The appeal and reviews of "The Mysterious Drum": A thorough explanation of the unique world view and depth of the story

"The Mysterious Drum": A fusion of legend and animation

■Overview of the work

The Mysterious Drum is a Japanese short animated film released in 1957. It was released in theaters and is based on an original anime. It was released on August 20, 1957, for one day, distributed by Kyoiku Eiga Haikyusha, has a running time of 19 minutes, and has one episode. It is based on the Iwanami children's book The Mysterious Drum, with illustrations by Ishii Momoko and writing by Shimizu Kon. It was directed by Mochinaga Tadahito and Tanaka Kiji, and produced by Dentsu Eigasha, Ningyo Eiga Seisakusho, Inamura Kiichi, and Kyoiku Eiga Haikyusha.

■ Story

Long ago, Gengoro, a medicine seller, helped a Tengu's child and received a mysterious drum as a reward. When Gengoro beat the drum, it had the mysterious power to make his nose grow and shrink. However, Gengoro continued to play tricks on the drum, and eventually it flew up into the sky and fell into Lake Biwa, where it became a crucian carp. Since then, the crucian carp in Lake Biwa have been called "Gengoro Buna." This story is found on page 250 of the History of Japanese Animation Films.

■Explanation

"The Mysterious Drum" is a puppet film based on the legend of the Gengoro Buna of Lake Biwa. It has been selected by the Ministry of Education and is therefore educationally significant. This work is a pioneering example of a traditional Japanese folk tale expressed in the new medium of animation.

■ Main staff

The screenplay was written by Murajio and Tanaka Kiji (NFC), the direction was by Mochinaga Tadahito and Tanaka Kiji, the art was by Eguchi Junji (NFC), the puppets were made by Kawamoto Kihachiro (Japanese Animation Film History p.250), the cinematography was by Kishi Jiro, the lighting was by Suzuga Takao (NFC), the music was by Kato Mitsuo (NFC), and the sound was by Tanaka Keiji (NFC). These staff members are highly regarded in their respective fields, and their skills and creativity support this work.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"The Mysterious Drum" captivated many viewers with its unique storyline and the beauty of its puppet animation. In particular, the scene in which Gengoro's nose expands and contracts had a strong visual impact and was extremely popular with children. Furthermore, while the good deed of rescuing the Tengu's child is rewarded, the story also contains a moral lesson, as divine punishment is meted out to those who mischievously use the drum. It is believed that these educational elements were one of the reasons why the work was highly acclaimed as a work selected by the Ministry of Education.

There are also many noteworthy aspects to the technical aspects of the puppet animation. Kawamoto Kihachiro's puppet production is beautifully finished with attention to detail, enhancing the visual appeal. Furthermore, Mochinaga Tadahito and Tanaka Yoshitsugu's direction has the power to smoothly advance the story's development and draw the viewer in. The music and lighting also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, making the overall result a highly polished work.

■ Background and influence of the work

The year 1957, when "The Mysterious Drum" was released, was a time when Japan was in the midst of its postwar reconstruction, and animation films were also developing as part of that. During this time, there was a high demand for educational films and films for children, and "The Mysterious Drum" was produced as part of that trend. In particular, the fact that it was selected by the Ministry of Education promoted its use in educational settings and provided an opportunity for many children to see it.

This work was also a pioneering attempt to express traditional Japanese folk tales through animation. By turning folk tales into animation, it became possible to communicate them to a wider audience, and it also played a role in passing on Japanese culture and traditions to the next generation. Furthermore, the technique of puppet animation combines visual appeal and artistic quality, and has had a major influence on later animation works.

■ Detailed analysis of the work

The story of "The Mysterious Drum" begins with the protagonist, a medicine seller named Gengoro, who acquires a mysterious drum by rescuing a Tengu child. The drum has the mysterious power to make the child's nose grow or shrink when struck, and Gengoro uses this power for mischief. However, this angers the Tengu, and the drum is sent flying into the heavens, eventually falling into Lake Biwa and becoming a crucian carp. The story reflects the traditional Japanese morality of good deeds being rewarded while bad deeds are punished by heaven.

Visually, the beauty of the puppet animation is striking. Kawamoto Kihachiro's puppet production is precise and meticulous down to the smallest detail, enhancing the film's visual appeal. In particular, the scene in which Gengoro's nose expands and contracts has a strong visual impact and was extremely popular with children. Additionally, the direction of Mochinaga Tadahito and Tanaka Yoshitsugu has the power to smoothly advance the story's development and draw the viewer in. Music and lighting also play important roles in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, making the film overall highly polished.

■Recommendations and viewing methods

"The Mysterious Drum" is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of audiences, from children to adults, thanks to its unique story and the beauty of the puppet animation. In particular, because it contains educational elements, showing it to children can provide them with an opportunity to learn moral lessons. It also has high cultural value as a pioneering work that expresses a traditional Japanese folk tale through animation.

In terms of viewing options, DVDs and Blu-rays are available from educational film distributors, so you can buy or rent them. They may also be available online, so you can use streaming services. In addition, they have been selected by the Ministry of Education for use in educational settings, so you may be able to watch them at schools and libraries.

Conclusion

"The Mysterious Drum" is a Japanese short animated film released in 1957, which captivated many viewers with its unique storyline and the beauty of its puppet animation. In particular, the scene in which Gengoro's nose expands and contracts had a strong visual impact and was very popular with children. The story also contains a moral lesson, in which the good deed of rescuing the Tengu's child is rewarded, while divine punishment is meted out to those who mischievously use the drum. It is believed that these educational elements were one of the reasons why the film was highly acclaimed as a work selected by the Ministry of Education.

Furthermore, there are many points to note about the technical aspects of the puppet animation. Kawamoto Kihachiro's puppet production is beautifully finished with attention to detail, enhancing the visual appeal. Mochinaga Tadahito and Tanaka Yoshitsugu's direction has the power to smoothly advance the story's development and draw the viewer in. The music and lighting also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, making the overall result a highly polished work.

"The Mysterious Drum" is a pioneering work that uses animation to depict a traditional Japanese folk tale, and it also has educational significance. It is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of audiences, from children to adults, and can be viewed in a variety of ways. Please watch this work and experience its charm and value.