Various Rankings

The Dull Sword (Junichi Kouchi)

This is the oldest Japanese-made animated movie whose film strip has been confirmed to exist in Japan.

Spring Comes to Ponsuke (Ikuo Oishi)

A neatly designed image of a cute little raccoon dances to music.

The Animal Olympics (Yasuji Murata)

This film, in which various animals perform in Olympic games, was popular in schools and other settings when it was released to the public for the first time.

A Day after a Hundred Years (Shigeji Ogino)

This is a science fiction-style movie in which the animation writer Shigeji Ogino, who was brought back to life by science, visits a future world.

Film Address "Ethicization of Politics" by Shinpei Goto, 1926 (Junichi Kouchi)

This film was created based on a speech delivered by Shinpei Goto, a politician who was deeply involved in the broadcasting and telecommunications. It is to be noted that the film is rather long for a film created at the time.

An Expression (Shigeji Ogino)

This is an abstract movie designed to express colors on black-and-white film by using color filters and by tinting the film.

Electrical Telegraphy, Electric Bells and Telephones (Yasuji Murata)

Pay attention to how "line drawings" for illustrations were used in animated films.

The Quack Infantry Troop (Mitsuyo Seo)

This is the first film created by Tadahito Mochinaga, who later became a puppet animation maker, after joining the movie industry.

Spring Comes to Ponsuke (Ikuo Oishi)

Let's dance with creatures of the forest!

Arichan the Ant (Mitsuyo Seo)

The violin found by Arichan the Ant was very precious.

The Making of a Color Animation (Shigeji Ogino、Noburo Ofuji)

How is an animated film created?

Electrical Telegraphy, Electric Bells and Telephones (Yasuji Murata)

A movie that sixth graders watched in science class long time ago

At the Circus (Yasuji Murata)

2:47

The Cat Purr Dance (Yasuji Murata)

3:08

Spring Song (Noburo Ofuji)

3:30

The Candy Man's Raccoon Dog Dance (Unknown)

4:28

The Dull Sword (Junichi Kouchi)

This is the oldest Japanese-made animated movie whose film strip has been confirmed to exist in Japan.

Arichan the Ant (Mitsuyo Seo)

Elements such as drawings that provide a sense of depth, story development focused on music, and stylized insect characters reveal the movie author's interest in American animation.

Two Worlds (Yasuji Murata)

The finest example of detailed drawings of cutout animation by Yasuji Murata.

Propagate (Shigeji Ogino)

An elegant semi-abstract animated film created by Shigeji Ogino.

Will Power (Noburo Ofuji)

This is an educational movie that Noburo Ofuji was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to produce. By showing actions taken by Dangobei, the movie teaches that courage and cowardice are a matter of attitude.

Detective Felix in Trouble (Shigeji Ogino)

This animated film was created by using dolls. In this film, Felix the cat detective goes on a search for shoes at the request of a young lady.

Sankichi and Osayo A Genroku Romance (Mitsuyo Seo)

Sankichi, the protagonist, works to protect Osayo, his beloved lady.

The Blossom Man (Yasuji Murata)

Yasuji Murata made a well-known Japanese old tale into an animated film, which was screened regularly in schools at the time.

The Making of a Color Animation (Shigeji Ogino、Noburo Ofuji)

This valuable film shows how the scenes were shot on site by Shigeji Ogino in an animated film made by Noburo Ofuji.

Arichan the Ant (Mitsuyo Seo)

This is the first work created in Japan by using a multiplane camera stand.

Burglars of "Baghdad" Castle (Noburo Ofuji)

This was Noburo Ofuji's first work publicly screened in theaters. His character Dangobei makes his first appearance in this film.

Nonsense Story, Vol.1:Monkey Island (Kenzo Masaoka)

This is the debut work of Kenzo Masaoka, who is said to be the father of Japanese animated films.

The Blossom Man (Yasuji Murata)

A nice old man makes cherry flowers bloom.

Rascal Racoon (Yasuji Murata)

An exciting battle between the priest and the raccoon disguised as a samurai.

Sports Day (Yasuji Murata)

Fun sports competition. The diving board is set at an enormous height.

A Ship of Oranges (Noburo Ofuji)

Enjoy the story of Kinokuniya Bunzaemon, who made great profits by shipping oranges, on a chiyogami animated film.

The Making of a Color Animation (Shigeji Ogino、Noburo Ofuji)

A valuable documentary that allows the audience to see how and where animations were made in those days.

The Development of the Train (Yasuji Murata)

This movie was used as a teaching material along with elementary school readers before World War II. It shows the development of steam locomotives by using live action images in combination with animated images.

Electrical Telegraphy, Electric Bells and Telephones (Yasuji Murata)

This movie was used in science education for prewar primary school children. Animation is used in some illustrations in the documentary movie.

Film Address "Ethicization of Politics" by Shinpei Goto, 1926 (Junichi Kouchi)

A speech delivered by Shinpei Goto, a politician who was deeply involved in broadcasting and telecommunications, was made into a movie.

My Ski Trip (Yasuji Murata)

Watch how the raccoon deftly handles the ski boards.

Old Man Goichi (Sanae Yamamoto)

Matching is the essence of business.

The Animal Olympics (Yasuji Murata)

Full of jokes that accord with the spirit of sportsbeastship.

The Dull Sword (Junichi Kouchi)

The sword itself looks sharp enough.

Taro's Train (Yasuji Murata)

Taro's efforts make us shed tears. It might be better if it were a dream.

Urashima Taro(supposed title) (Unknown)

If you do not know the original story, you will have an entirely different impression.

Yasuji Murata's Monkey and the Crabs (Yasuji Murata)

The human body shape makes an enormous difference. You need to see how the crab runs and how powerful the persimmon is.

The Pot (Sanae Yamamoto)

It may be difficult to make people have a change of heart by using the parable of the lion and the fox, which shows qualities required of a ruler.