Exhibitions
Tonko House’s first film, The Dam Keeper, played in over one hundred festivals all over the world. The deep festival run allowed Tonko House to engage directly with audiences and form lasting bonds with our fans. Since then Tonko House has hosted exhibitions and film festivals so that we can gather together with film lovers and invite new fans into the filmmaking experience.
ONI Exhibition at the PLAY! Museum
Tokyo, Japan • January–April 2023
This exhibition is an entertainment experience where you can enjoy the behind the scenes work of ONI: Thunder God’s Tale in a spectacular exhibition space. The exhibition fuses artifacts from Japanese folklore with the images, words, and sounds of ONI in an immersive experience.
You can also experience the Tonko House filmmaking process while enjoying ONI on the big screen. Those who have seen the episodes can experience a deeper understanding of the story, and even if you haven't seen the show yet, this is a new exhibition where you can fully immerse yourself in the unique entertainment experience of PLAY! MUSEUM.
Second Tonko House Film Festival
Worldwide • January–August 2020
In 2020, with so many unprecedented problems all over the world, we were very concerned about holding a film festival. However, in times like these we decided to hold the Second Tonko House Film Festival online. It was our hope that the power of animation could give everyone courage and hope.
We believe in the power and appeal of short form animation to lift, inspire, and encourage people all over the world. We gathered many wonderful animated shorts from all over the world and screened them free of charge. Additionally, we prepared a number of talk events with wonderful filmmakers and animation workshops with members of Tonko House.
The Tonko House Animation Exhibition
Seoul, Korea • May–August 2019
The Tonko House Animation Exhibition opened in Seoul in Cheongdam-dong in early 2019. It was an exciting chance for Tonko House to work with Korean artists and educators. The exhibition featured a two-floor gallery that walked you through the journey of the studio, including a peek at future projects. For the first time, the exhibition had augmented reality features that brought a deeper understanding of the artwork on display.
In partnership with ZamyGo we teamed up with local universities to create an AR experience that allowed visitors to browse through virtual artist sketchbooks. We also had elementary school children visit the gallery where they participated in a hands-on art education project. Last but not least, we worked with three Korean animators to produce original animation exclusively for this show.
Tonko House Film Festival
Tokyo, Japan • April–May 2019
Our experience participating in numerous international film festivals inspired the desire to hold our own film festival where film lovers can gather together, and our dream finally came true in 2019. Many world-class studios and filmmakers worked with us to share some of our favorite works with a Japanese audience.
In addition to screening twenty films from eleven countries, we hosted talks, put on workshops, and offered Tonko House themed treats at our specialty cafe. Our hope was to inspire the Tonko House community in the same way that the films we celebrated inspired us.
Tonko House: The Dam Keeper’s Journey
Mitsubishi Estate Atrium, Fukuoka, Japan • July–September 2018
Our traveling exhibition continued on in the third year, expanding to include even more original artworks and information about The Dam Keeper graphic novel. We also had the opportunity to create a site-specific, interactive maze for children. The exhibition also hosted several in depth talks on animation and art, including a children’s workshop that taught kids how to create their own animated zoetropes.
Tonko House constantly strives to challenge ourselves in our creative work, and this extends to the thought and effort that goes into creating these exhibitions. We were pleased with how our traveling exhibition transformed to fit the unique space and desires of the audience. We constantly learn from the people that engage with our work, and it’s no different when it comes to inviting people into our filmmaking world.
The Journey of Tonko House, 2017
Ishinomori Manga Museum, Ishinomaki, Japan • March–June 2017
Tonko House took our first exhibition on the road to Ishinomaki, one of the cities heavily affected by the earthquake in 2011. We were delighted to host our work in the Ishinomori Manga Museum and connect with people who have a deep love of Japanese artistry. We expanded upon our first exhibition and utilized the museum space to show even more original work. This exhibit was also the premiere of Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems, the series we created in collaboration with Hulu Japan.
This was an amazing opportunity for us to personally connect with an audience outside of the usual venues where animation is shown. It was a meaningful collaboration that set the tone for our future efforts and exhibitions in other places.
The Journey of Tonko House, 2016
Creation Gallery G8, Tokyo, Japan • March–April 2016
Tonko House’s first exhibition, The Journey of the Dam Keeper, took place at Creation Gallery G8 in the Ginza District of Tokyo. We wanted visitors to get a feeling for the Tonko House studio in California, understand the production process of The Dam Keeper, and get a glimpse of future projects.
We delighted visitors with original artwork, sketchbooks, and process work that told the story of The Dam Keeper’s development. We also shared Tonko House’s mission and showed the latest short film, Moom. More than 10,000 people visited the gallery in five weeks. It was a resounding success and inspired us to take the exhibition to new cities.
