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| Past News |
| 12 Jan 2007 |
Digital Meme To
Release Rare Classic Anime on DVD
Four-DVD set of rarely-seen anime of the 1920s and 1930s includes
unprecedented multilingual translation and traditional benshi
narration.
TOKYO, Japan, January 12, 2007 – Digital Meme,
the premier publisher of digitized classic Japanese films, today
announced the upcoming release of a new DVD collection of vintage
Japanese anime. Presenting 55 titles from the Golden Age of
Japanese silent film, this collection is the first to offer
international audiences many of these classic anime as they
were originally experienced by Japanese viewers, with accompanying
benshi narration.
Japanese Anime Classic Collection is a digital collection of
hard-to-find anime produced from 1928 through 1936. Entertaining,
exciting, and startling, the collection will be treasured by
enthusiasts, who will find it a valuable reference tool for
retracing Japanese animation from its early roots to what is
now universally known as anime. Presented chronologically, these
anime have been painstakingly digitally reproduced for DVD viewing.
Nothing has been altered or edited except for the integration
of music in some titles.
All the silent anime in the collection allow the viewer to choose
subtitles in Japanese, English, Chinese, or Korean. Many feature
live, simultaneous narration by such famed and beloved benshi
as Midori Sawato. These one-of-a-kind dramatic benshi performances
were a unique Japanese contribution to silent film history.
For international audiences, this set will therefore be the
first chance to experience many of these films as Japanese audiences
did. Silent movie lovers will be especially delighted by “Danemon’s
Monster Hunt at Shojoji,” a rare opportunity to compare
and appreciate two separate benshi performances for the same
title.
Other selections in the set are “record talkies.”
These anime came to theaters together with a gramophone record,
which provided a separate, simultaneous audio track with music,
voice, and effects. The history of record talkies in Japan was
shortlived, as fully synchronized talking movies quickly outdated
them. These titles will thus be of interest both to those new
to Japanese silent film and to fans who have only experienced
silents with benshi performances.
With or without accompaniment, each of the 55 anime selections
in this set tells a great story in its own right. For anyone
with an interest in animation, movies, or Japanese history,
Japanese Anime Classic Collection should not be missed as an
extraordinary contribution to the mostly unheard story of Japan’s
silent film heritage.
For further details, please contact info@digital-meme.com.
About Digital Meme
Digital Meme turns the power of the digital age to preserving
and promoting the Golden Age of Japanese film. Digital Meme
applies 21st century technology and networks to constructing
a universal library of cultural and artistic legacies from Japan
and around the world, and to creating unique new cultural and
entertainment products. |
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