jan 1, 1917 - Namakura Gatana & Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki

Description:

Directed by Jun'ichi Kōuchi, The animation used is known as the cutter technique, this is when animators would cut out objects and move them around. It was much cheaper to utilise than what other countries had at the time. This helped save a lot on production however it lacked the professional curve other companies were producing overseas. Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki is reconised as the first professional production of Japanese animation (1917), the director, Ōten Shimokawa and his team from the company Tennenshoku Katsudō Shashin produced five minute short which records havent been clear on what it exactly portayed as it has also been lost to time.