Momotarô: Umi no shinpei

Mar 12 1945 TV-PG 1h 14m
Adventure, Animation, Family

The first Japanese feature-length animated film. It was directed by Mitsuyo Seo, who was ordered to make a propaganda film for the war by the Japanese Naval Ministry. Shochiku Moving Picture Laboratory shot the 74-minute film in 1944 and screened it on April 12, 1945. It is a sequel to Momotaro no Umiwashi, a 37-minute film released in 1943 by the same director. It is black and white. The whole movie also depicts the Japanese "liberation of Asia", as proclaimed by the Government at the time. Seo tried to give dreams to children, as well as to instill the hope for peace, with hidden movie's hints of dreams and hopes, under the appearance of war propaganda.

Plot

This animated film--Japan's first--was a propaganda piece made to show the Japanese public how the Japanese military had achieved such decisive victories in the South Pacific. It tells the story of young Japanese boys from their school days to their joining the army and fighting against Japan's "enemies" and shows how the animals in the jungle--meant to symbolize the residents of the Asian countries the Japanese conquered--welcomed the Japanese army's "liberating" them from their western masters.

Written by

Mitsuyo Seo

Directed by

Mitsuyo Seo

Cast

N/A

Production Countries

Japan

Production Companies

Shochiku

Languages

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
393
Average Rating
5.5 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA