Animation is Inspiration

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

Shinichiro Watanabe, Justin Leach and LeSean Thomas have each followed a very different path to make anime, yet despite these different roads, all have created unique anime projects with cross-cultural storytelling and global collaborators. All three come together at Japan Society to discuss their paths in the animation world, working across cultures and the tools, training and education needed for the next generation of animators, directors and producers. This free event looks to both inspire students and educators in New York City about careers in animation as well as provide them with rare advice from three legends gathered together in New York City.

This is a free event for high school and college students and educators. Please RSVP with Hannah Lee ([email protected]) to attend.

Featuring:

Shinichiro Watanabe – Creator, Lazarus & Cowboy Bebop
Shinichiro Watanabe is an anime director, screenwriter and music producer. He made his directorial debut as co-director of Macross Plus and has since directed numerous series titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, Space Dandy, Terror in Resonance and Carole & Tuesday  as well as shorts for The Animatrix – Kid’s Story, A Detective Story and Blade Runner – Black Out 2022. His latest series is Adult Swim’s Lazarus.

Justin Leach – Producer, Star Wars: Visions & Leviathan
Justin Leach is the founder of Qubic Pictures, a Tokyo-New York-based studio. With over 25 years in animation across the U.S. and Japan, he’s worked at Blue Sky Studios, Production I.G and Lucasfilm. He produced the first crowdfunded anime Kick-Heart, Under the Dog and Adventure Time: Food Chain. His recent works include Netflix’s Eden and Leviathan. Justin now serves as Co-Executive Producer on Star Wars: Visions, bringing new voices to the Star Wars galaxy through the groundbreaking anime.

LeSean Thomas — Creator, Yasuke & Cannon Busters; Founder, Curator & Host, Foreign Exchange
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. His journey began with notable projects such as The Boondocks, Black Dynamite: The Animated Series and The Legend of Korra. These foundational experiences paved the way for his move to Japan, where he created and directed works such as Crunchyroll’s Children of Ether and Netflix’s Cannon Busters. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically-acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. Building on his cross-cultural career, Thomas founded, curates and hosts Foreign Exchange, a platform for dialogue between U.S. and Japanese anime creators.

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas Foreign Exchange explores the cross-cultural dialogue between Japan and the U.S. through the popular arts. Join us for a weekend of talks and screenings with trailblazing anime visionaries Shinichiro Watanabe, Justin Leach and LeSean Thomas.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc. Foreign Exchange promotional support is provided by a grant from the New York City Tourism Foundation.

Japan Society’s Japanese Literature Series is generously supported by a grant from the Toshiba International Foundation, and All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., the official airline partner of the series.

Film programs are generously supported by Anime NYC, ORIX Corporation USA, 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 Jono Abrams and Elizabeth Linn, Ayumi Arafune, Darin Arita and Kanako Arita, Mike Audet, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Catanzaro, The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, Akiko Koide and Shohei Koide, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, Japan Society Film Council, and other Film supporters.

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.

Support for cultural programs is provided by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund; Jean Fan Colson and Daniel Colson; and Faith L. Taylor.

Japan Society arts and culture 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, and in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).