Roots of Japanese Anime

[htdm]

A couple weeks ago I picked up this fantastic set of very rare prewar Japanese animation at Filmbaby and finally had a chance to watch it.
Along with Digital Meme's 4-disc Japanese Anime Classic Collection, this is a must have for anyone remotely interested in Japanese film/animation.
Here's the press release:

Greetings!

We are very pleased to announce the launch of our company, Zakka Films, and the release of our first DVD, The Roots of Japanese Anime, which presents 8 classic films, many of which are appearing for the first time on DVD with English subtitles.

Zakka Films is new venture dedicated to introducing rare and important Japanese films, particularly anime and documentary, to North American audiences. Many of the powerful and wonderful films we love aren't available outside Japan, so our mission is to change that.

Starting with The Roots of Japanese Anime, we'll present some of the great works of Japanese cinema on information-rich, high-quality DVDs ideal for individual, scholarly, and classroom use. Every DVD will come stocked with extra bonus features and commentaries by noted scholars sure to enlighten students, researchers, and even the casual observer of Japan.

The Roots of Japanese Anime is our first release and contains 8 ground-breaking films from the developmental years of Japanese anime. The centerpiece is Momotaro's Sea Eagle (director: Mitsuyo Seo), Japan's first feature animated film from 1942 notorious for showing "Peach Boy" and his cute animal forces attacking Pearl Harbor. As an example of both Japanese wartime propaganda and the great leaps made in the evolution of Japanese anime, Momotaro's Sea Eagle has been the subject of great interest amongst scholars and fans, but is coming out in North America here for the first time.

The other 7 films introduce the delightful variety of Japanese pre-WWII anime and the popular everyday culture it represented. There are masterworks by anime pioneers such as Noburo Ofuji, Kenzo Masaoka, and Yasuji Murata; cartoons presenting folk tales and legendary samurai heroes; sing-a-long films; and even a wonderful work introducing the day in the life of a young girl from the 1930s.

The DVD includes a 12-page booklet describing the history of early anime and the background of each film written by prominent scholars.

For more information on the DVD and to view the trailer, please visit us at http://www.zakkafilms.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The Roots of Japanese Anime will also be showing on Saturday, March 28, 9:00 AM at the 2009 AAS Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Thank you very much!

Contact:
Seiko Ono
Zakka Films
http://www.zakkafilms.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[email protected]

[Michael Kerpan]

I look forward to comments as to some of your favorite parts of this set. ;~}

[htdm]

Ok, just briefly - the most stunning inclusion for me is the the first full-length Japanese animated film - Momotaro no Umiwashi - which I'd seen only once before at a film festival in Tokyo some years ago. This is the earlier and far more subversive cousin to it's sister film Momotaro Umi no Shinpei (available on VHS from Shochiku). The bombing scenes are remarkable (this should be watched back to back with "Cap'n Cub" - an American animated short from '45) and the promotional materials are made available as an extra on the disc.

There may be some who complain about the quality of the prints but honestly they look fantastic especially considering their age and the conditions they endured. The subtitles are selectable but a bit hard to read - their inclusion however makes it useful for classes / universities.

This is a very nicely produced disc and I hope it does good business as I'd love to see more of this become available.

[Michael Kerpan]

Thanks.

[StevenJ0001]

Thank you!! I'd never heard of this company or this release. Does any of the content overlap with Digital Meme's set? I don't have that yet either but it's been on my wish list for some time.