Ōten Shimokawa
A family relocated to the Tokyo area when a young boy named Shimokawa was nine years old. This move placed him in the heart of Japan's capital during a time of rapid change. He began working for Tokyo Puck magazine as a political cartoonist and manga series artist shortly after arriving. The magazine served as his first professional platform within the city. His early career focused on drawing satirical images that commented on daily life and politics.
Tenkatsu Production Company hired Shimokawa at the age of 26 to create a short animated film. Celluloid cels were costly and scarce in Japan, having to be imported from abroad. He used several animation techniques that were unique at the time to avoid these expenses. Artists drew characters using chalk or white wax on a dark board background. They rubbed out portions to be animated and drew with ink directly onto film. These methods cut production costs, material costs, and completion time significantly compared to standard practices.
The resulting film was Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki, released in 1917. Though not the earliest animation created in Japan, it is considered to be the first true Anime film. It was the first to be publicly shown in a theater rather than a private setting. The film ran only five minutes before the audience saw the end credits. This public screening marked a pivotal moment for the industry despite its brevity.
As with many animation works created in Japan before the mid-1920s, no trace of the film has survived. No copy exists today of Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki or any of Shimokawa's other short films. He produced five other shorts between 1917 and 1923 that have also vanished from history. Historians cannot study the visual style of these early masterpieces because they are gone. The disappearance leaves a significant gap in understanding the origins of Japanese animation.
Shimokawa's animation work was cut short by chronic health problems. He returned to work as a consultant and editor for other production companies making animated films in the 1930s and 1940s. Very few works bear mention of his contribution beyond his own personal works. Not much is known of his later life after he stopped producing films directly. His transition from creator to advisor allowed him to remain involved in the field without the physical strain of drawing frames.
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Common questions
When was the first true Anime film Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki released?
Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki was released in 1917. This public screening marked a pivotal moment for the industry despite its brevity.
What animation techniques did Shimokawa use to reduce costs on celluloid cels?
Shimokawa used chalk or white wax on dark board backgrounds and drew ink directly onto film. These methods cut production costs, material costs, and completion time significantly compared to standard practices.
Why does no copy of Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki exist today?
No trace of the film has survived because it was created before the mid-1920s when preservation standards were lacking. No copy exists today of Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki or any of Shimokawa's other short films.
At what age did Tenkatsu Production Company hire Shimokawa to create his first animated film?
Tenkatsu Production Company hired Shimokawa at the age of 26 to create a short animated film. He began working for Tokyo Puck magazine as a political cartoonist and manga series artist shortly after arriving in Tokyo.
How long did the original Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki run during its public screening?
The film ran only five minutes before the audience saw the end credits. This public screening marked a pivotal moment for the industry despite its brevity.