"The Ukare Violin": The origins of Toei Animation and its appeal1. Overview of the Work"The Ukare Violin" is a 1955 Japanese animated film distributed by Toei. The film was released in theaters and is based on a fairy tale. It is a short 16-minute film with a dense story. It was directed by Yasuji Yabushita and produced by Nichido Eigasha and Toei Educational Film Division. It was released in October 1955 and has a one-episode format. 2. Story■ StoryOnce upon a time, there was an angry and stingy farm owner. A shepherd boy was chased away by his owner over a trivial matter. In the forest, he met a poor donkey and gave his only piece of bread to it. What appeared to be a donkey was actually a beautiful goddess who praised the boy's kindness and gave him clothes and a violin. Meanwhile, on the farm, with the kindly boy gone, the chickens, pigs, cows and other livestock run wild and refuse to listen to their owner. When the boy rushes to the scene and plays a magical violin, the livestock stop making noise and begin to dance. The owner gathers the villagers to try to calm the dancing animals, but the villagers and the owner start dancing as well. 3. Commentary■Explanation"Ukare Violin" is the work that triggered Toei's independent video production. The production was outsourced to Nichido, but it was so well received that it led to the founding of Toei Animation. This work was also selected by the Ministry of Education, and was highly praised for its artistic quality and educational value. 4. Main Staff■ Main staff・Planning / Yamazaki Kishiro, Yamamoto Sanae ・Script and direction / Yabushita Yasuji ・Key animation / Daikuhara Akira, Mori Koji, Furusawa Hideo ・Animation / Ichino Shoji, Naganuma Junko, Wakamatsu Hajime, Okada Yayoi, Uchiyama Takashi ・Line drawing and coloring / Shindo Mitsuko, Ito Sumiko, Terachi Kaoru and others ・Color direction and background / Nakajima Kiyoshi ・Cinematography / Takagi Taisaku, Ishikawa Mitsuaki ・Music / Sakamoto Yoshitaka ・Soloist / Saegusa Kimiko ・Sound effects / EF Group ・Sound recording / Nakajima Rinji 5. Appeal and Evaluation of the WorkIn its short running time, "The Violin" succeeds in conveying a rich story and a profound message. At the heart of the story is the pure heart and kindness of a cowboy. The boy's actions are done without expecting anything in return, and as a result he is given a violin by the goddess, depicting the universal theme that good deeds are rewarded. The scene where the farm animals begin to dance to the sound of the violin is visually very appealing and brings out the expressive power of animation to its fullest. This beautiful scene combines music and animation, and leaves a strong impression on the audience. Furthermore, this work has historical significance as it led to the establishment of Toei Animation. It is worth noting that the success and positive reviews of this work were the reason behind Toei's decision to go independent in its production. It was also highly regarded for its educational value, having been selected by the Ministry of Education. 6. Production background and technology"The Ukare Violin" was produced jointly by Nihon Dogasha and Toei's Educational Film Division. Director Yasushi Yabushita was also in charge of the script and direction, overseeing the overall picture of the work. Talented animators such as Akira Daikuhara, Koji Mori, and Hideo Furusawa participated in the key animation, while young talents such as Shoji Ichino, Junko Naganuma, Hajime Wakamatsu, Yayoi Okada, and Takashi Uchiyama were brought together to create the animation. Mitsuko Shindo, Sumiko Ito, and Kao Terachi participated in the line drawings and coloring, while Kiyoshi Nakajima was in charge of color direction and backgrounds. The cinematography was by Taisaku Takagi and Mitsuaki Ishikawa, and the music was by Yoshitaka Sakamoto. Kimiko Saegusa participated in the solo singing, while the sound effects were by the EF Group and recording was by Rinji Nakajima. This staff worked together to create "Ukare Violin," and it is a work that deserves high praise in terms of its technical quality. 7. Influence and Evaluation of the Work"Ukare Violin" had a major impact on the Japanese animation industry, as it led to the establishment of Toei Animation. The success of this work prompted Toei to embark on independent production, which contributed to the subsequent development of Toei Animation. In addition, the film was highly evaluated for its educational value as it was selected by the Ministry of Education, increasing the opportunities for many children to watch it. The film has been highly praised for the purity of its story and the beauty of its music. In particular, the scene in which the farm animals dance to the sound of the violin was very appealing both visually and audibly, and left a strong impression on the audience. In addition, the theme of the boy's kindness and good deeds being rewarded resonated with many people as a universal message. 8. Recommendations and viewing methods"The Violinist" is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of generations for its historical significance, artistic value, and educational value. It is a particularly good opportunity for children to learn the importance of good deeds and the beauty of music. It is also a must-see for anyone interested in the history and technology of animation. Currently, it is possible to watch it on DVD or on the Internet. You can easily watch it on Toei's official website or through streaming services specializing in animation. You may also be able to borrow this work from libraries and school audiovisual rooms, so be sure to check. 9. Summary"The Violin" is the origin of Toei Animation, and is highly regarded for its historical significance, artistic quality, and educational value. In its short running time, it succeeds in conveying a rich story and a profound message, and the scene in which the livestock dance to the sound of the violin is particularly captivating both visually and aurally. Please watch this film and experience its charm for yourself. |
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