^{Credit: The Keeper of the Camphor Tree (A-1 Pictures, Psyde Kick Studio)}

The lineup has been announced for the 2026 Tribeca Festival. Among this year's entries in the Viewpoints section is the Japanese animated feature The Keeper of the Camphor Tree. The synopsis reads as follows: "The inspiring animated feature The Keeper of the Camphor Tree follows the personal metamorphosis of young Naoi, who is offered a way out of a life of misfortune on the condition he accepts a mysterious role." The film comes from director Tomohiko Itō, whose previous credits include anime series such as Erased and Sword Art Online. Itō has also directed multiple features, including Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale, which was submitted for Best Animated Feature Oscar consideration in 2017. 

Taku Kishimoto's script draws from Keigo Higashino's novel series, The Camphorwood Custodian. Among the film's producers are Masanori Miyake, Kazuki Adachi, and Go Wakabayashi. The Japanese voice cast features names like Fumiya Takahashi, Yuki Amami, Asuka Saito, and Ryubi Miyase. The Keeper of the Camphor Tree made its debut in Japan earlier this year. The 25th Tribeca Festival will mark the film's North American debut. 

While The Keeper of the Camphor Tree is the only animated feature that's been announced for Tribeca, Whoopi Goldberg curated this year's selection of animated short films. Among this year's selections is Pola Maneli's Apart, which Spike Lee co-wrote. Check out the full list of animated shorts below: 

APART (United States / South Africa) – World Premiere. Directed by Pola Maneli.
Because Today is Saturday (Portugal, France, Spain) – Directed by Alice Eça Guimarães.
ChikaBOOM! (United States) – World Premiere. Directed by c. Craig Patterson.
Dear Upstairs Neighbors (United States) – World Premiere. Directed by Connie Qin He.
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe! (Czech Republic / Slovakia) – North American Premiere. Directed by Andrea Szelesová.
Grounded (New Zealand) – Directed by Chris Callus.                    
Leg Day (Brazil) – World Premiere. Directed by João Lauro Fonte.
Lost Touch (Switzerland) – North American Premiere. Directed by Justine Klaiber.
Me, Myself, and Mary (United Kingdom / Ireland) – World Premiere. Directed by John Michell.
ROAR (United States) – World Premiere. Directed by Jesse Weglein.
Saba (France) – World Premiere. Directed by Liron Topaz.
Under the Lake (Spain) – World Premiere. Directed by Juan Carlos Mostaza.
Verse (United States) – World Premiere. Directed by Noam Argov.
Violet and Marlowe Rob a Bank (United States) – World Premiere. Directed by Wesley Wang.
WHALE 52 – Suite For Man, Boy, And Whale (United States) – Directed by Daniel Neiden.

Tribecca is notably an Oscar-qualifying festival for Best Animated Short. Of the aforementioned entries, Whale 52 competed for Oscar consideration last year. It wasn't nominated, but you can check out Cartoon Contender's interview with the crew here. Last year's Tribeca winner, Playing God, went on to make the Oscar shortlist, although it ultimately wasn't nominated. You can read Cartoon Contender's interview with director Matteo Burani here. 

The 25th Tribeca Festival takes place from June 3-14 in New York City. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!