The appeal and reviews of "Tonpei and Sarukichi": A must-see anime

"Butahei and Sarukichi": A classic animated film from the early Showa period

"Butahei and Sarukichi," released in 1932, is one of the most notable Japanese animation films of the early Showa period. The film was produced by Yokohama Cinema Shokai and written and adapted by Takahashi Kōji. The animation was done by Murata Yasuji, and in its short eight-minute length, it has a deep story and rich character portrayals.

Story Summary

"Butahei and Sarukichi" is set in a forest. There live the lazy Butahei and the honest, hardworking Sarukichi. Butahei is a villain who doesn't do any work, cheats Sarukichi, and bullies Sarukichi's children. One day, Sarukichi can no longer tolerate Butahei's evil deeds and fights back, so Butahei flatters the Lion King of the forest and challenges Sarukichi to a fight. Sarukichi struggles and is finally forced to retreat, but the last barbed wire is torn open and he is cornered. However, a mole, unable to bear seeing Sarukichi in such a predicament, digs a trench to fend off the enemy horde, while also digging a deeper underground tunnel and setting an explosive device directly underneath the Lion Army's headquarters. A huge explosion then occurs, blowing away Butahei's army, including the Lion King, and the rest of the army, and justice triumphs.

Character Analysis

Each character in "Butahei and Sarukichi" has a strong personality. The protagonist, Sarukichi, is a typical symbol of "good" - honest and hardworking. He endures Butahei's misdeeds, but ultimately sticks to justice. On the other hand, Butahei is a symbol of "evil" - lazy and cunning - and uses the Lion King to frame Sarukichi. The Lion King is a powerful being who is tricked by Butahei's schemes and challenges Sarukichi to battle, but is ultimately defeated by the Mole's scheme. The Mole is an important character who uses his wits to save Sarukichi from a difficult situation, and his exploits add excitement to the climax of the story.

Animation Technology

Considering the historical background of 1932, "Tonpei and Sarukichi" used very advanced animation techniques. In particular, the depiction of the battle and explosion scenes exceeded the technical standards of the time and left a strong impression on the audience. Furthermore, the characters' movements and expressions are drawn in detail, and the changes in emotions are expressed realistically as the story progresses. These technical innovations made it possible to create a deep story and rich character portrayal in a short time of just eight minutes.

Historical background

The year 1932, when "Butahei and Sarukichi" was released, was a time of great social change in Japan. The economy was unstable due to the effects of the Showa Depression, and people's lives were extremely difficult. Furthermore, as militarism rose to power and the country moved toward war, movies and animations were important media that gave people hope and courage. "Butahei and Sarukichi" was one such film, and its story of justice defeating evil evoked great emotion and sympathy among people at the time.

Evaluation and impact

"Butahei and Sarukichi" was highly praised when it was released. In particular, the story development, character portrayal, and advances in animation technology attracted attention. This work also had a major influence on later Japanese animation films. For example, even in postwar animation films, there are many works that depict the conflict between good and evil. It can be said that the influence of "Butahei and Sarukichi" is strongly reflected in this.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Tonpei and Sarukichi" is an essential work for understanding Japanese animation films from the early Showa period. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the history and technology of animation. It is also recommended for those who are looking for a work whose story and characters they can empathize with. It is now available on DVD and online, so please give it a watch.

Supplementary Information

The original story of "Butahei and Sarukichi" was written by Takahashi Kuraji. He was an important figure in the Japanese animation world in the early Showa period, and was responsible for many works. In addition, Murata Yasuji, who was in charge of the illustrations, was also a highly regarded artist in the Japanese animation world at the time. Their talents and efforts made "Butahei and Sarukichi" a masterpiece.

Furthermore, the story of "Butahei and Sarukichi" is described in detail in "History of Japanese Animation Films" (co-authored by Yamaguchi Katsunori and Watanabe Yasushi, edited by Planet). This book is a very useful resource for learning about the history of Japanese animation films, and it also gives a deeper understanding of the background and evaluation of "Butahei and Sarukichi."

Conclusion

"Butahei and Sarukichi" is a particularly important work among Japanese animation films from the early Showa period. In just eight minutes, this work achieved a deep story and rich character portrayal, and moved many people with its animation techniques that exceeded the technical standards of the time and its story depicting the conflict between good and evil. This work also had a major influence on later Japanese animation films, and its value is still highly regarded today. Please watch it and experience its charm.