日本 Japan / 1945 / 74 min / 日語對白，英文字幕
In Japanese with English Subtitles
導演 Dir: 瀬尾光世 Seo Mitsuyo

康城影展 經典單元
Cannes Classics, Cannes Film Festival

日本史上首部黑白動畫長片，當年由日本海軍省以「國策動畫電影」之名委託松竹動畫研究所製作，於1945年二戰末期公映，旨在向日本青少年軟性宣傳軍國主義，感染更多青少年入伍。故事改編自日本桃太郎的傳說，描繪桃太郎為保衛家鄉，號召動物兵團奮力作戰，成功戰勝外敵的故事。透過載歌載舞的劇情，依稀可見迪士尼動漫對早期日本動漫的影響，而本片注重細節的繪畫方式和營造宏大場面的特技也影響了日後異軍突起的日本動漫。手塚治虫自稱深受影響，早年觀看時甚至為其藝術張力感動落淚，隱藏於政治宣傳的表面下，電影亦展現出一股對愛和希望不懈追求的執著力量。

Beloved Japanese folklore hero Momotaro transforms into a World War II fighter in Japan’s first feature-length animated film, a propaganda film backed by the Ministry of Navy. The adventure sees a group of navy paratroopers who bravely follow Momotaro into a battle against evil pirates from the West (representing the Allied Powers) on a South Pacific island. The film was a commercial flop when it faced an indifferent audience towards the end of the war, but it did inspire a generation of aspiring artists including Astro Boy creator Tezuka Osamu. Don’t miss the rare chance to see this beautifully restored piece of film history on the big screen.