1917 in anime
Years in anime: | 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 |
Centuries: | 19th century · 20th century · 21st century |
Decades: | 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s |
Years: | 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 |
Events of 1917 in anime.
Historical perspective
1917 is the year of definitive firsts in the history of Japanese animation. The three key figures are Ōten Shimokawa, Seitarou Kitayama, and Junichi Kouchi. There is much debate over which gets the honor of the first animated film, and even the exact date of that film's premiere. Shimokawa's film Imokawa Mukozo the Doorman is conventionally and largely claimed to be the first work, but contemporary sources portray it as the "third" film. Speculation about the error is debated, but the lost films and their contents have been reported by various sources allowing for a clearer picture of the early history. Katsudō Shashin, widely reported as possibly dating to 1907, is of unconfirmed origin and is not known to have premiered or been produced for commercial interest.
Events
According to contemporary sources of the time, an unknown titled film of Tennenshoku Katsudō Shashin premiered in January. Evidence of this comes from Kinema Record, with the July edition making specific claim to the first release occurring in January, but does not specify the title of the work.[1] In May, Kinema Record cited the April release of Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki (芋川椋三玄関番の巻 Imokawa Mukozo the Doorman); which has been widely reported as being the first film.[1]
The first confirmed film release occurred in the first ten days of February, with Shimokawa's Dekobō shingachō – Meian no shippai (凸坊新画帳・名案の失敗 Bumpy new picture book – Failure of a great plan).[2] The film was produced with chalk on a blackboard, with redrawing for each frame. Shimokawa would switch to paper for later, but the exact date and work to depict the switch is unknown.[1]
Shimokawa's Chamebō shingachō – Nomi fūfu shikaeshi no maki (茶目坊新画帳・蚤夫婦仕返しの巻 Chamebō's new picture book – The revenge of Mr. and Mrs. Flea) which premiered on April 17.[1] The work itself may or may not be another title for Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki (芋川椋三玄関番の巻 Imokawa Mukozo the Doorman), which premiered sometime during April.[1]
In the "middle ten days of May", Shimokawa's premiered Imokawa Mukuzō - Chūgaeri no maki (芋川椋三宙返りの巻 Imokawa Mukuzō – Somersault).[3]
Kitayama's first release was Sarukani gassen (猿蟹合戦), which aired 20 May. His second film Yume no jidōsha (夢の自動車 The dream car) aired during the last ten days of May.[1]
Kouchi's first film was Hanawa Hekonai Meitō no Maki (塙凹内名刀之巻 Hanawa Hekonai – The famous sword) also known as Namakura Gatana (なまくら刀 Dull Katana) and Tameshigiri (試し斬 The sword test).[1] The film premiered June 30 and film is currently the earliest surviving work. It was only rediscovered in March 2008.[4] The film uses cut out paper animation.
On 4 July, Kitayama released Neko to nezumi (猫と鼠 Cat and Mice). Kitayama would release another film, titled Itazura posuto (いたずらポスト Naughty mailbox) on 28 July.[1]
Kouchi's first release was Chamebō Kūkijū no maki (茶目坊空気銃の巻 Chamebō ‒ Air gun) or Chame no kūkijū (茶目の空気銃 Chame's air gun) on 11 August.[1]
On 26 August, Kitayama released Hanasaka-jiji (花咲爺 The old man who made flowers bloom) based on the Japanese folklore tale of Hanasaka Jiisan. A surviving frame of the film is all that remains of this work.[1]
Shimokawa's released another short known as Imokawa Mukuzō Tsuri no maki (芋川椋三釣の巻 Imokawa Mukuzō goes fishing), but also called Chamebōzu Uozuri no maki (茶目坊主魚釣の巻 Chamebōzu goes fishing) In September. The Kinema Record notes a mid-September release while 9 September is specified as the exact date.[1]
