Film Comes Alive: Exploring the Deep World of Animation

Film is alive - Film Highlight

■ Public Media

event

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

July 20, 1990 - January 1, 0000

■Frequencies

42 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Works

©Tezuka Productions

■Explanation

This memorial film is a compilation of famous scenes from the animation films left behind by Tezuka Osamu. From his first work to "Legend of the Forest," the culmination of his career as an animator, you can enjoy his rare originality and love for "moving pictures." This film was produced for the Tezuka Osamu Exhibition (Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art) held in the summer of 1990, and was shown in screenings around Japan. The ten characters of the title were each written by ten of Japan's leading manga artists and animators who were friends with Tezuka Osamu.

■ Main staff

・Title lettering: Shotaro Ishinomori, Kihachiro Kawamoto, Yoshiro Kato, Shinichi Suzuki, Fujiko F. Fujio, Fujiko Fujio (A), Makoto Wada, Yoji Kuri, Ryuichi Yokoyama, Noboru Baba ・Planning: Takayuki Matsutani ・Producer: Yoshihiro Shimizu ・Assistant producer: Shigeo Murayama ・Clay animation: Takuya Ishida ・Narrator: Osamu Saka ・Music: Keiichi Goto ・Script, composition, editing, direction: Masahiro Katayama

■ Main Characters

・Tezuka Osamu (Doll) / Needless to say, this is the author himself. He has appeared in many roles since long ago, and has always been a total slapstick nerd. It is a unique work that is rarely seen, whether it is a manga that he wrote and performed himself, or a "I" manga. His most famous work is probably "Vampire", in which he plays (?) President Tezuka, who is in the midst of the Mushi Productions scandal.

■Detailed explanation

"Film is Alive - Film Haiki Tail" is a special animated film to celebrate the life and work of Osamu Tezuka. It offers an opportunity to rediscover the diverse talents of Osamu Tezuka and the passion he poured into animation. Osamu Tezuka is a great artist who revolutionized the world of Japanese manga and animation, and his work is still loved by many people today.

This film covers Tezuka Osamu's early works to his later years, and allows viewers to feel his creativity and innovation. Of particular note is the wide range of his works, from his first work, Jungle Emperor, to his last work, Legend of the Forest. Through these works, viewers can see how Tezuka Osamu continued to pursue the possibilities of animation.

The film also focuses on the personal side of Tezuka Osamu. His puppets appear and talk about his work and life, giving the viewer a sense of his humanity. In particular, his role as President Tezuka in "Vampire" symbolizes his humorous and self-critical spirit. Such self-referential expressions are typical of Tezuka Osamu's work and show his unique style.

■Production Background

"Film is Alive - Film Haiki Tail" was created for the 1990 Tezuka Osamu Exhibition. The exhibition was a retrospective of Tezuka Osamu's life and work, and an opportunity to reassess his influence and achievements. The venue for the exhibition, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, is a leading centre of art and culture in Japan, and was a fitting venue to display Tezuka Osamu's work.

Many famous manga artists and animators were involved in the production of this film. The ten artists who wrote the title characters were close friends of Osamu Tezuka and were influenced by his work. Their participation shows that this film is full of respect and love for Osamu Tezuka.

The production staff was also a distinguished group, with professionals from a wide range of fields coming together, including Takayuki Matsutani in charge of planning, Yoshihiro Shimizu as producer, Shigeo Murayama as assistant producer, Takuya Ishida in charge of clay animation, Osamu Saka as narrator, Keiichi Goto in charge of music, and Masahiro Katayama in charge of the script, composition, editing, and direction. Their cooperation allowed the film to faithfully reproduce the spirit of Osamu Tezuka.

■The appeal of the work

The greatest attraction of "Film is Alive - Film Highlight" is that it allows viewers to feel the diversity and depth of Tezuka Osamu's work. His works cover a wide range, from animation for children to profound themes for adults, and this film allows viewers to experience all of them. His masterpieces, such as "Jungle Emperor" and "Astro Boy," leave a strong impression on viewers.

The film also highlights Osamu Tezuka's creativity and innovation. He was always looking for new techniques and ways of expression, expanding the possibilities of animation. For example, "Legend of the Forest" is known to be the first time Osamu Tezuka used computer graphics. This film highlights this adventurous spirit and leaves viewers in awe.

Furthermore, this film evokes deep empathy from the viewer by depicting Osamu Tezuka's humanity. In the scene where his doll appears and talks about his work and life, we sense Osamu Tezuka's humor and self-critical spirit. In particular, the role of President Tezuka in "Vampire" symbolizes his humanity and leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

■ Recommendation points

"Film is Alive - Film Haiki Tail" is recommended not only for fans of Tezuka Osamu, but for anyone interested in animation and manga. This film allows viewers to experience the diversity and depth of Tezuka Osamu's work, providing an opportunity to reaffirm his creativity and innovation. It also evokes deep empathy in viewers by portraying Tezuka Osamu's humanity.

The film's greatest appeal is that it covers the entire range of Tezuka Osamu's works, from his early period to his later years. Viewers can feel the evolution and transition of his work and learn about the history of animation. In addition, the scenes that focus on Tezuka Osamu's personal side play an important role in understanding his humanity.

Furthermore, this film provides an opportunity to reassess the influence and achievements of Tezuka Osamu. His work revolutionized the world of Japanese manga and animation and is still beloved by many today. Through this film, viewers can reaffirm the greatness of Tezuka Osamu and gain a new perspective on his work.

■ Summary

"Film is Alive - Film Haiki Tail" is a special animated film to celebrate the life and work of Osamu Tezuka. This film offers an opportunity to rediscover the diverse talents of Osamu Tezuka and the passion he poured into animation. It covers Tezuka Osamu's early works to his later years, allowing viewers to feel his creativity and innovation. In addition, scenes that focus on the personal side of Tezuka Osamu play an important role in understanding his humanity. This film is recommended not only for fans of Osamu Tezuka, but for anyone interested in animation and manga.