The appeal and evaluation of "The Three Brave Frogs": A must-read review for anime fans

The Three Brave Frogs

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

1933

■Distribution company

Japanese Sound Distribution Center

■Frequencies

6 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■ Production

Chiyogami Eigasha, Ofuji Noburo Productions

■ Story

Pyonshichi, the captain of the frog battalion, lives on a willow tree with his younger sister Osode. One day, his sister is kidnapped by Nama-ko, a catfish from Dondoro Swamp. The brother is shocked and leads his troops to rescue his sister, but is beaten badly by Nama-ko. At this time, three brave warriors from among the frogs volunteer to go and rush forward with bombs on their backs. They successfully defeat Nama-ko and rescue their sister.

■Explanation

A sister story to "The Swamp General," this is a continuation of the battle between the giant catfish and the frog. It is an animated version of the "Three Bomb Heroes," a military heroic tale from the Second Sino-Japanese War in which three soldiers rushed into enemy lines carrying bombs and destroyed them by blowing themselves up. The depiction of the battlefield is realistic and quite brutal.

■ Main staff

・Sound recording by Nitta Sound Film Institute

■Detailed review

Released in 1933, "The Three Braves Frog" occupies an important place in the history of prewar Japanese animation. The film was produced by Chiyogami Eigasha and Ofuji Noburo Productions, and distributed by Nippon Onga Distribution. In just six minutes, it succeeds in portraying the cruelty and courage of war.

The story begins with Pyonshichi, the captain of the Frog Battalion, having his younger sister's sleeve kidnapped by Nama-ko, a catfish from Dondoro Swamp. Pyonshichi leads his troops to rescue his sister, but is overwhelmed by Nama-ko's strength. However, three brave warriors rise from among the frogs, shoulder bombs, and charge at Nama-ko, successfully rescuing their sister. This story is modeled on the episode of "The Three Bomb Braves" from the Sino-Japanese War, and strongly reflects the influence of the war at that time.

The greatest feature of this work is its realistic depiction of the battlefield. Even though it is an animation, it realistically depicts the cruelty of the battlefield, leaving a strong impact on the viewer. In particular, the scene in which the three brave soldiers charge forward with bombs on their backs symbolizes the misery and courage of war, and will leave a deep impression on the viewer.

The technical skills of Ofuji Noburo, who was in charge of the drawings and direction, should also not be overlooked. The characters he draws are smooth in movement and expressive, and he succeeds in conveying the story effectively. The technology of the Nitta Sound Film Laboratory, who was in charge of the sound recording, also exceeded the standards of the time, enhancing the perfection of the work.

■ Historical Background

"The Three Frog Warriors" was released in 1933, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the effects of the war were widespread throughout society. In this historical context, this film, modeled after an episode from "The Three Bomb Warriors," sends a powerful message to viewers by depicting the horror and courage of war.

This work was produced in the early days of prewar Japanese animation, and is a valuable document that shows the technology and expressiveness of the time. Prewar Japanese animation was strongly influenced by the war, and many works had war as their theme. "The Three Frog Heroes" is one of them, and is highly regarded as a work that reflects the influence of the war.

■ Influence of the work

"The Three Braves Frogs" is a work that occupies an important position in the history of prewar Japanese animation and had a major influence on subsequent Japanese animation. In particular, the realistic depiction of the battlefield and the way it portrays courage have influenced subsequent war-themed animation.

This work also sends a strong message to the audience by depicting the horror and courage of war. By depicting the misery of war, this work appeals for the value of peace and will surely inspire many people even today.

■Recommendation

"The Three Brave Frogs" is an essential work for understanding the history of prewar Japanese animation, and it sends a strong message to viewers by depicting the horror and courage of war. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in war-themed animations and those who want to know the history of prewar Japanese animation. In addition, this work succeeds in depicting the misery and courage of war in a short six minutes, making it easy for busy modern people to enjoy.

Furthermore, this work's realistic depiction of the battlefield and the way it portrays courage had a major influence on later Japanese animation, making it an important work for learning about the history of animation. By depicting the horror and courage of war, this work appeals for the value of peace and will continue to inspire many people today.

Above is a detailed review and recommendation of "The Three Brave Frogs." This is an essential work for understanding the history of prewar Japanese animation, and we hope you will take a look at it.