ASIFA --- Association Internationale du Film d’Animation --- is the only non-profit international association for animation in the world having a long history, and it aims to promote animation art globally and to attain international friendship and mutual understanding through the development of animation. ASIFA was founded in 1960 by masters of animation, including Norman McLaren, John Hubley, Paul Grimault, Ivan Ivanov Vano, Ion Popescu-Gopo, Karel Zeman, Bobe Cannon, Stephen Bosustow, Alexandre Alexeieff, Claire Parker, Lev Atamanov, Jiri Trnka, John Halas, Eduard Hofman, etc. The headquarter is registered in Annecy, France. Today, approximately 5000 animation filmmakers and professionals from all over the world are active ASIFA Members.

ASIFA is an international organization composed of individual members, but members are allowed to establish chapters in countries and regions to enhance their activities. Today, there are more than 40 chapters/offices throughout the world.
As one of national chapters, ASIFA-JAPAN was founded on December 22nd, 1981, by 22 starting members including prominent animation filmmakers such as Yoji Kuri, Taiji Yabushita, Osamu Tezuka, Tadahito Mochinaga, Kihachiro Kawamoto, Renzo Kinoshita, etc. It is organized in accordance with the ASIFA Statutes. Renzo Kinoshita, who was already serving as a member of ASIFA Board at that time, was elected as the first president, and served the position until he passed away in January 1997. Together with ASIFA-JAPAN, Renzo made great contributions to the development of animation field in Japan and around the world, and his achievements are immeasurable. From 1997 to 2023, Sayoko Kinoshita served as the second president of ASIFA-JAPAN. During these terms, Sayoko also served twice as the president of ASIFA (December 2006 - December 2009 and December 2018 - May 2022), and has devoted herself to the exchange and development of the animation field beyond countries and language barriers, and to the mutual understanding of different cultures through the art of animation.
Since February 2024, Hiroshi Onishi is serving as the third president.
ASIFA-JAPAN, since the establishment, has held the General Assembly once a year and has elected new executive members every three years by secret vote. Currently, it is consisted of 77 members.

ASIFA-Japan co-organized and held the Hiroshima International Animation Festival during 1984 - 2020, as the first ASIFA endorsed international animation festival in Asia. This festival was founded by Renzo and Sayoko Kinoshita, and led by Sayoko Kinoshita as the festival director. It was recognized as one of the top-notch high-quality festivals of the world because of the excellent programs and administration, and as a place where new outstanding talents were discovered. Thus, the festival attracted attention not only from animation professionals but also from the media field in general and had been qualified by the American Academy Awards and by the Annie Awards as well. However, it was suddenly closed in 2020, with the 18th edition.

Currently, ASIFA-JAPAN is preparing to establish a new film festival, “International Animation Festival in JAPAN,” which will carry on the spirit of ASIFA. In addition, the annual celebration of International Animation Day -- October 28th --, etc., has been held as well.

With a primary focus on fairness of opportunity, protection of freedom of expression, and protection of copyrights, ASIFA and ASIFA-JAPAN are committed to improving the social and economic conditions of animation filmmakers and related professionals, and to contributing to the international promotion of art and culture and mutual understanding.

(March, 2024)

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