Senga Tsubo: a tale within a tale about gratitude and returning favours
Sanae Yamamoto, “Senga Tsubo” (1925) Said to be the first animated film commission by the
Category: Japanese Films
Reviews of films from Japan.
A folk tale with a moral in “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama”
Sanae Yamamoto, “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama” (1925) A restored animation, “Ubasuteyama” is based on a traditional
Tora-chan no Makan Mushi: warning children to behave well at work
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan no Makan Mushi” (1950) In the last cartoon to feature Tora-chan (Little
Tora-chan to Hanayome: family friction in a crude slapstick cartoon
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan to Hanayome” (1948) The last three animated films made by Kenzo Masaoka
Suteneko Tora-chan: a charming and graceful film on the plight of war orphans and keeping society together
Kenzo Masaoka, “Suteneko Tora-chan” (1947) A charming film about an orphaned kitten found and adopted
The Bear Dodger: a tale advising children to choose their friends carefully
Noburo Ofuji, “The Bear Dodger” (1948) Made in 1948 but with characters drawn in a
Tengu Taiji: a lively and comical animated folk tale from an early Japanese pioneer
Noburu Ofuji aka Fuyo Koyamano, “Tengu Taiji” (1934) A very comical tale about a town
Ugokie kori no tatehiki: the battle between fox and racoon dog spirits given fast energy and wacky style
Ikuo Oishi, “Ugokie kori no tatehiki” (1933) Japanese animators in the 1930s sure loved the
Entotsuya Peroo: a little man’s adventures exposing the devastation and brutality of war
Yoshitsugu Tanaka, “Entotsuya Peroo” (1930) Known also as “Chimney Sweep Peroo”, this unusual animated film
Ryoko’s Qubit Summer: a human-AI romance culminating in transformation
Yuichi Kondo, “Ryoko’S Qubit Summer” (2018) Here is a sweet film about an unusual love