The most important japanese animation films

[graham lincoln]

what, no 'Marine Boy'?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of Aaron
> Gerow
> Sent: 01 May 2000 02:35
> To: KineJapan
> Subject: Re: The most important japanese animation films
>
>
> >I am trying to compile a list of the most important films to
> >come out of the japanese anime/animation industry, and i hope to
> programme
> >some of these titles
>
> >From what you say here, it seems like you should be taking a historical
> perspective, but the films you list are only relatively recent.  This
> replicates too much the recent take on Japanese animation that ignores
> the long history before 1970.
>
> In the spirit of history, I would recommend the following:
>
> Kumo to churippu (1943)
> Not a feature, but Masaoka Kenzo's brilliant contribution to world
> animation history.  A masterpiece.
>
> Momotaro--Umi no shinpei (1944)
> An amazing film, in terms of both animation and ideology.
>
> Osama no shippo (1948)
> Seo Mitsuo's last great work.
>
> Hakujaden (1958)
> You have to do Toei Animation--without it, there would be no Japanese
> animation industry!  This is their first full-length animated feature,
> and the first one in color.
>
> Hyotan suzume (1959)
> Yokoyama Ryuichi and Otogi Puro's first feature film.  The alternative to
> Toei's industrial mode.
>
> Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke (1959)
> Toei again and the first cinemascope animated feature.
>
> Saiyuki (1960)
> Toei. Notable in particular for bringing Tezuka Osamu into animation
> (where he wanted to be in the first place).
>
> Arabian Night: Sinbad no boken (1962)
> Lots of Toei when you get into the 60s.  What you pick is a matter of
> taste, but the level tends to go down as you go along, with some
> exceptions.
>
> Wanwan Chushingura (1963)
> Toei with Tezuka again.
>
> Taiyo no oji: Horusu no daiboken (1968)
> Toei. The attempt to de-TVize sixties animation. My vote for the most
> important Japanese animated film of all time.  Without it, and I don't
> think you have Takahata, Miyazaki, and much of what happened afterwards.
>
> Nagakutsu o haita neko (1969)
> A children's classic.
>
> Sen'ya ichiya monogatari (1969)
> Very 1960s and kind of hard to watch these days, but Mushi Puro's
> landmark attempt at artistic, adult animation.  Former Tokyo Governor
> Aoshima Yukio does the lead character's voice!  (Guest voices by what
> seems like half the cultural intellectuals of the time: Endo Shusaku,
> Yoshiyuki Junnosuke, Tsutsui Yasutaka, Oya Soichi, Komatsu Sakyo,
> Tachikawa Danshi, etc.)
>
> Uchusenkan Yamato (1977)
> Arguably the main impetus behind the post-1970s surge in animation.
>
> Ginga tetsudo 999 (1979)
> A major hit at the box office.
>
> Kido senshi Gandamu (1981)
> The source behind all those endless sequels.
>
>
> A lot of the Toei features were released abroad, but I have no idea
> whether or not they are still available (in dubbed versions, or possibly
> on video).  Does anyone know?  You should definitely contact Toei about
> these.  Shochiku deals with the first two films and Tezuka Puro might
> help with the Mushi Puro titles.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
>
> Aaron Gerow
> Associate Professor
> International Student Center
> Yokohama National University
> 79-1 Tokiwadai
> Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501
> JAPAN
> E-mail: gerow at ynu.ac.jp
> Phone: 81-45-339-3170
> Fax: 81-45-339-3171
>
>