Anime like Katsudou Shashin

What is Katsudou Shashin about?

Status: Finished

The film consists of a series of cartoon images on fifty frames of a celluloid strip and lasts three seconds at sixteen frames per second. It depicts a young boy in a sailor suit who writes the kanji characters "活動写真" (katsudou shashin, or "moving picture"), then turns towards the viewer, removes his hat, and offers a salute. The fragment was discovered in 2005, having been purchased with a private collection in Kyoto. The film was likely created between 1905 and 1911. If so, the film may be the oldest known piece of animation from Japan.

Tags: Meta , No Dialogue , Writing , Calligraphy , Historical , Male Protagonist

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Namakura Gatana

Also known as The Dull Sword.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy

A samurai buys a dull sword from a merchant. He is quickly defeated by his intended victims due to his cheap sword and clumsiness.

Tags: Samurai , Swordplay , No Dialogue , Achromatic , Male Protagonist

Where to watch?

Japanese Film Archives

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Kyouiku Otogi Manga Usagi to Kame

Also known as The Hare and the Tortoise.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy

The story develops based on The Hare and the Tortoise, a song for kids (lyrics by Wasaburo Ishihara; composed by Benjiro Nosho). The pictures are drawn with a simple technique using only lines. Despite being a silent film, it is designed to incorporate musical elements. For example, the lyrics of the song The Hare and the Tortoise are represented as musical notes coming out of the characters' mouths. The unique backgrounds remind us of scenery in some foreign country rather than a landscape used in an old Japanese folk tale. This film is one of Sanae Yamamoto's earliest works and is described in documents as being produced by Kitayama Eiga Seisakusho owned by Seitaro Kitayama, Yamamoto's teacher. (Japanese Animated Film Classics)

Tags: Animals , Achromatic , Fairy Tale , Rural , No Dialogue , Educational , Travel

Where to watch?

Japanese Film Archives

More About This Anime