The word "hentai" has two meanings in Japanese, referring both to "metamorphosis" and "abnormality/perversion." On Saturday, Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media will screen a series of 13 hentai films — covering the wackiest, weirdest animated shorts in which the characters also undergo various kinds of metamorphosis.
Gracing the screen all night at the edgy media-arts center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, are films from eight countries, including Estonia, Finland and the United States.
The mediums range from clay to drawings to computer graphics, and the running times vary from four minutes to 80 minutes. According to the center, these films are bound to "leave an ever-lasting impact on viewers, stimulating their senses of body and distorting their perception of time and space."
The program has been put together by animation critic Nobuaki Doi and independent-video label Calf.
The Hentai Animation All Night will start at 11:55 p.m. on July 27 at Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media's Studio C. Japanese subtitles will be provided. You must be over the age of 18 to attend. Admission is ¥2,000 per person in advance and ¥2,500 at the door. For more information, visit 10th.ycam.jp/term1/498.