The emotion and moral of "The Ant and the Cricket": The profound appeal of a modern fable

Ant and Cricket - Ant and Cricket

overview

"The Ant and the Grasshopper" is a short animated film that was released on July 25, 1962. This work is based on the long-loved fairy tale "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and was produced by Gakken Film Division under the direction of director Jinbo Matsue. It is a work that conveys a profound message in a short 15-minute episode.

story

The story of "The Ant and the Cricket" is about a grasshopper who neglected to prepare for winter and visits the ant's house to ask for help. The ant worked hard during the summer to store up food, while the grasshopper was busy having fun and forgot to prepare for winter. Upon learning of the grasshopper's plight, the ant is initially stern, but is eventually touched and decides to help the grasshopper. This story illustrates the importance of work, play and helping each other.

character

Ants

He is a hardworking and responsible character, who devotes his summers to gathering food and preparing for winter. When confronted with the grasshopper's plight, he is initially stern, but ultimately shows kindness.

Grasshopper

He is an optimistic and free-spirited character. During the summer, he is absorbed in music and playing, and neglects to prepare for winter. When winter comes and he runs out of food, he asks for the help of ants. Throughout the story, he reflects on his mistakes and grows as a person.

Background

"The Ant and the Cricket" is positioned as one of the educational films produced by Gakken Film Division. In the 1960s in Japan, educational films were popular and used as a way to teach children morality and sociality. This film was produced as part of that trend, aiming to teach children the importance of work and the spirit of helping each other. Director Jinbo Matsue succeeded in expressing the universal theme of the fairy tale in the form of animation, and touched many viewers.

Animation and Music

The animation of "The Ant and the Cricket" was created using the technology of the time. In particular, the scene in which the grasshopper is playing music is impressive with its colorful backgrounds and flowing movements. Music also plays an important role in adding excitement to the story, with light-hearted melodies used in scenes depicting the grasshopper having fun and solemn music used in scenes depicting the harshness of winter. The combination of these elements makes for a work that is both visually and aurally rich.

Evaluation and impact

"The Ant and the Cricket" has been highly acclaimed since its release. It has been particularly well received not only as an educational film for children, but also by general audiences. The story's theme is universal, so it has resonated with many people regardless of age. This work has also influenced subsequent animation works, sparking the creation of many works that depict the balance between work and play and the importance of helping each other.

Recommendations and related works

If you enjoyed "The Ant and the Cricket," we also recommend the following works. These works also depict themes of labor and helping each other, and you can experience the same emotional impact as "The Ant and the Cricket."

• "Hansel and Gretel" - A story about siblings helping each other and overcoming difficulties
• "Cinderella" - A story about the value of work and making dreams come true
• "Pinocchio" - A story about the importance of not lying and choosing the right path

summary

"The Ant and the Cricket" is a work that succeeds in conveying a profound message in a short time. This story, which depicts the balance between work and play and the importance of helping each other, has touched a wide audience from children to adults. Directed by Jinbo Matsue and produced by Gakken Film Division, the universal theme of the fairy tale has been expressed in the form of animation, resulting in a work that is loved by many. Please take the time to reaffirm the importance of work, play, and helping each other through this work.