Main Feature: Japanese Animation Director Gisaburo SugiiWith a spectacular career now spanning more than 50 years, Sugii is still directing cartoons at the age of 71. Involved in ASTRO BOY (1963), Japan's first full-length TV animation, he has gone on to direct many works of high artistic quality from NIGHT on the GALACTIC RAILROAD to Stormy Night. Ever working on the latest projects, he also released Japan's first full-length 3D animation, TOFU KOZO, in April last year. His new cinema release, The Life of Budori Gusuko, is now much-awaited this summer. We meet Sugii at work, learn all about this cartoon giant and look into what makes his animations so amazingly attractive. Creator's interview: Akihito Izuhara Japanese Animation Director Two short Japanese works were selected for the Berlinale Shorts at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival held from February 9th to 19th. One was LI.LI.TA.AL by Akihito Izuhara, the animation director we introduce today. Set in the ethereal world of Vita-Lakamaya, it took two years to make and depicts this beautiful, chaotic place with the ultra-fine and detailed animation. We meet the talented new creator behind it.

Main Feature: "Creator's Interview Special <4>"<1> Usamaru Furuya, Japanese Manga Artists<2> Hiroyuki Goto, Japanese Game Creator<3> Shinji Kimura, Japanese Art DirectorIn today's imagine-nation: we bring you, all at once, a special edition consisting of interviews with creators who are working successfully at the very front line of Japanese pop culture!We've heard from them before, but had to cut them short. Not THIS time!So stay tuned and listen in, we promise that your views on manga, anime and games would be bound to change.

Main Feature: Popular Japanese Game "CHAMPION JOCKEY"The long-awaited CHAMPION JOCKEY horseracing game, released in September 22nd, is the product of TECMO KOEI Holdings, formed through a corporate merger in April last year between Koei and Tecmo. The merger put their popular titles together, offering new software that is sure to thrill horseracing game lovers. It incorporates Tecmo's Gallop Racer and Koei's G1 JOCKEY with the addition of a motion-controller that makes it all seem even more real. This is now the definitive jockey action game. Gallop Racer provided an invigorating sense of being at the race course thanks to its sumptuous images and very game-like systems. G1 JOCKEY was geared toward the more hard core players who demanded realistic jockey and other simulation and played for many hours at a stretch. The two games shared the same theme but otherwise had very little in common. How were they combined to arrive at the best of both worlds? David, our reporter, goes backstage to learn about the software development and try his hand on the motion-controller, which is claimed to feel just like riding a horse! We also consider the future of jockey action games.Creator's interview: Sachiyo Watanabe, Japanese Animation DirectorJapanese animation director Sachiyo Watanabe is not part of a team and has no assistant. She does it all herself, typically in pencil, colored pencil or ink, focusing especially on gentle, lightly humorous images of lovely children, animals or natural things. She says she fell in love with animation in junior high. She is now a true freelancer after working at studios in Japan and New York.