Review and impressions of "Successful Ninja Technique: Matsunosuke Returns": A story of new adventures and growth

"Successful Ninja Technique: Matsunosuke Returns": A legendary anime masterpiece from the early Showa period

Released in 1928, Shusseninjajutsu Matsunosuke Sairai (The Return of Matsunosuke the Ninja), is an animated film produced by Nikkatsu that has left its mark on the history of Japanese animation films of the time. The original story and direction of this work was by Nakayama Donkai, and it was released in theaters. Below, we will take a closer look at this legendary masterpiece, including its story, production background, reviews, and its modern significance.

story

The story of "Successful Ninja Art: Matsunosuke Returns" depicts the adventures of Shishitobi Matsunosuke, a lazy ronin living in a castle town. Matsunosuke suffers from hunger every day but has no desire to work, and even the birds in the trees outside his window tease him, calling him an idiot. When he grabs his sword and runs outside, he discovers that what he thought was a bird is actually a Tori Tengu. While chasing it, he falls into an old well, which leads to hell.

In hell, King Enma scolds him for his laziness, and he reforms and resolves to pursue bushido. Returning to the world, Matsunosuke learns ninjutsu from the hermit, and gradually gains fame as a warrior by defeating monsters and helping his filial son. This story depicts the importance of effort and perseverance through Matsunosuke's growth from a lazy boy to a fine samurai.

Background

"Successful Ninja: Matsunosuke Returns" was produced by Nikkatsu, a major film company at the time. The director, Donkai Nakayama, is a multitalented man who worked on the original story, screenplay, animation, art, and subtitles, and his talents contributed greatly to this work. The skills of cinematographer Masatomo Deguchi are also not to be missed.

When this film was released in 1928, Japanese animation films were still in their infancy. In that time, Nikkatsu sought to explore the possibilities of animation through "Shusse Ninjajutsu Matsunosuke Sairai" and provide new entertainment to audiences. The film's themes and story reflect the social conditions and values ​​of the time, making it an interesting read even from a modern perspective.

Evaluation and impact

"Successful Ninja: Matsunosuke Sairai" was highly praised upon its release, especially for its storytelling and visuals. Matsunosuke's coming-of-age story was an inspiring and inspiring lesson in the value of hard work, while also being entertaining with its perfect blend of humor and action.

This work also occupies an important place in the history of Japanese animation films. While many of the animation films from the early Showa period were immature both technically and artistically, "Shusse Ninjajutsu Matsunosuke Sairai" was highly regarded as a work of particularly high quality. It has influenced later generations of animation creators and can be said to have contributed to the development of today's animation culture.

Modern Relevance

"Successful Ninja Technique: Matsunosuke Sairai" has not lost its value even from a modern perspective. In particular, the story, which depicts the importance of hard work and perseverance, resonates with young people today. In addition, the entertainment value that combines humor and action is something that is still relevant to today's animation works, so it doesn't feel dated.

Furthermore, this work is an important resource for understanding the history of Japanese animation films. By learning about the animation techniques and methods of expression from the early Showa period, we can understand the roots of today's animation culture. "Shusse Ninjajutsu Matsunosuke Sairai" is valuable not only as a work of entertainment, but also as a cultural heritage.

Recommendations and how to watch

We highly recommend "Successful Ninja: Matsunosuke Sairai" to anyone who wants to learn about early Showa era animation films and to anyone who wants to enjoy a story that depicts the importance of hard work and perseverance. It is a must-see, especially for those who are interested in the history and culture of animation.

However, this work has become extremely valuable today, and there are few ways to view it in the general public. It is sometimes screened at libraries and archives that specialize in the history of Japanese animation films, so we recommend taking advantage of these opportunities. It is also possible to learn about the content and evaluation of the work through related books and papers.

Conclusion

"Successful Ninja: Matsunosuke Sairai" is a masterpiece that has carved its name into the history of Japanese animation films from the early Showa period. The story of Matsunosuke, who grows from a lazy man to a fine samurai, teaches the importance of hard work and perseverance, and inspires the audience. The film also has an appealing entertainment value, with an exquisite blend of humor and action, and has not lost its value even from a modern perspective. This work is an important resource for understanding the roots of Japanese animation culture, and is valuable as a cultural heritage. If you have the opportunity, please watch this legendary masterpiece and feel its charm.