"Dojoji" Review: What is the appeal of this anime that combines tradition and innovation?

The fascinating and profound world of Dojoji

■ Public Media

Independent Production

■ Original Media

Traditional literature

■ Release date

1976

■Frequencies

19 min

■Original Story

The story of "Anchin Kiyohime"

■ Director

・Direction: Kihachiro Kawamoto

■ Story

In spring, an old monk and a young monk on their way to Kumano visit a certain mansion and ask for a place to stay for the night. The woman, captivated by the young monk's beauty, invites them into the mansion. Late at night, the woman sneaks up on the sleeping monk, but the monk refuses her and prays to the Buddha, refusing to give in to the woman's temptation. The woman continues to cling to him, so the monk lies to her and says that he is going on a pilgrimage to Kumano and will return to her on his way back, and hands her a Buddha carved into a tree. The woman eagerly waits for the monk to return and bows to the Buddha, but he does not appear even after the appointed time has passed. She asks the traveler where the monk is, and he says that he has already returned home. As soon as she realizes that she has been betrayed, the woman loses her senses and runs after the monk. When the monk sees the woman catching up with her and runs away, the woman's obsession and hatred become mixed up, and with one thought, she jumps into the Hidaka River, transforms into a giant snake, and crosses the river. The monk escapes and takes refuge in the Dojoji Temple bell. The giant snake pursues him and engulfs the bell in flames of obsession. Shedding tears of red blood, the giant snake, having fulfilled its love for the monk, turns back into a woman and quietly drowns in the Hidaka River. The monk, reduced to ashes by the woman's obsession, is blown away by the wind that scatters the falling cherry blossoms, leaving no trace behind.

■Explanation

"Dojoji" is based on the anecdote of "Anchin Kiyohime" and has been produced in many plays, including Kabuki and Noh. The story revolves around a woman's obsession. In this work, Kawamoto prepared two heads of the woman and used them depending on the emotions of the woman. One woman is entranced by the young monk, the other woman crawls into his room at night, the other woman chases after him... The ugly and mad deeds of women are depicted in cruel beauty. The woman who dreams of being united with him is brave and fleeting, but as soon as she realizes she has been betrayed, her expression changes. The modeling elements of a Noh mask are incorporated into the face of this woman, and the facial expression created by lighting is taken from an "oni" (demon). The way she runs with her hair tousled by the wind and the way she catches up with the man who betrayed her and catches her breath are miraculous animation expressions that are hard to believe are stop motion (frame-by-frame).
With a traditional Japanese painting by Mibu Tsuyuhiko behind them, the dolls show a unique worldview. The technique of "tarashikomi", in which ink or pigment mixed with plenty of water is applied to a soft brush to create a shading effect before it dries, is characteristic of Tawaraya Sotatsu, and is reminiscent of the "Wind God and Thunder God Screen" and the "Deer Sketch New Kokinshu Waka Scroll Fragment," which depicts a day in the life of a deer living in an autumn field. Tarashikomi, which even describes the state of the atmosphere and the passage of time, is a dramatic space that appears in this work, and only the dolls that have been imbued with souls are allowed to express it together. The dolls, who are burdened with a unique destiny born just for this work, brilliantly play out the intense, sad, and crazy world of women's karma and obsession. When I look at this work, I am reminded of Shakespeare's words, "Beauty is ugliness and ugliness is beauty," quoted by Suzuki Daisetsu in "Zen and Japanese Culture" (1940).

■ Main staff

・Screenplay / Kihachiro Kawamoto・Direction / Kihachiro Kawamoto・Puppets / Kihachiro Kawamoto, Hiromi Wakasa, Kayoko Takahashi・Animation / Kihachiro Kawamoto, Ryo Ozaki, Hirokazu Minegishi, Tokiko Ohmukae・Effects・Animation / Hiroshi Shinsenji, Takashi Komae, Masami Tokuyama, Chizuko Yokosaka・Music / Teizo Matsumura・Title lettering / Hideo Goto・Art / Tsuyuhiko Mibu, Ryo Nakagawa・Cinematography / Minoru Tamura・Sound recording / Isamu Katto・Effects / Iwao Takahashi・Editing / Naoko Aizawa・Development / Tokyo Developing Laboratory・Cooperation / Teizou Yoshida, Shizuka Sekosawa, Akiko Takiguchi, Miwako Asami, Kahoru Hosaka, Ken Saito, Seiya Maruoka, Tadayuki Kawabata, Echo Studio

■Detailed explanation and evaluation

"Dojoji" is a stop-motion animation film directed by Kihachiro Kawamoto that has been highly praised for its artistry and profound themes. A masterpiece that combines traditional Japanese culture with modern animation techniques, the film is not only visually stunning but also has a deep narrative insight.

Kihachiro Kawamoto is a world-renowned master of puppet animation, and "Dojoji" is one of his masterpieces. Stop-motion animation is a very time-consuming technique, but Kawamoto makes full use of it to realistically depict the woman's expressions and movements. In particular, the idea of ​​using two different heads to express the woman's obsession and madness not only creates a visual impact, but also adds to the psychological depth of the story.

Additionally, background paintings by Tsuyuhiko Mibu are an important element in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the work. Mibu's "tarashikomi" technique inherits the tradition of sumi-e while breathing new life into modern animation. This technique expresses subtle changes in the landscape and space, creating a visual rhythm that matches the progression of the story. In particular, the background paintings in the scene where the woman transforms into a giant snake are essential to enhancing the dramatic effect.

Music is also an important element of "Dojoji." The score by Teizo Matsumura accentuates the tension and tragedy of the story and blends perfectly with the visuals. The music, especially in the scene where the woman chases the monk, makes her madness and obsession even more profound.

"Dojoji" skillfully depicts opposing elements such as beauty and ugliness, love and hate, obsession and madness. As if embodying Shakespeare's words, "Beauty is ugly and ugliness is beauty," Kawamoto explores the complexities of the human psyche in this work. The process in which the woman's love and hate merge and ultimately destroy her is extremely impressive both visually and psychologically.

■ Recommendations and related works

"Dojoji" is a must-see for anyone interested in stop-motion animation and Japanese culture, as well as for those who enjoy profound themes. Other works by Kihachiro Kawamoto, such as "Book of the Dead" and "Puppet Show," are equally artistic and well worth checking out.

The story of Anchin Kiyohime, the original of "Dojoji", is also famous in Kabuki and Noh. In particular, the Kabuki version of "Dojoji" is a masterpiece that depicts the madness and obsession of a woman, and it would be interesting to compare it with the animated version. The Noh version of "Dojoji" also depicts the story in a traditional way, allowing you to enjoy the story from a different perspective.

In addition, the works of Tsuyuhiko Mibu, who was responsible for the background paintings of "Dojoji", are also noteworthy. Mibu's "Wind God and Thunder God Screen" and "Deer-Illustrated New Kokinshu Waka Scroll Fragment" are important works for understanding his technique and aesthetics. By appreciating these works, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the beauty and depth of the background paintings of "Dojoji".

■ Summary

"Dojoji" is a masterpiece that combines Kihachiro Kawamoto's artistry with profound themes. It is a work that combines the techniques of stop-motion animation with the beauty of traditional Japanese painting, leaving a strong visual and psychological impression. It skillfully depicts opposing elements such as beauty and ugliness, love and hate, obsession and madness, providing viewers with deep insight. This work is highly recommended not only for those who are interested in stop-motion animation and Japanese culture, but also for those who enjoy profound themes. By viewing other works by related works and background artists, you will be able to understand the appeal of "Dojoji" even more deeply.