Film Info

Released on :

1918

Language :

Silent

Country :

Japan

Type :

Short Films

Format :

Color :

Black and White

Directed by :

Seitarô Kitayama

Produced by :

Nikkatsu

Urashima Tarô (1918)

One of the earliest anime

Urashima Tarō is one of the earliest Japanese anime films discovered so far. This silent animated movie was released in 1918 and was directed by Seitarō Kitayama. Seitarō Kitayama was a pioneering Japanese animator and is referred to as one of the 'fathers' of anime. He is credited with early examples of commercial anime production.

The story in brief:

This short anime film is based on the popular Japanese folk tale by the same name that dates back centuries. It tells the story of a young fisherman named Urashima Taro who saves a turtle from being bullied by children in the beach. In gratitude, the turtle takes Urashima Taro to the underwater palace where he meets the underwater princess. He enjoys a joyful time with the princess. Eventually, he wants to return home. As a parting gift, the princess presents him with a box, cautioning him never to open it. Despite her warning, upon returning to land, curiosity gets the better of him, and he opens the box, instantly aging into an old man.

Another version:

Another film based on the story of Urashima Tarō was previously considered to be the work of Kitayama and produced by Nikkatsu. But later on some stills from the original film released by Nikkatsu in 1918 were discovered in a magazine. The stills were not found in the film and so this film is now not treated as Kitayama's work. The director, producer as well as its release date are now assumed to be unknown.