"Yurikago no Uta" review: Reevaluating the moving songs of everyone

"The Cradle Song" - A timeless classic and the art of shadow art

"Yurikago no Uta" is a short two-minute animated film that was broadcast on NHK Educational TV (now NHK E-Tele) in 1967. This work was produced as part of NHK's long-running program "Minna no Uta" and has been loved by generations ever since. Here, we will explore the appeal and background of this work, as well as its influence.

Overview

"Yurikago no Uta" is a shadow puppet animation created by Seiji Fujishiro. It was broadcast in April 1967 as a single episode, but its artistry and beauty have left a deep impression on many people. The copyright is owned by NHK, and the work is also rebroadcast and distributed.

Story and Themes

"Cradle Song" depicts the affection between mother and child through a beautiful collaboration of lyrics and shadow puppets. The lyrics describe a mother's gentle singing voice soothing her child, and the child responding by falling asleep. The movements of the shadow puppets are so delicate that it creates the illusion that the mother and child are actually there. The work, with its themes of maternal love and family ties, deeply moves viewers.

The Art of Shadow Puppetry

One of the greatest attractions of this work is the shadow art by Seiji Fujishiro. The shadow art is simple yet highly expressive, and realistically reproduces the movements and expressions of the mother and child. In particular, in the scene where the mother is comforting her child, the movements of the shadow art are so smooth that they seem almost alive. The background design is also very beautiful, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

Music and lyrics

The music of "Cradle Song" has a gentle, soothing melody, and the lyrics are very poetic. The lyrics are composed of gentle words of a mother soothing her child, giving the listener a sense of security and warmth. In particular, the mother's singing voice is very gentle, with a warmth that seems to envelop the child. This combination of music and lyrics enhances the moving feeling of the entire work.

Impact and Evaluation

"Yurikago no Uta" has been loved by many people since it was first broadcast. It is a work that holds a special attachment, especially for mothers and those raising children. The artistry of the shadow puppets has also been highly praised, and it has attracted attention in the fields of art and animation. This work is particularly popular among the NHK "Minna no Uta" series, and is frequently rebroadcast and streamed.

Background

"Yurikago no Uta" was produced as part of NHK's "Minna no Uta" series. "Minna no Uta" is a long-running program that has been broadcast since 1961 and is loved by a wide range of people, from children to adults. This series introduces new songs and animations in each episode and has produced many masterpieces. "Yurikago no Uta" is one of them, and continues to be loved by many people, especially for its artistic quality and moving story.

Viewers' reactions

Since its broadcast, "Cradle Song" has been highly praised by many viewers. Mothers and people raising children in particular have commented, "This film brought me to tears," and "When I sing this song to soothe my child, he falls asleep quickly." The beauty of the shadow puppets and the gentleness of the music have also been highly praised, with many saying things like, "It moves me no matter how many times I watch it," and "It's a film I want to show to my children."

Related works and recommendations

Like "Yurikago no Uta," NHK's "Minna no Uta" series has many masterpieces. In particular, the following works have themes and artistic qualities in common with "Yurikago no Uta," and are highly recommended for viewing.

• "Toy Cha-Cha-Cha" - This is also a work that uses shadow puppets, and is a fun animation that depicts children playing.
• "Palm to the Sun" - This is a moving piece that depicts the growth and dreams of children. The music is also very beautiful and is loved by many people.
• "The Old Clock" - This is a story that depicts family ties and the passage of time, and has been especially well received by adults.

summary

Although "Yurikago no Uta" is only a short work of two minutes, it continues to be loved by many people for its artistry and moving story. This work, which beautifully combines the beauty of shadow puppets with the gentleness of music, has themes of maternal love and family ties, and deeply moves viewers. It is particularly popular among NHK's "Minna no Uta" series, and is frequently rebroadcast and streamed. Please watch this work and experience the emotion it brings. You can also be even more deeply moved by watching related works.