Kyoiku otogi manga: Usagi to kame (1924)

Kyoiku otogi manga: Usagi to kame / 教育お伽漫画　兎と亀 (The Hare and the Tortoise in English) is an early Japanese anime film based on the classic Aesop's Fable with the same name. This animated silent movie was released in 1924 and was directed by Sanae Yamamoto. Sanae Yamamoto was a significant figure in early Japanese anime production and direction. He played a key role in the development of pre-war Japanese animation and contributing to the start of Toei Animation.

The story in brief:

This short anime movie is one of the first animated depictions of the timeless Aesop's fable, 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The hare mocks the tortoise, saying, "Nobody walks slower than you!" In response, the tortoise challenges the hare to a race to the top of a hill. The hare sprinted ahead but stops to check on the slow-moving tortoise. Feeling confident the tortoise won't catch up until nightfall, the hare takes a nap. Meanwhile, the tortoise steadily climbs the hill without paying much attention to the sleeping hare. The hare wakes up to a crow's call and realizes that he has overslept. He hurries back but it's too late. The tortoise ridicules the hare, saying, "Hey, slowpoke! What happened to all your boasting?"

More info on Kyoiku otogi manga: Usagi to kame:

• Reviews and ratings of Kyoiku otogi manga: Usagi to kame - IMDb
• More info on the anime film - Japanese Animated Film Classics

Animation Movies by Sanae Yamamoto