Japan Fantastic: Before Anime

 

 

Film Screening Notes (part 1)

The Story of Shiobara Tasuke (Kineben Chochiku: Shiobara Tasuke) 1925 / All ages

16MM, 10 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: KIMURA HAKUZAN / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Industrious farmer Tasuke makes the necessary sacrifices to advance his station in life from a farmer to a store-owner. Based on a well-known kabuki tale Shiobara Tasuke ichitai-ki (The life story of Shiobara Tasuke), this parable about the virtues of hard work is based on a true story.

Burglars of Baghdad Castle (Bagudajo no Tozoku) 1926 / All ages

16MM, 10 MINS, B. & W., SILENT, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: NOBURO OFUJI / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Dango-bei, the laziest man in Baghdad, learns the value of hard-won happiness in this masterful example of Japanese paper-cut animation. While the technique of animation was widely used in Japan, here Ofuji introduced the use of chigoyami (traditional Japanese paper). To win the hand of Baghdad’s beautiful princess, Dango-bei must journey across the snow country to the Devil’s Abyss and ward off a dragon to attain a treasure – a magic stone. Upon arriving home he discovers that Baghdad has been invaded and he must summon up a liberating army with his magic stone.

Black Cat (Kuro-Nyago) 1929 / All ages

16MM, 3 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: NOBURO OFUJI / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

A jazzy cat dances under cherry trees in blossom in this paper cut-out animation for children. Originally projected synchronised with an 80rpm record, the film was digitally restored by the National Film Center in Tokyo in 2005, incorporating the original soundtrack.

Bandanemon the Monster Exterminator 1935 / All ages

16MM, 9 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: MURATA YASUJI / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Bandanemon the Monster Exterminator features the mischievous raccoon dogs of Japanese folktales – the tanuki. Brave warrior-in-training Bandanemon (encouraged by the prospect of a reward), offers to help a village rid their temple of the monster lurking within.  The cunning tanuki hiding in the temple tricks Bandenemon by disguising itself as a woman in distress.

Benkei vs Ushiwaka (Benkei to Ushiwaka) 1939 / All ages

16MM, 13 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: KENZOU MASAOKA / PRINT SOURCE: PLANET BIBLIOTHEQUE DE CINEMA, OSAKA / RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTER, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

A well-loved Japanese tale based on the adolescent years of the Samurai folk hero Minamoto Yoshitsune (here called Ushiwaka). On the Gojyo Bridge in Kyoto, the pint-sized but wise Ushiwaka faces master swordsman Benkei who is on a quest to collect 1000 swords from his defeated foes. Director Masaoka Kenzou was the first Japanese animator to use cell animation for an entire film in Dance of the Chagamas 1934.

Film Screening Notes (part 2)

Momotaro, Eagle of the Sea (Momotaro no Umiwashi) 1943 / All ages

16MM, 33 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: MITSUYO SEO / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Produced by the Japanese Navy, Momotaro, Eagle of the Sea promotes the success of the attack on Pearl Harbour to children. In the tradition of wartime propaganda films Momotaro celebrates Japanese bravery and praises the war effort. In the United States at this time, animated propaganda included short films Tokio Jokio 1943 and Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips 1944, which featured Bugs as an ice-cream vendor dispensing grenade ice-creams. Originally 38 minutes long, Momotaro, Eagle of the Sea was Japan’s first feature-length animation.

Magical Pen (Maho no Pen) 1946 / All ages

16MM, 11 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: MASAO KUMAGAWA / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Magical Pen, a post-World War II piece of agitprop, is designed to champion the West to Japanese audiences. A Japanese newspaper boy, orphaned in the war, picks up a discarded doll in the street which starts talking to him in English. The doll reveals a magical pen whose drawings come to life. Produced during the time of the occupation of Japan by allied forces, the boy uses the pen to rebuild his war-torn city.

Spring Fantasy (Sakura) 1946 / All ages

16MM, 8 MINS, B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: KENZOU MASAOKA / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

A masterpiece of animation, Spring Fantasy follows two butterflies dancing in a storm of cherry blossoms as they observe the rites of spring. Produced in the post-war period when animation production was extremely limited and subject to censorship, Spring Fantasy is full of hope for renewal and also subtly celebrates the persistence of the spirit. Referred to as the Japanese Fantasia, and set to Carl Maria von Weber’s Invitation to the Dance, Spring Fantasy was a landmark film for its shot composition, fluid movement and attention to detail. For his passion and contributions to the art form, director Masaoka is considered the father of Japanese animation.

Dream of a Snowy Night (Kagee Manga: Yuki no Yo No Yume) 1947 / All ages

16MM, 9 MINS,  B. & W., MONO, JAPAN, JAPANESE / DIRECTOR/ANIMATION: NOBURO OFUJI / PRINT SOURCE/RIGHTS: NATIONAL FILM CENTRE - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO / SCREENING FORMAT: 35MM

Adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s tale of The Little Match Girl, Dream of a Snowy Night follows a young girl selling candles on a bleak winter night. An exquisite silhouette animation, the film features a dream sequence as the exhausted young girl collapses in the snow. Noburo Ofuji, a pioneer of Japanese animation, became internationally recognised and created many award-winning films including Whale 1952 and his feature animation Ghost Ship, which was awarded the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival in 1956.

The Australian Cinémathèque thanks Taro Goto for assistance with subtitle translations.