You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (January 2016) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
The Dull Sword (Japanese: なまくら刀, Hepburn: Namakura Gatana) is a Japanese animated short film produced by Jun'ichi Kōuchi in 1917. It was rediscovered by an antique shop employee in Osaka in March 2008.[2][3] This film is a 4-minute silent short that tells a story about a foolish rōnin's purchase of a dull-edged sword and subsequent attempts at tsujigiri. It was released on June 30, 1917, and is among the very earliest examples of anime.
The Dull Sword | |
なまくら刀 (Namakura Gatana) | |
---|---|
Genre | Jidaigeki[1] |
Created by | Jun'ichi Kōuchi |
Anime film | |
Studio | Kobayashi Shokai Ltd.[1] |
Released | June 30, 1917 |
Runtime | 4 minutes[1] |
Plot
editNamakura Gatana (lit. 'dull-edged sword'; gatana is rendaku of katana) is a short comedic jidaigeki about a dim-witted self-appointed samurai. He gets fooled and buys a dull sword from a merchant. The samurai, trying to figure out why his new sword cannot cut anyone he strikes, tries desperately to attack random townspeople who defend themselves and knock him out.
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Dull Sword [the longest, digitally restored version]". National Film Archive of Japan. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ "Japan finds films by early "anime" pioneers". Reuters. March 26, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Loo, Egan (March 27, 2008). "Two Nine-Decade-Old Anime Films Discovered (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
External links
edit- The Dull Sword (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- The Dull Sword at IMDb