Dawn of Japanese Animation
Four days of animations screened with live benshi narration, at the Japan Society, New York.
The Japan Society, which commemorated its centenary anniversary in 2007, is holding various events introducing Japan. This event, Dawn of Japanese Animation, will be held for each theme below featuring mainly animated films from Japanese Anime Classic Collection, a DVD collection released by Digital Meme last year. Thirty-eight animated films will be shown at the event and it will be the first time ever such a large number of prewar Japanese animated films is shown overseas. Many of the featured non-animated films have also never been shown overseas and we expect a great response for them. Each screening will be accompanying with a live benshi narration by Ms. Midori Sawato.
» 13 February (Wed) at 7:00 p.m.
PART 1: CHAMBARA ACTION & ADVENTURE
Featured films:
Twelve animations, including Issun-boshi: Chibisuke Monogatari (Tiny Chibisuke's Big Adventure), Komori (The Bat), Dobutsu Sumo Taikai (Animal Sumo).
Soutou Ashuragai (Fighting in Ashura Town)
1938, Daito Eiga
Directed by: Takeshi Yashiro
Starring: Hideto Hayafusa, Kaido Ooka, Momoyo Okawa, Eiichi Takamura, Mitsuo Matsumura
» 14 February (Thu) at 7:00 p.m.
PART 2: HORROR & COMEDY
Featured films:
Six animations, including Oira no Yakyu (Our Baseball Match), Sanko to Tako: Hyakuman-ryo Chinsodo (Sanko and the Octopus: A Fight Over a Fortune), Dekobo no Jidosha Ryoko (Dekobo the Big Head's Road Trip), Hinomaru Taro: Musha Shugyo no Maki (Taro's Early Training Days).
Kodakara Sodo (Kid Commotion)
1935, Shochiku Kamata Studio
Directed by: Torajiro Saito
Starring: Shigeru Ogura, Yaeko Izumo
» 15 February (Fri) at 7:00 p.m.
PART 3: PROPAGANDA
Featured films:
Eleven animations, including Kokka Kimigayo (The National Anthem Kimigayo), Sora no Momotaro (Momotaro's Sky Adventure), Norakuro Nitohei: Kyoren no Maki/Enshu no Maki (Private 2nd Class Norakuro), Dobutsu-mura no Daisodo (The Animal Village in Trouble).
Kenkoku no Haha: Yasukuni Jinja no Megami (Mother of the Nation)
1936, Godo Eiga
Directed by: Shiro Nakagawa
Starring: Namiko Kawashima, Yasuhisa Takeshita, Kunimatsu Ogawa
» 16 February (Sat) at 5:00 p.m.
PART 4: MUSIC & DANCE
Featured films:
Nine animations, including Kuro Nyago (The Black Cat), Kobu-tori (The Stolen Lump), Mura Matsuri (Harvest Festival), Cho no Sainan (The Unlucky Butterfly).
Oshidori Utagassen (Singing Lovebirds)
1939, Nikkatsu
Directed by: Masahiro Makino
Starring: Chiezo Kataoka, Ryosuke Kagawa, Takashi Shimura
SPECIAL SCREENING at 7:30 p.m.
Orochi (Serpent)
1925, Bantsuma Production
Directed by: Buntaro Futagawa
Starring: Tsumasaburo Bando, Misao Seki, Utako Tamaki
* Live benshi performance in English by Leon Ingulsrud, based in New York.
Japan Society
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