Corporal Norakuro: Reevaluating classic anime from the good old days

"Goncho Norakuro": A masterpiece of pre-war Japanese animation

"Goncho Norakuro" is a Japanese animated film released in 1934, based on the popular manga "Norakuro" by Suiho Tagawa. This film holds an important place in the history of prewar Japanese animation, and its unique story and characters were loved by many people. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this film, as well as recommended points.

Overview

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

1934

■Frequencies

11 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Tago Suiho

■ Director

Yasushi Murata

■ Production

Yokohama Cinema Company

story

Main Staff

Background and historical significance of the work

"Gocho Norakuro" is one of the most noteworthy pre-war Japanese animation films. At the time of its release in 1934, Japan's animation industry was still in its infancy, and many challenges were being faced in terms of both technique and expressiveness. This work was one example of a success that was produced in that environment, and it had a major impact on the subsequent development of Japanese animation.

The original work, Norakuro by Tagawa Suiho, is a popular manga that began serialization in 1931 and was widely read in Japan before the war. The protagonist, Norakuro, is a humorous character who portrays military life, and his unique charm has been carried over to the film version. Director Murata Yasuji was a leading figure in the Japanese animation world at the time, and his skills and sensibilities played an important role in completing this work.

The appeal of the story

The story of Corporal Norakuro begins with Norakuro going to eat yakitori on his day off. The scene where he is flattered at the yakitori restaurant and tells tales of his heroism well represents Norakuro's humorous personality. Later, while taking a nap in the park, Norakuro dreams and goes on an adventure to retrieve secret documents from soldiers of the Yamazaru Regiment. This dream sequence is an interesting mix of reality and fantasy, and has the power to draw the viewer in.

Particularly memorable is the scene where Norakuro chases the balloon with fireworks, a scene that makes a strong visual impact thanks to the dynamic visual expression that made full use of the technology of the time, and the scene where he wakes up from a dream to find himself holding a box of yakitori, a clever ending that combines humor and irony.

Character Appeal

The main character, Norakuro, is a humorous portrayal of military life, and his unique charm is a major part of the appeal of this work. Norakuro's humorous personality and actions provide laughs for the audience, while at the same time symbolizing the harshness and absurdity of military life in prewar Japanese society. Norakuro's adventurous spirit and courage are also elements that move the audience.

The other characters are also unique, such as the owner of a yakitori restaurant and the soldiers of the Yamazaru Regiment, who play important roles in adding excitement to Norakuro's adventures. The portrayal of these characters reflects the social situation and people's lives of the time, adding depth to the work as a whole.

Technical evaluation

"Goncho Norakuro" deserves very high praise, considering the state of the art in 1934. In particular, the fireworks and balloon chase scenes are dynamic visuals that make full use of the technology available at the time. These scenes not only have a strong visual impact, but also play an important role in the progression of the story.

The quality of the drawings is also high, with the characters' expressions and movements depicted in detail. Director Yasuji Murata's technique and sensibility played an important role in raising the quality of this work. Norakuro's humorous expressions and movements in particular leave a strong impression on viewers.

Social impact

"Goncho Norakuro" played an important role in raising the status of animation films in prewar Japanese society. The work humorously depicted military life and the lives of ordinary people in Japanese society at the time, providing laughter and emotion to viewers. This work also had a major impact on the later development of Japanese animation, inspiring many creators.

In particular, the character of Norakuro symbolized the harshness and absurdity of military life in prewar Japanese society, and deeply moved viewers. The appeal of this character became a reference for character creation in later Japanese animation, and influenced many works.

Recommended points

"Goncho Norakuro" is an essential work for understanding the history of prewar Japanese animation, and its unique story and characters have been loved by many people. In particular, Norakuro's humorous personality and actions provide laughs to viewers, while also symbolizing the harshness and absurdity of military life in prewar Japanese society. In addition, the dynamic visual expression, which made full use of the technology of the time, not only creates a visual impact, but also plays an important role in the progression of the story.

This work is recommended for those who want to know about the history of prewar Japanese animation and those who want to enjoy humorous stories and characters. It is also an important reference for those who are interested in the later development of Japanese animation. Please watch this work and feel the charm of prewar Japanese animation.

Related works and recommendations

If you enjoyed "Gocho Norakuro," we also recommend the following related works. These works allow you to enjoy the history of prewar Japanese animation as well as humorous stories and characters.

• "Momotaro: Divine Soldiers of the Sea": This Japanese animated film was released in 1945, and gives a glimpse into the technical capabilities of pre-war Japanese animation.
• "The Cloud and the Tulip": A Japanese animated film released in 1943, it features a humorous story and characters.
• Norakuro series: The Norakuro series, originally written by Tagawa Suiho, is a humorous portrayal of military life in prewar Japan.

By watching these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the history of prewar Japanese animation, as well as the appeal of humorous stories and characters. We hope you enjoy these works as well.

summary

"Goncho Norakuro" occupies an important place in the history of prewar Japanese animation, and its unique story and characters have earned it a great deal of love. Through Norakuro's humorous personality and actions, the work symbolizes the harshness and absurdity of military life in prewar Japanese society. Furthermore, the dynamic visual expression, which made full use of the technology of the time, not only creates a visual impact but also plays an important role in the progression of the story.

This work is recommended for those who want to know about the history of prewar Japanese animation and those who want to enjoy humorous stories and characters. It is also an important reference for those who are interested in the later development of Japanese animation. Please watch this work and feel the charm of prewar Japanese animation.