Sports Day

Watch

Original Title	体育デー
Japanese kana Rendering	Taiiku dei
English Title	Sports Day
Production Date	1932
Author	Yasuji Murata
Duration (minutes)	9
Sound	silent
Color	b/w
Plot	The first game is gymnastics performed by monkeys. In the subsequent kendo match between a lion and a tiger, neither can beat the other. The two animals take off their kendo gear and continue to fight in a judo match. The lion wins the match after a fierce fight. In the third game, a polar bear performs a dive, after which a hippo dives from a higher diving board. To outperform the hippo, the polar bear dives from a board set at an incredible height. The audience, soaked from an enormous splash, shout with joy. In the fourth game, rabbits and monkeys play music to a crane's performance; pigs, rabbits, raccoons, black cats and dogs all perform rhythmic exercise in unison. Pelicans, eagles, ducks, penguins and other birds also participate. The fifth game is a boxing match between a pig and a kangaroo. When the pig unexpectedly knocks out the kangaroo, a child kangaroo jumps out of the pouch and wakes up the mother kangaroo. The recovered kangaroo launches a counterattack. While the pig is distracted by the child kangaroo, the mother throws a punch, knocking out the pig. In the final tug of war between elephants and other animals, the elephants appear to be stronger at first. However, the lions show their strength and put the elephants in a fix. Watching the game, referee monkeys join forces with the elephants. And finally, ... [the last part is missing and the result is unknown.]
Description	Yasuji Murata's Animal Olympic Games was created during the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games and was released prior to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in July 1932. In the Los Angeles Olympic Games, Japan made great advances compared to previous Olympics, including winning seven gold medals. The following comments are found in the advertisement in the 1932 August issue of the magazine Eiga Kyoiku: "This is a long-awaited, nonsense animation by Yasuji Murata. Today is Sports Day. The zoo is closed, with all animals participating in the great sports championships. Animation characters that you are familiar with participate as athletes. They strive to give their best performance with their amazing tricks, I mean, sports. Join us in rooting for these animals."
Production Company	Yokohama Cinema Shokai*
Distribution	35-mm version: Okamoto Yoko (Kanto)* and Oku Shokai (Kansai); 16-mm version: Konishiroku Honten
Release Date
Credits: Director	Yasuji Murata*
Credits: Staff, Cast, etc.
Intertitles	T1: "Program, Gymnastics (Monkey), Kendo and Judo (Lion, Tiger), Diving (Polar Bear, Hippo), Stretch (all), Boxing (Kangaroo, Pig), Tug of War (All)"
Censorship - Date and Number	[Note] Home Ministry censorship number: G9670 (June 30, 1932)
References	・ "Introduction to New Educational Movies: Sports Day," Eiga Kyoiku, No. 54 (August 1932), p. 48.
Frames per Second	24fps
Source of Digital Copy	The 16mm positive donated from individuals -> The 16mm internegative owned by NFC
Completeness	no main title no credit titles the ending part is missing no end title
Additional Notes	The mark of "*" will provide an additional explanation gained from the bibliographical information.
Related Links