Greetings

Together with all of you around the world, I am most pleased to celebrate the International Animation Day (IAD) again this year. It is one of the most important activities of ASIFA since 2002, to celebrate Emile Reynaud’s first public performance of animation by Theatre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris on October 28th, 1892. I am very happy that this manifestation is getting more and more active every year in many countries, by holding animation screenings, seminars, etc., at almost the same time throughout the world.

Especially, this year's IAD will be a very special celebration, because an animation short film "Neighbours" (1952, 8:00), made by Norman McLaren, the first President of ASIFA, was added to the UNESCO's Memory of the World Registry this summer. As you may know, "Neighbours" is a film expressing the theme of anti-war, and it was an emotional experience for me that I received the news of its registration when I was staying in Hiroshima, near the A-Bomb dome, in the morning of August 6th, just before the Peace Memorial Ceremony. I felt that it was a special coincidence fitting the spirit of ASIFA, to pursuit world eternal peace through the art of animation. I am very pleased and honoured to be able to share such wonderful news with you.

And, next year, 2010, will be the 50th Anniversary of ASIFA ! I truly hope that we will work together continuously for the development of animation, aiming another 50 years to come.

I sincerely hope that IAD 2009 will be celebrated with much happiness and success !!!

Sayoko Kinoshita
President of ASIFA
President of ASIFA-JAPAN