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Abstract Animation Director Mirai Mizue's Kickstarter Campaign Reaches Goal

Award-winning abstract animation director Mirai Mizue's (Toru Matsumoto: AND AND., Modern No. 2) Kickstarter campaign for the animated short film project "WONDER" has hit its funding goal. Mizue created the short over the course of 365 days by animating one second, or 24 frames of abstract art, each day. Mizue created a total of 8,760 drawings with the help of 160 painters.

Mizue began working on the film on April 1, 2012 and finished on March 31, but turned to Kickstarter to raise funds for a soundtrack, editing costs, and creating a 35mm print. The director was looking to raise US$17,870 to cover the costs of a soundtrack by The Pascals, editing, and other production expenses. The costs would also cover festival admission fees, such as for France's Cannes.

The project has added a stretch goal of US$20,000 to cover prints and advertising for the short's theatrical release as well as a Mirai Mizue retrospective that his team is planning to create this summer. As of press time, the project has raised US$19,308 with less than an hour left in the campaign.

Backers of the project can receive password-protected access to the film online, a .PDF file of all 8,760 drawings, a signed, region-free copy of the film on DVD, signed drawings, a chance to meet Mizue and the film crew, and tickets to festivals where the film will show.

This is not the first Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a Japanese animation director; Masaaki Yuasa raised more than US$175,000 for his Kick-Heart anime short last year.