"How to Run a Meeting": What is the appeal of this anime that teaches the secrets of running an effective meeting?

How to Hold a Meeting - Good old fashioned satire and humor

"How to Hold a Meeting" is an original anime work that was first released on January 1, 1951, and is known for its unique satire and humor. Although it is a short work with only one episode, it is highly regarded as a masterpiece that combines a deep message and entertainment value. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work, and also delve into its background and influences.

Overview

"How to Hold a Meeting" is a story that depicts a series of events that take place in a company conference room, set against the backdrop of postwar Japanese society. The original media is an anime, and the media it was shown on is listed as "other." This reflects the historical background of the time when television broadcasting was not yet widespread, and indicates that it was mainly shown in movie theaters and public places.

story

The story begins in a company conference room. The topic of the meeting is "new product development," but the discussion does not progress at all due to the participants' individual intentions and conflicts of interest. The manager, who is facilitating the meeting, tries to summarize the ideas that are being proposed one after another, but the opinions of the employees are at odds and the meeting becomes extremely chaotic.

Through the details of this meeting, the film satirizes the problems in Japanese society and the psychology of the people at the time, and in particular, it skillfully expresses the nature of companies in the turbulent postwar period and how the egos of individual employees can impede the operation of an organization.

character

There are many unique characters in "How to Hold a Meeting." The main characters are introduced below.

• The Director : He is the facilitator of meetings and always tries to remain calm, but is troubled by the differences in opinions among his employees. The Director's character symbolizes the difficulties of leadership in Japanese companies at that time.
• Young Employee A : Actively proposes new ideas, but is met with resistance from other employees. This portrayal of an idealistic young person expresses the energy and frustration of postwar youth.
• Veteran employee B : Experienced but conservative. He is skeptical of new ideas and places importance on organizational customs and traditions.
• Female Employee C : The only woman in the meeting, she is depicted struggling in a male-dominated work environment. Her character symbolizes the advancement of women in society after the war and the difficulties they faced.

Background

"How to Hold a Meeting" was produced during a period of social turmoil and reconstruction in postwar Japan. During this time, many Japanese people were recovering from the effects of the war and working towards economic recovery. However, there was also a lot of conflict and turmoil within companies and organizations. This work offers viewers deep insight into this social situation through its satirical portrayal.

This work also utilizes the new medium of animation to pursue visual expression that could not be fully expressed in conventional films or plays. In particular, in the meeting room scene, the psychological tension and conflict are skillfully portrayed through the characters' expressions and movements.

Evaluation and impact

"How to Hold a Meeting" had a major impact on Japanese society at the time. It was particularly praised for its satirical portrayal of problems in the management of companies and organizations, and resonated with many viewers. This work also helped to expand the possibilities of animation, and had a major influence on later anime works.

Specifically, the following evaluations are included:

• Satire : The show was praised for its clever satire of social issues of the time and provided deep insight to the audience.
• Character portrayal : The story portrays various aspects of postwar Japanese society through its unique characters.
• Animation Technique : The work was praised for its pursuit of visual expression through the use of animation, a new medium.

Reasons for recommendation

"How to Hold a Meeting" is a very valuable satirical anime depicting postwar Japanese society. It is especially recommended for the following viewers:

• People with an interest in history and social issues : This work satirizes the problems in post-war Japanese society, making it very interesting for people with an interest in history and social issues.
• For those interested in the history of animation : This work, which utilizes the new medium of animation, is an important piece for learning about the history of animation.
• Satire and humor : This film expertly combines satire and humor to give you some laughs and insight.

Related Titles

The following works are related to "How to Hold a Meeting".

• "Salaryman Life" : A satirical manga depicting post-war Japanese society, it shares in common the fact that it depicts the problems of companies and organizations.
• "Black Rain" : A film that depicts the chaos and reconstruction of post-war Japanese society, and shares the common theme of depicting social issues.
• "Astro Boy" : This work has had a major impact on the history of animation, and it shares with the film the common theme of exploring the possibilities of animation.

summary

"How to Hold a Meeting" is an original anime work that satirizes postwar Japanese society, and has been well received by many viewers for its profound message and entertainment value. The work skillfully depicts the problems in running a company or organization, providing viewers with deep insight. It was also praised for its use of the new medium of animation, and had a major influence on later anime works. This is a must-see for anyone interested in history and social issues, the history of animation, or who enjoys satire and humor.