In conjunction with the newly announced collaboration with the Annie Awards, it has been confirmed that Aubry Mintz, Executive Director of ASIFA-Hollywood, will be joining the jury.
Also joining are Pénélope Bagieu, the acclaimed bande dessinée author and illustrator known for works such as Brazen, and Shuzo John Shiota, President and CEO of Polygon Pictures, who has received Annie Awards for his work on Tron: Uprising and “Jibaro” from Love, Death & Robots Season 3.
Artistic Director Tadashi Sudo commented on the diverse group of jurors from both Japan and abroad, saying, “We look forward to the sharp insights that will emerge from such a wide range of perspectives—those of individuals leading today’s global cultural scene—which will shed light on the current state of animation.”
Aubry Mintz
Profile
Aubry Mintz has worked as a feature animator (ILM, Square USA) and directed projects for Smirnoff, McDonalds, MuchMusic and General Mills and the Canadian rock band Rush. His short-animated film “Nothing to Say” narrated by celebrity Danny Aiello screened at 41 festivals around the globe and won awards at Australia Independent Film Festival, Arctic Film Festival (a United Nations SDG Initiative), Palm Springs International Animation Festival, Anchorage Film Festival, NFMLA, and Canada Shorts. Mintz is also a co-author for the book “Ideas for the Animated Short 2nd Edition” and writer for Cartoon Brew, Animation Magazine, AnimationScoop.com and IndieWire.com. Mintz presented at Disney Feature Animation, Blue Sky Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation, San Diego Comic Con, SIGGRAPH , Lightbox Expo, and Wondercon. Aubry was also guest host on TV’s Turner Classic Movies (TCM) for a 4-hour program on the animated short films from the National Film Board of Canada and he was featured in the documentary “Autism Goes to College” Mintz is Professor of Animation at California State University Long Beach and the Executive Director of ASIFA-Hollywood.
Comment
It is a privilege to serve on the distinguished jury for the inaugural Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF) in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya. This first edition marks an exciting step forward for the animation community, and I’m proud to be part of this creative momentum. As Executive Director of ASIFA-Hollywood, I value opportunities to support and connect with animation creators and advocates worldwide. Together, we continue to champion the power of animation as one of the most dynamic forms of visual storytelling—bridging cultures, honoring tradition, and inspiring innovation. ANIAFF’s mission to “advance both the culture and industry of animation worldwide” strongly aligns with ASIFA-Hollywood’s, and I look forward to seeing this international relationship grow and flourish.
©Eusebio Simone
Pénélope Bagieu
Profile
“Born in 1982 in Paris to Corsican and Basque parents, Pénélope Bagieu studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, where she specialized in multimedia and animation. After graduating, she began working as an illustrator on major advertising campaigns, book covers, and press publications. Her blog, ‘Ma vie est tout à fait fascinante’, in which she humorously and sharply portrays her daily life, became a publishing success after its online popularity. Her work, translated into many languages, has received numerous awards and accolades: the SNCF Prize at the Angoulême Festival and the BD Award for Best Humour Album in 2011 for Cadavre Exquis, the Harvey Award for Best European Book in 2018 for California Dreamin, the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material in 2019 for her two-volume Brazen, which has been translated into twenty languages, the Babelio Comics Prize in 2020, and the Quebec Booksellers’ Youth Comics Prize in 2021 for her adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Her success has been phenomenal. The first two volumes of her Joséphine trilogy were adapted into films in 2013 and 2016, starring Marilou Berry in the lead role, and Brazen was adapted into an animated TV series in 2020. Pénélope Bagieu was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2013.”
Comment
I am incredibly honoured and excited to be part of the very first edition of ANIAFF, for several reasons : Because it is the launch of a new adventure, and I can’t wait to meet and get to discuss with such interesting jury members. I am also very eager to discover a wide range of international work, animation being my first inclination and college education, and so infusing all through my work in comics. Last but not least, I am thrilled that this edition will feature a « Women in animation » program, which I’m sure will allow me to discover a number of inspiring and talented artists. Let the festival begin and thank you again for having me !
Shuzo John Shiota
Profile
Shuzo John Shiota was raised in the United States and is a graduate of the Sophia University Faculty of Law, Department of International Legal Studies. After joining the Nippon Steel Corporation in 1991, Shiota went on to participate in the launch of Dream Pictures Studio in 1997. He moved to Polygon two years later and in 2003 assumed the position of President and CEO. As studio head Shiota has spearheaded efforts to cultivate Polygon’s overseas presence, helping the studio to become a leading developer of TV series and content targeted at the foreign market. Shiota has also served as a judge at major Japanese and international film festivals including Prix Ars Electronica (AUS), SIGGRAPH (U.S.) and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France). He also presided as conference chair for SIGGRAPH Asia in December 2021, and in 2022 received a Special Achievement Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival. In 2023, he received a Hall of Fame Award from Animation Magazine in the U.S. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). His hobbies include playing in a band.
Comment
I’m truly honored to be part of the very first Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF) as a jury member. I’m originally from Hyogo, but as a kid I often took the Shinkansen to visit my grandparents in Nagoya, so the city feels very close to me. Over the years I’ve had the chance to serve on juries at many international festivals, including Annecy, but being involved in a brand-new festival here in Nagoya that puts “Creators First” at its core feels extra special. Since this is the very first edition, I see the jury’s role as helping set the tone for the future, and I’m excited to dive in and experience all the amazing works on display.