A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Reviews of Japanese-language films I find significant or interesting.
Japanese Films, North American Films
Andrew Levitas, “Minamata” (2020) In these times when fake news and deliberate disinformation are the norm in mainstream news media, here comes a very welcome, solid…
Sanae Yamamoto, “Senga Tsubo” (1925) Said to be the first animated film commission by the Ministry of Education in Japan back in 1925, this 16-minute short…
Sanae Yamamoto, “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama” (1925) A restored animation, “Ubasuteyama” is based on a traditional Japanese folk-tale as so many animated films made in Japan in…
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan no Makan Mushi” (1950) In the last cartoon to feature Tora-chan (Little Tiger) and his friend Miike-chan, the two kittens have grown up…
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan to Hanayome” (1948) The last three animated films made by Kenzo Masaoka revolved around the adventures of the kitten Tora-chan (Little Tiger). The…
Kenzo Masaoka, “Suteneko Tora-chan” (1947) A charming film about an orphaned kitten found and adopted by a family of cats, “Suteneko Tora-chan” addresses some of the…
Noburo Ofuji, “The Bear Dodger” (1948) Made in 1948 but with characters drawn in a much older early-1930s style, this animated short has a moral behind…
Noburu Ofuji aka Fuyo Koyamano, “Tengu Taiji” (1934) A very comical tale about a town besieged by tengu – dangerous goblin spirits with the characteristics of…
Ikuo Oishi, “Ugokie kori no tatehiki” (1933) Japanese animators in the 1930s sure loved the Max Fleischer style of animation and Ikuo Oishi was no different:…
Yoshitsugu Tanaka, “Entotsuya Peroo” (1930) Known also as “Chimney Sweep Peroo”, this unusual animated film made in 1930 relies on silhouette or shadow animation to tell…