Star Wars: Visions & The Future of Global Animation 

Join Justin Leach, CEO of Qubic Pictures and Co-Executive Producer of Star Wars: Visions, for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the acclaimed anthology series. This session explores how Lucasfilm embraced a truly global production model— partnering with legendary anime studios including Production I.G, WIT Studio, Studio Trigger, David Production, Kamikaze Douga, Polygon Pictures, and Kinema Citrus to create Star Wars: Visions Volume 3.  Justin Leach will appear in conversation with moderator LeSean Thomas to discuss the evolution of Qubic’s work with Lucasfilm, and the panel will include how Qubic Pictures helped build a bridge with Japanese studios, the power of creative trust and cultural sensitivity in global productions, how Qubic shapes new models for producing internationally-driven animated content, what makes Visions a unique production and how the animation industry can learn from its success. This is a must-see for students and professionals.

Featuring:

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.

Foreign Exchange All-Access Ticket
Join us all weekend with an All-Access Ticket. This ticket includes admission to all public talks and screenings. Limited availability.

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).