"Two Pacific Sauries" review: A moving story and beautiful animation

"Two Pacific Saurys": Yoji Kuri's experimental animation masterpiece

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

November 26, 1960 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Sogetsu Hall, Tokyo

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 2

■Original Story

Yoji Kuri

■ Production

Produced by Kuri Experimental Manga Studio

■ Story

A man and woman (husband and wife?) are stranded on a deserted island, leading a monotonous life. The woman spends her days grilling saury. One day, a scientist arrives and starts producing things one after another with a newly invented material production machine. People arrive like in a gold rush, and the island quickly becomes a building rush. The inevitable war breaks out, and the island is in chaos. Now that the island is bare, the surviving man and woman are still grilling saury. Akiyama Kuniharu's musique concrete-style sound has become popular.
Source: "History of Japanese Animation Films" by Yamaguchi Katsunori and Watanabe Yasushi, Planet, p. 260

■Explanation

This work was shown at the first presentation of the "Animation Trio" (November 26th at Sogetsu Hall, Tokyo), a group of three cutting-edge artists, including designers Yoji Kuri, Ryohei Yanagihara, and Hiroshi Manabe. It was remade in color in 1968. The original manga collection "Two Sanma" (Coo.1) was published in 1958.
Source: "History of Japanese Animation Films" by Yamaguchi Katsunori and Watanabe Yasushi, Planet, p. 260

■ Main staff

・Produced by Kuri Experimental Manga Studio・Original story by Kuri Yoji・Animation by Kuri Yoji・Cinematography by Kuri Yoji・Direction by Kuri Yoji・Color illustrations by Adachi Tomie・Recording by Okuyama Shigenosuke・Editing by Morizui Fusako・Music by Akiyama Kuniharu・Sound by Akiyama Kuniharu・Poetry by Tanikawa Shuntaro

The appeal and evaluation of "Two Pacific Sauries"

"Two Pacific Saurys" is an experimental animation work by Yoji Kuri, highly praised for its unique worldview and message. Released in 1960, this work helped to expand the possibilities of animation by incorporating themes and methods of expression that were very advanced at the time.

The story begins with a man and woman stranded on a deserted island, living the monotonous life. The woman's simple daily routine is depicted as grilling saury every day, but then a scientist appears and begins to produce things one after another using a newly invented material production machine, and the story takes a sudden turn. People flock to the island like in a gold rush, and buildings begin to pop up along the island. However, this prosperity does not last long, as war breaks out and the island is devastated. The story ends with the surviving man and woman once again grilling saury. This story symbolizes the development and collapse of civilization, and the return of humans to their essential lives.

One of the attractions of this work is the musique concrète-style sound by Kuniharu Akiyama. This music made a strong impression on the audience at the time and further enhanced the atmosphere of the work. In addition, Shuntaro Tanikawa's poems are also an element that adds depth to the work.

Through this work, Yoji Kuri expresses a critical perspective on society and civilization. The work makes us think about what is lost in the pursuit of material wealth and the essential value of human beings. It can be said that this reflects the anxiety and doubts that many people felt in Japanese society in the 1960s as the economy experienced rapid growth.

The background and influence of "Two Pacific Sauries"

"Two Pacific Sauries" was produced by the "Kuri Experimental Manga Studio", which was founded by Kuri Yoji. The studio aims to explore new ways of expression through manga and animation, and "Two Pacific Sauries" is a symbolic work of the studio.

This work was also shown at the first presentation of the "Animation Trio Association." This association was formed by three cutting-edge designers and manga artists, Kuri Yoji, Yanagihara Ryohei, and Manabe Hiroshi, and played an important role as a venue for them to present their experimental works. Having been shown at the association's first presentation, "Two Sanma" became known to many people.

Furthermore, the work was remade in color in 1943, allowing it to reach a wider audience. The original manga collection "Two Sanma" was also published in 1933, and Kuri Yoji's creativity and talent have been recognized in many areas.

The influence of "Two Saurys" extends not only to the animation industry, but also to perspectives on art and society in general. This work provided an opportunity to question the limits of pursuing material wealth and the essential value of human beings. In addition, the fusion of different artistic fields such as musique concrète and poetry had a major influence on later animation works.

Detailed staff and production process of "Two Sanma"

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of "Two Sanma". Yoji Kuri played a central role in the work, including the original story, animation, photography, and direction. His multifaceted talents were the driving force behind the creation of this work's unique worldview.

Tomie Adachi, who was in charge of color illustrations, enriched the sense of color in the work and enhanced its visual appeal. Shigenosuke Okuyama, who was in charge of recording, and Fusako Shuzui, who was in charge of editing, also played important roles in improving the completeness of the work.

Kuniharu Akiyama, who was in charge of the music and sound, introduced a musique concrète-like sound to further enhance the atmosphere of the work. His music left a strong impression on the viewer and played a role in deepening the theme of the work. In addition, the words of Shuntaro Tanikawa, who was in charge of the lyrics, also played an important role in enhancing the message of the work.

During the production process, Yoji Kuri and his team explored new ways of expression through trial and error. In particular, the scenes using the material production machine and the depiction of war were realized by making full use of the technology and creativity of the time. These scenes had a strong impact both visually and in terms of content, which contributed to the high evaluation of the work.

Evaluation and awards of "Two Sanma"

"Two Pacific Saurys" was highly acclaimed when it was released. In particular, the film's theme and the way it was expressed drew attention and praise from many critics and viewers. Kuniharu Akiyama's music was also highly praised and contributed greatly to the film's success.

This work played a pioneering role in the world of Japanese animation in the 1960s. Its content, which questions the limits of pursuing material wealth and the essential value of human beings, reflected the social situation of the time and resonated with many people. Furthermore, its fusion with musique concrète and poetry had a major influence on later animation works.

Although "Two Saurys" has not received any specific awards, its influence and acclaim have been high, and it has been featured by many researchers and critics. In particular, it occupies an important place in the history of Japanese animation films, and Kuri Yoji's talent and creativity are highly praised.

Recommendations and how to watch "Two Sanma"

"Two Pacific Saurys" is an experimental animation work by Yoji Kuri that should be recommended to many people. In particular, the limitations of the pursuit of material wealth and the questioning of the essential value of human beings are important themes in modern society. In addition, the fusion with Kuniharu Akiyama's music and Shuntaro Tanikawa's poetry further enhances the appeal of the work.

There are several ways to watch this film:

• Screening at the cinema: "Two Pacific Saurys" was released in 1960, and although it is rarely screened these days, it is sometimes shown at special screenings and animation film festivals. You can take advantage of these opportunities to enjoy the film on the big screen.
• Video and DVD: Two Pacific Sauries has also been released on video and DVD, allowing you to watch the film at home by purchasing or renting these media.
• Streaming services: Some streaming services allow you to watch "Two Pacific Saurys." By using these services, you can easily enjoy the work.

"Two Saurys" is a work that is full of Kuri Yoji's talent and creativity, and its appeal should be shared with many people. Please watch this work and experience its unique worldview and message.