Society

Japanese animation film wins top prize

Jun 19 (NHK) - A Japanese film has won the top prize in the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in southeastern France.

"Lu Over the Wall" directed by Masaaki Yuasa received the Crystal award, the highest honor in the feature film division of the festival.

The film is about a boy who moved to a desolate fishing village and befriended a mermaid. The encounter made the reclusive boy able to relate to other people.

It was the first time in 22 years that a Japanese film won the top prize in the feature film division. In 1995, "Heisai-era Raccoon Dog War Pompoko" directed by Isao Takahata won the award.

The story is about a young woman's life during the closing period of the Second World War in Hiroshima.

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