AWARDS
[ ANIAFF Awards Overview ]
As part of our mission to promote the development of animation culture, ANIAFF has established an awards program. We believe that animation culture is built upon the creative dedication of the production staff. Currently, opportunities for these staff members to have their talents and achievements recognized are rare. Through these awards, we hope to help bring their vital contributions to wider public attention.
We have established three distinct awards: two Individual Awards (the Iris Prize and the Lily Prize) and one Studio Award (the Red Maple Prize).
[ What is the Iris Prize? ]
The name of this prize originates from the Japanese iris, the prefectural flower of Aichi Prefecture.
[ What is the Lily Prize? ]
The name of this prize originates from the lily, the municipal flower of Nagoya City.
[ What is the Red Maple Prize? ]
The name of this prize originates from the Japanese flowering dogwood, the prefectural tree of Aichi Prefecture.
Iris Prize
Kenji Iwaisawa
[ Profile ]
Director Kenji Iwaisawa, who rose to prominence with "Music," now turns to depict men who devote themselves to the 100-meter sprint. Its powerful story is truly tear-jerking. The film also stands out for its ambitious use of animation techniques, including rotoscoping and hand-drawn expression.
[ Reason for selection ]
An Individual Award – The Kakitsubata Award, named after Aichi Prefecture’s official flower, will be presented to Kenji Iwaisawa. His 2020 indie film, "On-Gaku: Our Sound," earned widespread acclaim internationally. Not only did he single-handedly complete every major creative role—director, screenwriter, animation director, and art director—but the film’s avant-garde expression, bold artistic approach, and innovative use of rotoscoping techniques were remarkable achievements in themselves. In 2025, he released "100 METERS", further demonstrating his ability to create dramatic storytelling and showcasing the breadth of his filmmaking skills.
Lily Prize
Kiyoshi Hirose
[ Profile ]
A film editor and President of EDITZ Inc. After working at GONZO and SANZIGEN, he became independent. His major editing credits include the DAN DA DAN series, Your Color, Look Back, BLUE GIANT, INU-OH, Children of the Sea, the Ranking of Kings series, and the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series.
In recent years, he has been utilizing DaVinci Resolve to improve editing workflows and asset-sharing methods in close collaboration with production and direction teams.
In addition to animation, he has extensive experience in live-action editing and direction, as well as concert footage and music videos. He brings the perspectives and methodologies gained from working across these diverse fields into the production process.
[ Reason for selection ]
An Individual Award – The Yuri Award, named after Nagoya City’s official flower, will be presented to Kiyoshi Hirose. As the CEO of Edits Inc., Hirose has overseen editing for numerous acclaimed anime titles, including "Dandadan," "Look Back," and "BLUE GIANT." Considering the crucial role that editing plays in anime production, it’s no exaggeration to say that the success of modern Japanese animation would not exist without his contributions. We are honored to recognize Hirose, a leading figure in the field, for both his outstanding achievements and his efforts to showcase the importance and artistry of editing to the world.
Red Maple Prize
P.A. WORKS Co., Ltd.
[ Profile ]
Founded in November 2000 and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, this animation studio is headquartered in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. The company is known for producing many original-story works and for taking on a wide range of genres. Guided by its philosophy of "creating lights that illuminate the future," the studio strives to create works that inspire both creators and viewers to feel, "I can do my best again tomorrow."
Since 2018, the studio has also operated the "P.A. Training School," placing a strong focus on nurturing the next generation of creators.
Major works include true tears, CANAAN, Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha, TARI TARI, SHIROBAKO, The Eccentric Family, Ya Boy Kongming!, and Skip and Loafer.
[ Reason for selection ]
A Studio Award – The Hanano-ki Award, named after Aichi Prefecture’s official tree, will be presented to P.A. Works Inc. Since its founding in 2000, the studio has built an impressive record in both planning and production, consistently showcasing exceptional creativity across its works, from original titles to adaptations of manga, novels, and games. Furthermore, at a time when very few animation studios operated outside the Tokyo area, the company established its headquarters in Toyama Prefecture, setting a new model for what an animation studio could be and influencing many studios that followed.