Kitayama would release four animated shorts in October. On 7 October, the first Japanese instructional animation was released, titled Chokin no susume (貯金の勧 What to do with your postal savings). On 10 October, Otogibanashi-Bunbuku chagama (お伽噺・文福茶釜 Fairy-tale: Bunbuku kettle) was released, it was a faithful adaptation of the folktale of Bunbuku Chagama. On 18 October, 舌切雀 (Shitakire suzume Sparrow with no tongue) was released. And on 20 October, Kachikachiyama (カチカチ山 Kachikachi Mountain) was released. All four films are lost and no image remains of them, only accounts in contemporary sources of the time.[1]
Kitayama would release another animated short titled Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru (塵も積もれば山となる Great oaks from little acorns grow) at the end of 1917.[1]
One of Kouchi's films, titled Hanawa Hekonai Kappa matsuri (塙凹内かっぱまつり Hanawa Hekonai – The Kappa Festival) was released in 1917, but an exact date is unknown.[1]
Two films are noted by Shibata Katsu, a Tennenshoku Katsudō Shashin cameraman, their titles are noted as Bunten no maki (文展の巻 The Ministry of Culture's art exhibition) and Onabe to kuroneko no maki (お鍋と黒猫の巻 The Pot and the Black Cat).[1]
Releases
English Name | Japanese Name | Romaji | Format | Original Release Date | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bumpy new picture book – Failure of a great plan | 凸坊新画帳・名案の失敗 | Dekobō shingachō – Meian no shippai | Short Film | First ten days of February 1917 | |
Chamebō's new picture book – The Revenge of Mr. and Mrs. Flea | 茶目坊新画帳・蚤夫婦仕返しの巻 | Chamebō shingachō – Nomi fūfu shikaeshi no maki | Short Film | 17 April 1917 | |
Imokawa Mukozo the Doorman | 芋川椋三玄関番の巻 | Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki | Short Film | April 1917 | |
Imokawa Mukuzō – Somersault | 芋川椋三宙返りの巻 | Imokawa Mukuzō - Chūgaeri no maki | Short Film | Middle ten days of May 1917 | |
Battle of a Monkey and a Crab | 猿蟹合戦 | Sarukani gassen | Short Film | 20 May 1917 | |
The Dream Car | 夢の自動車 | Yume no jidōsha | Short Film | Last ten days of May 1917 | |
Hanawa Hekonai – The Famous Sword Dull Katana The Sword Test | 塙凹内名刀之巻 なまくら刀 試し斬 | Hanawa Hekonai Meitō no Maki Namakura Gatana Tameshigiri | Short Film | 30 June 1917 | Extant |
Cat and Mice | 猫と鼠 | Neko to nezumi | Short Film | 4 July 1917 | |
Naughty Mailbox | いたずらポスト | Itazura posuto | Short Film | 28 July 1917 | |
Chamebō ‒ Air gun Chame’s air gun | 茶目坊空気銃の巻 茶目の空気銃 | Chamebō Kūkijū no maki Chame no kūkijū | Short Film | 11 August 1917 | |
The Old Man Who Made Flowers Bloom | 花咲爺 | Hanasaka-jiji | Short Film | 26 August 1917 | |
Imokawa Mukuzō goes fishing Chamebōzu goes fishing | 芋川椋三釣の巻 茶目坊主魚釣の巻 | Imokawa Mukuzō Tsuri no maki Chamebōzu Uozuri no maki | Short Film | 9 September 1917 | |
What to do with your Postal Savings | 貯金の勧 | Chokin no susume | Short Film | 7 October 1917 | |
Bunbuku kettle Fairy-tale: Bunbuku kettle | 文福茶釜 お伽噺・文福茶釜 | Bunbuku chagama Otogibanashi-Bunbuku chagama | Short Film | 10 October 1917 | |
Sparrow with no Tongue | 舌切雀 | Shitakire suzume | Short Film | 18 October 1917 | |
Kachikachi Mountain | カチカチ山 | Kachikachiyama | Short Film | 20 October 1917 | |
Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow | 塵も積もれば山となる | Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru | Short Film | End of 1917 | |
Hanawa Hekonai – The Kappa Festival | 塙凹内かっぱまつり | Hanawa Hekonai Kappa matsuri | Short Film | Unknown date in 1917 | |
The Pot and the Black Cat | お鍋と黒猫の巻 | Onabe to kuroneko no maki | Short Film | Unconfirmed to exist. | |
The Ministry of Culture's Art Exhibition | 文展の巻 | Bunten no maki | Short Film | Unconfirmed to exist. | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "Some remarks on the first Japanese animation films in 1917". Litten, Frederick S. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- ↑ The Kinema Record, vol. V, no. 45, 10 March 1917 as referenced in Litten's Some remarks on the first Japanese animation films in 1917
- ↑ The Kinema Record, vol. V, no. 48, 15 June 1917, p. 302 as referenced in Litten's Some remarks on the first Japanese animation films in 1917
- ↑ "Two Nine-Decade-Old Anime Films Discovered (Updated)". Anime News Network.