05 November 2010

Takashi Yanase’s Top 15 Animated Films


Takashi Yanase (やなせ たかし, b. 1919 in Kochi) was one of the filmmakers who took part in the 2003 survey of animation professionals. Yanase is one of the most successful animators of all time in Japan as the creator of the anime series Anpanman, which is extremely popular with preschoolers and is merchandised extensively. My kids just adore Anpanman and our fridge is covered with magnets that we got from toy vending machines when we lived in Tokyo.  Yanase’s list of 15 of his favourite animated films contains a mixture of mainstream commercial works and alternative fare. He interestingly included 1001 Nights, which is a film that he worked on as art director - but I don't think that really matters - you can't really argue with anyone for including an Eiichi Yamamoto film on their list.
Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) (English Subtitles) / Animation
1. Spirited Away 
(千と千尋の神隠し, Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 2001)
2. Laputa: Castle in the Sky 
(天空の城ラピュタ, Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1986)
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 
(白雪姫, David Hand, et al., USA, 1937)
The King and the Mockingbird / Animation
4. Le roi et l’oiseau 
(王と鳥 やぶにらみの暴君, Paul Grimault, France, 1948)
5. The Humpbacked Horse 
(せむしの仔馬, Ivan Ivanov-Vano, USSR/Russia, 1947/1975)
6. Mr. Bug Goes to Town 
(aka Hoppity Goes to Town / バッタ君町に行く, Dave Fleischer, USA, 1941)
Fantasia / Disney
7. Fantasia 
(ファンタジア, various Disney directors, USA, 1940)
8. Future Boy Conan 
(未来少年コナン, Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1978)
9. Broken Down Film 
(おんぼろフィルム, Osamu Tezuka, Japan, 1985)
Senya ichiya monogatari / Animation
10. One Thousand and One Nights 
(千夜一夜物語, Eiichi Yamamoto, Japan, 1969)
11. Clap Vocalism 
(aka Human Zoo, 人間動物園, Yoji Kuri, Japan, 1962)
12. Yellow Submarine 
(イエロー・サブマリン, George Dunning, UK, 1968)
13. Nightmare Before Christmas 
(ナイトメアー・ビフォア・クリスマス, Henry Selick, USA, 1993)
Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) (English Subtitles) / Animation
14. Grave of the Fireflies 
(火垂るの墓, Isao Takahata, Japan, 1988)
15. The early Mickey Mouse films 
(ミッキーマウス(初期短編), Ub Iwerks/Walt Disney, 1928-)



This blog entry is a part of the Japanese Film Blogathon 2010


© Catherine Munroe Hotes 2010