The book of dead kihachiro kawamoto

This film is a japanese stop motion animation feature directed by kihachiro kawamoto, based on the novel of the same title by shinobu orikuchio. Kawamoto completed a total of 10 short works and the features rennyo and his mother 1981 and a book of a dead person 2005, as well as overseeing the 2003 omnibus winter. Theres magic within kawamotos craft and pondering ideals, yet it seems like this piece leaves a bit to be desired. Kihachiro kawamoto effectively uses an old fairytale to communicated issues about elderly care in modern society. The fact that kawamoto has finally realised it is a testament to his tenacity and creative longevity. The book of the dead is a film directed by kihachiro kawamoto with animation. Animator puppets make their own story, while with cut out animation the story is created by the animator. Kihachiro kawamoto at the 2006 ottawa international animation festival, sitting next to the puppet of the main character from the film. The book of the dead shisha no sho is kawamotos second feature length stop motion puppet animation, after rennyo and his mother rennyo to sono haha in 1981.

I knew nothing about kihachiro kawamoto, but my love of japanese puppet theater, aesthetics, and animation drew me to watch the book of the dead, and his shorts at the pacific film archive in berkeley, ca. But the genre has never been as disturbing as it is in the atmospheric films of japanese stopmotion and puppet legend kihachiro kawamoto. The tales here range from traditional folklore to more surreal ruminations on the modern condition, and the animation has a variety of looks that incorporates puppet theatre and cutout drawings. Puppet animation by legendary master kihachiro kawamoto. The book of the dead by kihachiro kawamoto kihachiro. One such character is kihachiro kawamoto, a pioneer in the neglected field of stop motion puppet animation. The origami cutouts, drab in charcoal yet appropriate for the magical realism abe conveys in his original short story, move around all janky and stiff, as if the weariness of the factory workers. Shisha no sho the book of the dead 2005 rotten tomatoes.

A poets life, beautifully brought to life by esteemed puppet animator kihachiro kawamoto, feels more like a living book than a full, animated work. Many old people feel shameful for needing so much care, they have become a burden to their children. Japan japanese with english subtitles 2005 animation. The learned and beautiful lady iratsume of the aristocratic fujiwara clan receives a vision of a deity when she contemplates mt. The book of the dead, only his second fulllength feature film, has been something of a longterm ambition, constantly deferred through lack of funds. He is bestremembered in japan as designer of the puppets for the longrunning nhk live. Kihachiro kawamoto director shinobu origuchi screenwriter previous cast members more cast members. Trailer for kihachiro kawamoto s stopmotion masterpiece, shisha no sho book of the dead. Kihachiro kawamoto 2 was a japanese designer and maker of puppets, an animator, writer and director of independentlymade stop mo. The demon, dojoji temple, and the book of the dead by kihachiro kawamoto introduction and discussion by animation critic charles solomon. A crucial figure in the field of independent art animation in japan and the president of the japan animation association jaa since 1988, kawamoto began his film career after entering the toho companys art department as an assistant in 1946, following an introduction from a school friend, muraki yoshiro, who went on to become kurosawa akiras longterm production designer. The book of the dead 2005 a noblewoman has a vision that leads her to take a journey.

It will have its world premiere as a part of a special retrospective tribute at the 40th karlovy vary international film festival july 19, 2005, karlovy vary, czech republic. A filmmaker who animated puppets using the stopmotion animation technique, kawamotos stories drew upon european influences while also reflecting japanese traditions. Find release information for the book of the dead 2005 kihachiro kawamoto on allmovie. The exquisite short films of kihachiro kawamoto popmatters.

They include the demon 1973, dojoji temple 1976, house of flame 1979, rennyo and his mother 1981, the sleeping beauty 1990 and a book of a dead person 2005. Kihachiro kawamoto, kawamoto kihachiro, january 11, 1925 august 23, 2010 was a japanese puppet designer and maker, independent film director, screenwriter and animator and president of the japan animation association from 1989, succeeding founder osamu tezuka, until his own death. A lot can be said for artistic design, which is the primary strength within kihachiro kawamotos historical puppetry drama, the book of the dead. It was a time when buddhism was just making inroads into japan from neighboring. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Nara in the nara period mid the book of the dead shisha no sho kawamoto kihachiro 2005 70 min october 3rd 20, 19. Wfac 2006 trailer shisha no sho book of the dead youtube. Arriving simultaneously from kimstim is kawamotos extraordinary the book of the dead 2005, a featurelength extravagance one hour plus ten minutes of credits. Filmmaker kihachiro kawamoto makes puppetry even more. The renowned kihachiro kawamoto is regarded as the master of japanese puppet animation. Bored and unfamiliar with the world outside her estate, she passes the time copying a special buddhist sutra sent by her father who has been absent on official business for years. The plot concerns a sheltered aristocratic woman in feudal japan.

It had its world premiere as a part of a special retrospective tribute at the 40th karlovy vary international film festival july 19, 2005, karlovy vary, czech republic. The book of the dead, originally known in japanese as shisha no sho it was also translated as the book of a dead person. Below is a synopsis, from the website of international sales agent 100 meter films y. Trailer for kihachiro kawamotos stopmotion masterpiece, shisha no sho book of the dead. Kawamoto has a grandmasters reputation in japan, even if he has relatively little recorded output to go with it.

I returned to his unforgettable images, along with masayuki miyatas as references for a current project. In a crowded city, a young japanese woman dreams of taking a holiday to europe. Buddhism has recently been imported from china and is all the rage amongst the nobility. The story takes place as buddhism is being introduced to japan from china. Iratsume, a young woman from a noble house, becomes obsessed with the new religion. Overview of book of the dead, the, 2005, directed by kihachiro kawamoto, with kyoko kishida, tetsuko kuroyanagi, rie miyazawa, at turner classic movies. Master animator kihachiro kawamoto weaves this intoxicatingly visual adventure concerning an 8th century japanese noblewoman who leaves her family behind in order to follow the drifting spirit of an executed prince. Embellished with supernatural elements, it is the story of. A collection of his shorts has also been released for englishspeaking audiences on dvd, and after watching dead im making it a priority to track. Kihachiro kawamoto, japanese puppet designer and animator.

Set in the nara period ad 710784, just after the introductio. Master animator kihachiro kawamoto weaves this intoxicatingly visual adventure concerning an 8th century japanese noblewoman who leaves her family behind in order to follow the drifting spirit of. However, her journey in this foreign land turns out to be not so much a respite as a surreal nightmare, in which the repeated thwarting of her efforts to reunite. A short animation by japanese stop motion artist, kihachiro kawamoto. With kyoko kishida, tetsuko kuroyanagi, rie miyazawa. From an early age, he was captivated by the art of doll and puppet making.