The appeal and evaluation of "Aesop's Ants and the Dove": The depth of the story and its message for the modern age

Aesop The Ant and the Dove - The Story of the Ant and the Dove

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Traditional literature

■ Release date

September 5, 1959 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Gakken Film Department

■Frequencies

9 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Aesop's Fables

■ Director

Kazuhiko Watanabe

■ Production

Gakken Film Division/Masaru Furuoka/Shinichi Kanbayashi

■Explanation

A story from the Aesop series. A video made using the style of collage made from torn-off colored pictures. Source: History of Japanese Animation Films, p. 257

■Cast

・Narrator: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

■ Main staff

・Planning: Masatsugu Hara, Hideo Yamamoto ・Script and direction: Kazuhiko Watanabe ・Animation: Kaori Terashika ・Cinematography: Takeshi Terayama ・Screen composition: Kozo Shimizu ・Music: Koji Taku ・Sound effects: Hajime Kimura ・Sound recording: Yoshizo Tanaka

Aesop's The Ant and the Dove - A detailed review and recommendation of the story of the ant and the dove

Aesop's Fables is known as a collection of fables from ancient Greece, and "The Ant and the Pigeon" is one of the most famous stories. This story teaches the importance of helping each other, and was made into an animated film by Gakken Film Bureau in 1959. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of this work.

Story and Themes

The story of "The Ant and the Pigeon" begins when an ant is swept away while drinking water by the river. A pigeon appears and offers the ant its feather to save it. The ant then expresses its gratitude to the pigeon and learns the importance of helping each other. This animation stays faithful to the theme of the original story and emphasizes its message through visual expression.

The theme of this work is to teach children moral lessons by depicting mutual help and gratitude. In particular, in the 1950s, Japan was in the post-war reconstruction period, and a spirit of mutual help was called for throughout society. Therefore, this work succeeds in conveying universal values ​​while reflecting the social situation of the time.

Animation Technology

This work is made in the style of collage, which is made by tearing apart colored pictures. This technique gives it a handmade feel, while at the same time providing a visual that is easy for children to understand. In particular, the backgrounds and character movements are simply but carefully drawn, making them visually appealing.

Director Kazuhiko Watanabe was also in charge of the script and direction of this work, and his unique sensibility is reflected throughout the film. The character designs by animator Kaori Terashika are also expressed in a form suitable for animation without compromising the image of the original work. The beauty of the images is also enhanced by the cooperation of cinematographer Takeshi Terayama and screen composition by Kozo Shimizu.

Music and sound effects

The music was composed by Taku Koji, and the sound effects were created by Kimura Hajime. The music plays a role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, and the sound effects realistically express the movements of ants and pigeons. In particular, the clever use of natural sounds such as the flow of a river and the sound of wings rustling allows the story to be enjoyed not only visually but also aurally.

cast

Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is the narrator, and her warm voice adds depth to the story. She is known for her narration of children's programs and animation, and she uses that experience to deliver a fascinating narration in this work.

Background

This work was produced by Gakken Film Division, which focuses on producing educational films and animations, and this work was produced as part of the "Aesop Series." The project planners, Masatsugu Hara and Hideo Yamamoto, chose this story with the aim of creating a work with educational value.

The production staff also included Masaru Furuoka and Shinichi Kanbayashi, whose cooperation contributed to the perfection of the work. Yoshizo Tanaka, who was in charge of sound recording, also played an important role in maintaining the quality of the sound.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Aesop's Ants and Pigeons" is an excellent piece of animation for children. Although the story is simple, it teaches children a moral lesson by depicting mutual help and gratitude. In addition, the animation techniques, music, and sound effects are of high quality, making it a visually and aurally enjoyable experience.

This film is especially recommended for kindergarten and early elementary school students. Not only does it have educational value, but it also allows children to learn while having fun. Watching it with the whole family can also be a good opportunity for communication between parents and children.

Furthermore, the film is interesting from a historical perspective as it reflects Japanese society in the 1950s, making it a valuable piece for learning about the history of animation films.

summary

"Aesop's Ants and Pigs" is a heartwarming animation that depicts mutual help and gratitude. Produced by Gakken Film Bureau in 1959, it features visuals that use a style of collage made from torn colored pictures. The story, animation techniques, music, cast, and more are all of high quality, and we highly recommend it as an animation for children. It is especially suitable for kindergarten and lower grade elementary school students, and watching it with the whole family can be a good opportunity for communication. It is also valuable from a historical perspective as a work that reflects Japanese society in the 1950s. Please watch this work and feel its charm.