DVD くもとちゅうりっぷ

The all works of Kenzo MASAOKA, Japanese great treasure masterpieces!

Masaoka was a one of Japanese animation pioneers who called “the father of Japanese animation”. These two discs are truly important for not only Japanese animation history, but also its cultural history around World War Two.

Director: Kenzo Masaoka
Format: Black and White, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: Japanese
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 2
DVD Release Date: July 28, 2004
Running Time: 110 minutes
Distributor: ANIDO FILM

	“Kumo to Tulip/ The Spider and the Tulip” 1943 16min. The evil spider tries to capture the ladybird girl. However, she is given shelter to in the tulip, and the spider is blown off by a sudden storm. It is famous as the masterpiece of classics of cartoon short movie in Japan.
	“Benkei tai Ushiwaka/ Benkei vs Ushiwaka” 1939 14min. This story is based on a childhood episode from the life of the great Heian general Yoshitsune Minamoto. When casting the two combatants in Benkei vs. Ushiwaka (1939) director Kenzo Masaoka chose Mrs Masaoka to play the diminutive hero, and himself as the hulking brute Benkei.
	“Sakura (Haru no Genso)/Cherry blossom (The Illusion of Spring) “1947 8min. Kenzo Masaoka completed “SAKURA(HARU NO GENSOU)/The cherry tree (Spring fantasy)”(46) using Weber’s “Invitation to a dance” (arranged by Berlioz) which Stokowski conducted gorgeously. In this work, the spring sight was lyrically drawn with MAIKO in Kyoto, the shower of falling cherry blossom, and the butterflies which are flying. On a screen, a quiet atmosphere flowed and the noisy social situation was not felt. Moreover, arrival of freedom was not cried for loud. Although it was a negative form, Masaoka’s principle-of-art-for-art’s-sake-spirit was shown like “KUMO TO TUURIPPU.”
	“Chagama-Ondo/ A Dance Song with a Kettle” 1934 10min.
	“Sute-neko Tora-chan/ Tora-chan, an orphan kitty” 1947 21min.
	“Tora-chan to Hanayome/ Tora-chan’s wedding” 1948 17min.
	“Tora-chan no Kankan-mushi/ Tora-chan’s ship sweeper” 1950 10min.
	Bonus Contents: “The documentary of the ceremony for completed Masaoka’s monument” 1981 5min. 16mm