New York City and follows a woman named Rhonda with a mysterious power. It was Crunchyroll’s first original anime short film, and it was acclaimed both for its collaboration between African American director LeSean Thomas and anime industry heavy-hitters, as well as its focus on a woman of color, a rarity in the anime world.

About LeSean Thomas
South Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is among the distinguished few Black Americans making their mark in the TV anime industry and is currently the only Black American to successfully create, produce and direct original TV anime series in Japan. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. 

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas

Image: Children of Ether © LeSean Thomas.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, and Film Circle members.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.