Extremely Short

A man sets out in search of the shortest thing in Tokyo, which turns out to be a single syllable uttered by a dying man…
The first installment in a series of animated shorts called “Bungaku Bideo”, Koji Yamamura’s Extremely Short translates into film a powerful story by Hideo Furukawa, read by the author himself.
Trailer
Teaser

Extremely Short has been selected for film festivals.

• The 56th Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.
• The 19th Sapporo Short Fest 2024
• The 31st International Film Festival Etiuda & Anima 2024
• The Directors’ Fortnight 2024 in Tokio
• The 21st London International Animation Festival (LIAF 2024), Best Original Score Award 'Extremely Short' Isaji Sunao Dsir. Koji Yamamura
• 2025 PIAFF : Paris International Animation Film Festival
• The 14th International Animated Film Festival Animocje, Poland, 2025.04

DIRECTOR

KOJI YAMAMURA
Born in 1964, Koji Yamamura is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is a professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts. Nominated for an Oscar, his short “Mt. Head” won grand prizes and was selected for 100 Films for a Century of Animation. His first feature film Dozens of Norths won the Grand Prize at the Ottawa and the Annecy International Animation Film Festivals. In total, his films have won over 140 awards.
Yamamura Animation, Inc. (yamamura-animation.jp)

TEXT & VOICE

HIDEO FURUKAWA
Born in Fukushima Prefecture in 1966, Hideo Furukawa is the prolific author of dozens works of fiction, including everything from short shorts to very long novels, as well as plays, poetry, and non-fiction. Known for his dynamic readings, he often partners with musicians and other artists in collaborative performances.

MUSIC

SUNAO ISAJI
Sunao Isaji’s activities range from contemporary music composition and improvisation to live performances of Showa songs, children’s songs, and Brazilian music. He is also a lover of soccer, movies, and folklore. He has received the Akutagawa Composition Award, the Idemitsu Music Award, and the Keizo Saji Award for “Nanban Gekijo – Sunao Isaji Solo Exhibition.

FILM CREDITS

“Totemo mijikai” (2010) by HIDEO FURUKAWA
Planning & English translation MICHAEL EMMERICH
Producer KOJI YAMAMURA
Assistant Producer SANAE YAMAMURA
Co-Production Yamamura Animation
Production THE YANAI INITIATIVE at UCLA + Waseda University
Project Managers, The Yanai Initiative YUMI JOKO, SANAE YAMAZAKI
Voice Recording ERIC SIERCKS @ Waseda International House of Literature
Music performance SUNAO ISAJI, KEIKO NIIMI
Music Mixer HIDEKI ISOBE
Music Recording Studio
Mixer MASASHI SHIMADA, Aoi Studio
Color Grading, DCP lab Assist