A thorough explanation of the appeal of "Who is the culprit?" and the joy of solving mysteries!

Who is the culprit?

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

June 1957

■Frequencies

10 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Kenji Masuda

■ Director

Ashida Iwao

■ Production

Yomiuri Film Company, Ltd.

■ Story

A thief breaks into a rich man's barn in Animal Village, but the culprit is unknown. When they follow the trail of powder that spilled from the barn, it disappears in a field. However, in the field, a single patch of vegetables is found to have grown large. It continues all the way to a certain shed. As a result, the culprit, a fox, is caught, but it turns out that the growth was due to fertilizer. A promotional video for fertilizer.
Source: History of Japanese Animation Films, p. 251

■ Main staff

・Planning: Ajinomoto Co., Inc. ・Adaptation, direction and photography: Iwao Ashida ・Illustration: Nobuhide Morikawa, Kazuo Ihara ・Music: Hirohisa Yamamoto, Yoshio Ozaki ・Sound: Takehiko Kiyoshima, Kenji Mori ・Cast: Kuniko Kashii, Kyomi Sakura, Jun Otomo, Toho Children's Theatre Company

Who is the culprit? - Detailed reviews and recommendations from Hanninhadadareda

The short animated film "Who is the culprit?", released in 1957, was based on the original story by Masuda Kenji and directed by Ashida Iwao. The film was produced by Yomiuri Films and Yamada Chuji, and was created as a project by Ajinomoto Co., Inc. In just 10 minutes, it is a film that succeeds in conveying a profound message while still being entertaining to the viewer.

The appeal of the story

"Who's the culprit?" begins with a thief breaking into the barn of a rich man in Animal Village. The culprit is unknown, and when the viewers follow a trail of powder spilled from the barn, the trail disappears in a field. However, they notice that a single patch of vegetable in the field has grown abnormally large. The growth of this vegetable continues all the way to a certain shed. As a result, the culprit, a fox, is caught, but the punchline is that the vegetables' large growth was actually due to fertilizer. This story achieves two goals: it gives viewers the thrill of "finding the culprit," while at the same time promoting the importance of fertilizer.

The story of this work can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Children in particular can enjoy it as a game of finding the culprit, and it also contains an educational element of teaching the importance of fertilizer. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy the unexpected development of the story and the punch line. It is also interesting that it gives a glimpse into the customs and culture of Japanese society in the 1950s.

Characters and Settings

In "Who's the Culprit?", animals appear as the main characters. In particular, the fox, who plays the role of the culprit, leaves a strong impression on viewers. The fox's character is portrayed as mischievous and mischievous, evoking sympathy from viewers. The residents of Animal Village, including the wealthy barn owner and the farmer who grows vegetables in the field, are also portrayed with distinctive personalities. These characters play an important role in adding excitement to the story.

The setting of an animal village also adds to the appeal of the work. The animals are depicted living in the same way as in human society, providing a fresh surprise to the viewer. The scenery and daily life of the animal village are also reminiscent of the Japanese countryside in the 1950s, evoking a sense of nostalgia. This setting evokes familiarity and empathy from the viewer, enhancing the appeal of the work.

Visuals and Music

The visuals in "Who's the Culprit?" are drawn using animation techniques from the 1950s. In particular, the movements and expressions of the animals have the warmth and realism that only hand-drawn animation can provide. In addition, in important scenes in the story, such as the scene where the vegetables grow in the field and the scene where the fox is caught, the colors and composition are used effectively, creating a visual impact.

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The music by Hirohisa Yamamoto and Yoshio Ozaki creates a tense and humorous atmosphere in line with the development of the story. In particular, the music heightens the tension in the scenes where the culprit is searched for, and the humorous music makes the viewer laugh in the scene where the fox is caught. In addition, the skills of Takehiko Kiyoshima and Kenji Mori, who were in charge of sound recording, make the performances of the voice actors seem more realistic. Kashii Kuniko, Sakura Kyomi, Otomo Jun, and the performers from the Toho Children's Theatre Company breathe life into their characters, enhancing the appeal of the work.

Historical background and cultural significance

"Who is the culprit?" was released in 1957, and reflects the postwar reconstruction period of Japanese society. During this time, Japan was experiencing economic growth and the standard of living was improving. However, agriculture and life in rural areas were still in a difficult situation. Reflecting this historical background, this work promotes the importance of fertilizer. The setting of Animal Village also depicts the rural scenery of postwar Japanese society, evoking a sense of nostalgia in the viewers.

In terms of cultural significance, this work is not only an animated film for children, but also enjoyable for adults. In particular, the unexpected development of the story and the punch line provide a fresh surprise for adults. Furthermore, the animal characters evoke empathy from the viewer, enhancing the appeal of the work. In these respects, "Who is the Culprit?" can be said to be an important work that reflects the culture of postwar Japanese society.

Recommendations and ratings

"Who is the culprit?" is a work that succeeds in conveying a profound message to the audience while being entertaining in a short 10-minute time slot. Various elements such as the unexpected development of the story and punch line, the animal characters, and the appeal of the visuals and music attract the audience. It is also interesting that it gives a glimpse into the customs and culture of Japanese society in the 1950s.

This work can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Children in particular can enjoy it as a game of finding the culprit, and it also contains an educational element of teaching the importance of fertilizer. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy the unexpected development of the story and the punch line. It is also interesting to get a glimpse into the customs and culture of Japanese society in the 1950s.

"Who is the culprit?" is an important work that reflects the postwar reconstruction period of Japanese society and has great cultural significance. It is a work that succeeds in conveying a profound message while entertaining the audience, so we highly recommend that you watch it at least once. It is a must-see, especially for those who are interested in the customs and culture of Japanese society in the 1950s.

Above, we have provided a detailed review and recommendation of "Who is the culprit? - Hannin Hadareda". We hope that you can feel the appeal and significance of this work.