Monkey Sankichi: The Assault Squad - A thorough review of the fascinating characters and depth of the story

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad": A Masterpiece of Prewar Japanese Animation

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad," released in 1934, is one of the most notable prewar Japanese animation films. This work is the second in the "Sankichi the Monkey" series, and is praised as a short animation that brought together the technology and creativity of the time. Below, we will introduce detailed information about this work, its evaluation, and our recommendations.

Overview

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is an animated film released in theaters in 1934, based on an original anime story. It was distributed by Towa Shoji Film Division, directed by Mitsuyo Seo, and produced by the Japan Manga Film Institute. Although it is a short film, only 2 minutes long, it is extremely dense in content, with a striking visual impact and clever storytelling.

story

The story of "Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" begins with a group of monkey soldiers marching through a snow-covered plain. A cannon appears from the polar bear army's fortress, and a hail of bullets rains down on the monkey army. The monkey army fights back, and Mikichi is thrown into the middle of the blizzard as friend and foe mix. However, brave Mikichi gets up, jumps onto a tank, and starts directing the bullets. Mikichi drives the tank into the enemy camp and leads the three bomb warriors, charging with unusual ideas such as mole tactics, and finally occupies the polar bear army's fortress. This story symbolizes the humor and creativity of pre-war Japanese animation.

Main Staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Animation director: Chohachi Kawaguchi
• Photo by Saburo Sugita
• Music: Tetsuo Nishigaki
• Sound recording: Visual Sound System (NFC) (Koichi Sugii, PCL)

These staff members were leading figures in the Japanese animation industry at the time, and their skills and talents support this work.

Evaluation and Analysis

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is one of the most highly acclaimed pre-war Japanese animation films. Here are some reasons why:

1. Visual impact

This work maximizes its visual impact in a short time of just 2 minutes. It is packed with a wealth of visual elements, such as the falling snowy fields, the cannons suddenly appearing from the Polar Bear Army's fortress, and the fierce battle scene between the monkey army and the Polar Bear Army. In addition, the scene where Miyoshi controls the traffic of bullets on top of a tank is an iconic scene that combines humor and creativity, further enhancing the visual impact.

2. Storytelling virtuosity

The story of "Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is cleverly developed in just two minutes. The conflict between the monkey army and the polar bear army, and Sankichi's brave actions draw the viewer into the story. In addition, the cleverness of the storytelling is highlighted by the succession of unusual ideas such as the mole tactic and the three bomb warriors.

3. Technological innovation

Considering the historical background of 1934, this work is a work that shows technical innovation. The combined talents of the technical personnel of the time, including animation director Kawaguchi Chohachi, cinematographer Sugita Saburo, music composer Nishigaki Tetsuo, and sound recording company NFC, resulted in a work that is both visually and aurally superior. In particular, it realizes the depiction of battle scenes in a snowstorm and the movement of tanks, which would have been difficult with the technology of the time.

Recommendation

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is an essential work for understanding prewar Japanese animation films. I recommend this work for the following reasons:

1. Historical value

This work is a symbol of the history of pre-war Japanese animation films from 1934. It is an important work for understanding the humor, creativity, and technical innovation of pre-war Japanese animation, and is therefore of great historical value.

2. Visual delight

In just two minutes, this film maximizes its visual impact and exemplifies the beauty of animated films, which pursue visual enjoyment. This film, packed with a wealth of visual elements, leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

3. Storytelling virtuosity

The story of "Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is cleverly developed in just two minutes. The conflict between the monkey army and the polar bear army, and Sankichi's brave actions draw the viewer into the story. In addition, the cleverness of the storytelling is highlighted by the succession of unusual ideas such as the mole tactic and the three bomb warriors.

Related works and recommendation list

If you enjoyed "Monkey Mikichi: Assault Squad," we also recommend the following related works:

1. "Sankichi the Monkey" series

"Sankichi the Monkey: Assault Squad" is the second film in the "Sankichi the Monkey" series. The other films in the series are also important works in the history of pre-war Japanese animation films, and pursue visual enjoyment and clever storytelling. In particular, the first film in the series, "Sankichi the Monkey," is a must-see as it laid the foundation for the entire series.

2. "Momotaro: Divine Soldiers of the Sea"

Released in 1945, "Momotaro: Divine Soldiers of the Sea" is one of the most highly regarded pre-war Japanese animation films. It is emblematic of the humor, creativity, and technical innovation of pre-war Japanese animation, and shares many elements with "Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad."

3. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, released in 1940, is a pre-war Japanese animated film that has a particularly strong visual impact. This film is packed with a wealth of visual elements, and embodies the merits of animated films that pursue visual enjoyment.

summary

"Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad" is one of the most highly acclaimed pre-war Japanese animation films, and stands out for its visual impact, storytelling ingenuity, and technical innovation. This work is of great historical value and embodies the qualities of animation films that pursue visual enjoyment and storytelling ingenuity. If you enjoyed "Sankichi the Monkey: The Assault Squad," we also recommend other works in the "Sankichi the Monkey" series, as well as related works such as "Momotaro: God of the Sea Soldiers" and "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves." Through these works, you will gain a deeper understanding of the history and appeal of pre-war Japanese animation films.