Kujiratori

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Kujiratori
くじらとり
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Written by Hayao Miyazaki
Music by Yuji Nomi
Release date(s) 2001 Limited release in Ghibli Museum only
Running time 16 minutes
Language Japanese
IMDb profile

Kujiratori ( くじらとり?, lit. "Whale Hunt") is a short film shown only in the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan. The film has a running time of 16 minutes. It is drawn in a different, simpler style compared to other Studio Ghibli films, and uses bright pastel colors.

Kujiraori tells the story of school children playing that they're building a boat. As imagination replaces reality, they find themselves on the ocean, hunting for a whale. A big, gentle whale shows up, accompanies them back to land and play with them. Then the fantasy ends and the children are back in their class room.

The film was shown at the 2002 New York International Children's Film Festival. It has won the at the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the Mainichi Film Award in 2001.