The appeal and reputation of kite flying: A complete account of the kite flying commotion

Kite Fighting - The Appeal and Historical Significance of the 1936 Animated Film

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

1936

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■ Production

・Produced by All Kinema ・Produced by Kiyoji Nishikura

■ Story

At a kite-flying contest in Animal Village, a little rabbit is pulled into the sky by a kite. The whole village rushes to his rescue after hearing an SOS from a raccoon dog. The little rabbit gets up to the clouds and is saved by thunder, but he loses his footing and falls to the ground. A lion chases him, but because he falls, he jumps over the lion and falls into the valley below.
Source: "History of Japanese Animation Films" by Yamaguchi Katsunori and Watanabe Yasushi, Planet, p. 219

■Explanation

The third installment of the Little Rabbit series.
Source: "History of Japanese Animation Films" by Yamaguchi Katsunori and Watanabe Yasushi, Planet, p. 219

■ Main staff

・Produced by All Kinema ・Produced by Kiyoji Nishikura

The appeal and reputation of kite-playing

"Kite Fighting," released in 1936, is one of the most notable pre-war Japanese animation films. This work was produced as the third in the "Little Rabbit" series, and had a great impact on children at the time. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and evaluation of this work.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Kite Fest" is set at a kite-flying competition in Animal Village. Although the premise is simple - the main character, a little rabbit, is pulled into the sky by a kite - the story unfolds one after the other, drawing viewers in. In particular, the scene in which the little rabbit gets up to the clouds and is saved by lightning, and the scene in which he is chased by a lion will surely stimulate children's imaginations and stir their sense of adventure. In addition, the scene in which the whole village rushes to the rescue of a raccoon dog after it sends out an SOS, depicts the importance of community spirit and friendship, and contains a moral message as well.

Character Appeal

The main character of the Little Rabbit series, Little Rabbit, is portrayed as a brave and inquisitive character. His determination to face difficulties while experiencing the adventure of being pulled into the sky by a kite is sure to inspire children. Other animals, such as raccoon dogs and lions, also have unique personalities and play important roles in adding excitement to the story. In particular, the scene in which the whole village rushes to help the raccoon dog after receiving an SOS emphasizes the unity of the animals and is very moving to viewers.

Animation technique evaluation

For the animation technique of 1936, "Kite Fighting" is highly acclaimed. At the time, Japanese animation films were still in their infancy and there were many technical constraints, but this work attempted to go beyond those limits. In particular, the scenes above the clouds and the depiction of thunder are astounding given the level of technology at the time, and make a strong visual impact. The movements and expressions of the animals are also depicted in great detail, enriching the emotional expression of the story.

Historical Significance

"Kite Play" was produced as the third part of the Koto Usagi series and occupies an important place in the history of prewar Japanese animation films. This work is appreciated not only as an animated film for children, but also as a means to convey a social message. In particular, its depiction of the importance of community spirit and friendship reflected the social situation at the time and deeply moved viewers. This work also had a major impact on the later development of Japanese animation films, providing inspiration to many creators.

Background and staff of Kite Sawagi

Background

"Kite Play" was produced by All Kinema-sha and produced by Nishikura Kiyoji. All Kinema-sha was actively involved in the production of pre-war Japanese animation films, and "Kite Play" was produced as part of that effort. At the time in Japan, the social situation was unstable due to the effects of the war, and animation films were considered an important medium to give children dreams and hope. "Kite Play" was produced against this backdrop, aiming to teach children the importance of courage and friendship.

Main Staff

・Produced by All Kinema ・Produced by Kiyoji Nishikura

All Kinema made a great contribution to the production of Japanese animation films before the war. In particular, Nishikura Kiyoji was in charge of the production of "Kite Sawagi" and worked hard to improve the quality of the film. His leadership and technical knowledge contributed greatly to the success of the film. The other staff members also played their roles and contributed to the completion of the film.

Kite Sawagi's reviews and awards

evaluation

"Kite Fighting" is one of the most highly acclaimed pre-war Japanese animation films. It was especially praised for its compelling story, the individuality of its characters, and its high level of animation technique. It was also highly praised for its portrayal of the importance of community spirit and friendship, deeply moving viewers. Furthermore, this work had a major impact on the development of later Japanese animation films, providing inspiration to many creators.

Awards

Although "Kite Fighting" has not received any specific awards, it is known as one of the most highly acclaimed pre-war Japanese animation films. It was particularly praised not only as an animated film for children, but also as a means of conveying a social message. This work also had a major impact on the development of later Japanese animation films, providing inspiration to many creators.

Recommendations and how to watch Kite Sawagi

Recommendation

"Kite Sawagi" is recommended for those who want to know about the appeal and historical significance of prewar Japanese animation films. In particular, it is highly regarded not only as an animation film for children, but also as a means of conveying a social message, so it will be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences. In addition, this work has had a major influence on the development of later Japanese animation films, so it is also recommended for those interested in the history of animation films.

How to watch

"Kite Fighting" is no longer available on DVD or Blu-ray. However, it is sometimes shown in archives available to watch on the Internet, and in libraries. It is also sometimes shown at specialized movie theaters and animation film events, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.

Conclusion

"Kite Play" is the third installment of the Koto Usagi series, released in 1936, and is one of the most notable pre-war Japanese animation films. The film was praised for its compelling story, the individuality of its characters, and its high-level animation techniques, deeply moving viewers. It was also highly praised for its portrayal of the importance of community spirit and friendship, and had a major impact on the development of later Japanese animation films. We hope you will watch this film and experience the charm and historical significance of pre-war Japanese animation films.