'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman': Pierre Földes on Animating Murakami's World

In an interview, Pierre Földes, director of the animated anthology film Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2022), shared insights into his creative process. As the first animated adaptation of Haruki Murakami's work, the film reimagines six of his short stories into a new narrative. The film won a Jury Distinction at the 2022 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, one of the largest animation festivals in the world.

Although Murakami rarely watches animated films, he praised this adaptation, saying, "I watched it twice. It was so engaging that I didn't even think about it being an animation."

Discovering Murakami's World

Földes first encountered Murakami's works while working as a composer in New York and becoming involved in animated films. "I was completely drawn in and really wanted to turn them into an animated film," he recalled.

Murakami was open to the idea and suggested he choose one of his short stories. However, Földes couldn't settle on just one. "The overall essence of his works is what's truly remarkable and unique," he explained. "I wanted to immerse myself in the world of his stories and try to depict that universe."

*Director Pierre Földes, who portrayed Frog in "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman." (©Sankei by Keiko Mizunuma)*

As he revisited Murakami's short stories multiple times, inspiration naturally arose. He ultimately selected six stories — "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo," "Birthday Girl," "Firefly," "The Wind-up Bird and Tuesday's Women," "UFO in Kushiro," and "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman."

This method echoes the live-action film adaptation of Murakami's Drive My Car, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, where elements from several stories in Murakami's collection Men Without Women are woven into a new narrative.

Resonating with Murakami's Vision

In a mid-June conversation in Tokyo, Murakami acknowledged the creative potential of transforming his short stories for the screen. "With short stories, the director must add their own elements, which can lead to something truly interesting," he explained. "I prefer not to have my written work directly adapted. Instead, I'd like to see something new added."

Additionally, the character of the giant frog resonated deeply with Murakami, who was impressed by how closely the character matched his vision. Földes not only portrayed Frog in the live-action sequences but also voiced the character. The film was created using a technique called "live animation," where animators hand-draw scenes based on live-action footage performed by Canadian actors.

Director Földes concluded, "I hope this film inspires people to find new horizons."