Hong Kong animations are finally turning heads. Meet the artists behind them

“The mainstream industry has this focus on anime and Disney, while the more experimental, niche side [of animation] is often overlooked,” says Sophie Colfer, an English-Japanese filmmaker and writer who was raised in Hong Kong and has worked internationally.

Colfer was brought up in a family that celebrated animation and its structural diversity.

“I grew up with a love for more experimental work,” she says. “Being Japanese meant that the door was open to niche anime series that went beyond hits like Fullmetal Alchemist or Naruto.”

Nurturing the community

Colfer is among a handful in her field who have been flying the flag for Hong Kong. Her 2023 directorial debut, Telsche – a conceptual, abstract short film about love and loss – premiered at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. The event is widely regarded as the “Oscars of animation”.