Apr 6, 2025
Two Worlds | 1929
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from Ukraine
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Italy
seen from Singapore
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from Philippines
seen from Singapore
seen from Mexico
seen from China
seen from United States
Two Worlds | 1929
Chuzo Aochi, & Yasuji Murata, {1929} 瘤取り (The Stolen Lump)
Kamishibai Itazura Tanuki no Maki (1933)
A cute anime by Yasuji Murata. A tanuki is hungry so he visits a temple and steals the offerings while disguising himself as a Buddha statue. After two priests(?) argue about who stole the food the head priest investigates and realizes the tanuki is in the temple.
They smoke him out and the short utilizes the tanuki's shapeshifting powers for a chase scene. In the end he gets away and does a little dance.
I like how he's noticeably fatter by the end of the short.
Hibari no Yadogae (1933)
This one is hard to follow as someone who doesn't understand Japanese. It's based on the Aesop Fable "The Lark and the Farmer" and the basic premise seems to be animals are debating when to move due to the harvest season but are threatened by a snake. A frog tries to fight it with an umbrella but humans show up and scare both away.
Umi no Momotarou (1932)
Momotaro, as in the folk hero "the peach boy," for whatever reason finds himself aboard a submarine which is being attacked by a shark. After slaying the beast he and his animal friends are rewarded.
No subs so I'm not sure what Momotaro is doing in modern times but the shark is appropriately menacing and at only 2 minutes its worth checking out if you're interested in older anime, though Yasuji Murata has done more technically impressive work before this one.
Doubutsu Mura no Sports Day (1932)
It's field day for the animals as they participate in a variety of events including diving, boxing, and monkey bars among others.
Cute character designs and fun voice-over narration.
Tonpei to Sarukichi (1932)
Cute anime about a pig and monkey going to war, each gathers the help of other animals to aid in this battle. I love the character-designs, especially the lion who the pig goes to.
月の宮の王女様 / Tsuki No Miya No Ôjosama (Princess of the Moon Palace)
16 in 18 of the works of Yasuji Murata animated short film history Release: Oct. 25th, 1934 Country: Japan Director: 村田安司 (Yasuji Murata)
“When a young princess is kidnapped by an evil toad, her salvation is in the hands of a brave villager.”
(source)
Princess of the Moon Palace is available on YouTube.