This course uses postwar Japanese films and animation (anime) as the principal texts and investigates their relationship with contemporary Japanese culture, society and politics. Students will be introduced to the various genre and representative film and anime, together with specific critical writings on these works. Focus of the course will be on the relationship between the films and the audience, the impact of the dominance of films and anime in present day Japan and worldwide, and the various social and cultural issues such as violence and globalisation that are closely related to the movie industry.