A thorough review of "FASHION"! What is the appeal of the stylish world view and characters?

"Fashion": A pioneering 1960s animation

The animated film "Fashion," released in theaters in 1960, is one of the works that symbolizes the dawn of Japanese animation at that time. While this work expanded the possibilities of animation, it was also an attempt to convey a social message through the theme of fashion. In this article, we will delve deeper into the details of "Fashion," its production background, evaluation, and its significance from a modern perspective.

Overview

"Fashion" is an animated film released in theaters in 1960, based on an original anime story. Directed by Yoji Kuri, the story unfolds in one short episode, about five minutes long. The film centers around the theme of fashion, and reflects the social situation and people's lives at the time.

story

The story of "Fashion" depicts the process of a young woman obtaining a new dress. She falls in love at first sight with a beautiful dress she finds in the city and struggles to get it. However, many obstacles await her on her way to obtaining the dress, which she overcomes. At the end of the story, there is a scene in which she walks through the city in the dress, and her beauty and confidence are impressive.

Background

The 1960s, when "Fashion" was produced, was a time when Japanese animation began to develop rapidly. During this period, television animation began to spread and many new works were produced. However, "Fashion" holds a special place among them because it was one of the first animations to deal with the theme of fashion, and used animation as a means to convey a social message.

Director Yoji Kuri is one of the people who made a great contribution to the development of postwar Japanese animation. He has been involved in animation production since the 1950s and has worked on many works. "Fashion" is a particularly important work in his career and had a great influence on the subsequent development of Japanese animation.

Animation Technology

"Fashion" is an extremely high quality animation considering the technical standards of the time. In particular, the characters' movements and the depiction of the backgrounds are meticulously drawn, giving the viewer a sense of realism. The use of color is also very effective, helping to enhance the atmosphere of the story.

This work mainly uses hand-drawn animation. Hand-drawn animation was the most common technique in the era before the development of digital technology, and is praised for its beauty and the time-consuming work involved. In "Fashion," the attention to the characters' facial expressions and movements is particularly strong, and the work succeeds in making the viewer empathize with the characters.

Social message

"Fashion" is not just an entertainment piece, but also functions as a means to convey a social message. Japan in the 1960s was in the midst of rapid economic growth, and people's lives were changing rapidly. During this period, consumer society spread and interest in fashion and beauty increased. "Fashion" reflects this social situation, and appeals to the importance of self-expression and confidence through fashion.

The film is also written from a female perspective, emphasizing the importance of women's advancement in society and self-actualization. The journey of the young protagonist to acquire the dress is also a story of her growth and self-discovery. The scene where she walks down the street in the dress symbolizes her gaining confidence in herself and living proudly in society.

Evaluation and impact

"Fashion" has been highly acclaimed since its release. It has been particularly praised as a pioneering work that depicts the theme of fashion in animation, and has been praised by many critics and audiences. This work also had a major impact on the development of Japanese animation, and had a huge influence on later works.

Even from a modern perspective, "Fashion" has not lost its significance. Rather, it provides an important perspective for considering the problems of modern consumer society and the fashion industry. In addition, its message of the importance of women's self-actualization and self-confidence is also relevant to the current discussion of gender equality and women's advancement in society.

Recommendations and related works

I highly recommend watching "Fashion" - especially if you have an interest in fashion and animation, or if you have an interest in Japanese society in the 1960s. I also recommend using this film as a springboard to explore other works by Yoji Kuri, or other animations made during the same period.

Related works include "Astro Boy" and "Jungle Emperor", both directed by Yoji Kuri. These works were produced in the 1960s, just like "Fashion", and had a major impact on the development of Japanese animation. Other fashion-themed animation works include "Parasite Single" and "NANA". These works depict fashion and self-realization from a modern perspective, and a deeper understanding can be gained by comparing them with "Fashion".

Conclusion

"Fashion" is a pioneer of Japanese animation in 1960, and it still retains its significance and value. Its attempt to convey a social message through the theme of fashion reflects the social situation at the time while also offering many suggestions from a modern perspective. Yoji Kuri's outstanding animation techniques and the story of the protagonist's growth and self-discovery deeply move and empathize with the viewer. Please watch this work and feel its appeal and significance.