The RITA & WHATSIT anime series charmed audiences when it screened on the public television network NHK. Based on the popular French picture books by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod and Olivier Tallec, the stories feature a spunky 5-year-old girl Rita and her dog Whatsit. Rita is by terms bossy, imaginative, and whimsical, while Whatsit is a lazy dog who only talks when he must. Together they form a hilarious pair getting themselves into all kinds of delightful situations.

This event will feature live readings from the storybooks in Japanese and German followed by five 5-minute anime episodes.

Rita and Whatsit, dir. Masaaki KIDOKORO
Rita and Whatsit Going to the Pool, dir. Kazuma FUJIMORI
Rita and Whatsit Going to School, dir. Masaaki KIDOKORO
Christmas with Rita and Whatsit, dir. Masaaki KIDOKORO
Rita and Whatsit in Paris, dir. Kazuma FUJIMORI

Japanese with English subtitles and live German translation.

Presented by Dr. Catherine Munroe Hotes, author of Nishikata Film Review and the blog Nishikata Mama: the weekly adventures of a mother of 2 living in central Tokyo.

© Nippon Animation / Planet Nemo
http://www.planetnemoanimation.com/rita.html
http://www.rita-machin.jp/