Published:  00:00 Sunday - December 26, 2010

An array of eight famous Japanese animated films produced in the early 2000s will be screened at the National Cinema Centre from January 12-16, 2011.

The event is being jointly held by the Japanese Culture Department, the Japanese Cultural Exchange Centre in Vietnam, the Cinematographic Department and the National Cinema Centre.

The festival will especially feature “Spirit away” directed by Miyazaki Hayao in 2001, which won the Golden Bear award in 2002 and was among the Oscar competitors for best animated feature film at the 75^th annual Academy Awards ceremony.

“Spirit away” tells about the adventures of a 10-year-old girl, Chihiro, who is accidentally thrown into a “spirit” world. While working at a bathhouse catering to spirits and gods, she tries to rescue her parents from a spell that transformed them into pigs.

Prior to the event, popular voice actress Mitsuki Saiga, guitarist Kazuya Nishikawa and several film makers will engage in an exchange with Vietnamese audience.

Cartoon pilgrims may get free tickets at the Japanese Cultural Exchange Centre in Vietnam at 27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi as from 2.pm on January 5.