Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors is the first Japanese feature-length animated film. It was directed by Mitsuyo Seo , who was ordered to make a propaganda film for the war by the Japanese Naval Ministry. Shochiku Moving Picture Laboratory shot the 74-minute film in 1944 and screened it on April 12th, 1945. It is a sequel to Momotaro's Sea Eagles , a 37-minute film released in 1943 by the same director.
Just like its prequel, the movie features the "Peach Boy" character of Japanese folklore. The film is about the surprise maneuver on Sulawesi island, depicting parachute troops' actions. The whole movie also depicts how Japan "liberates Asia", as proclaimed by the Government at the time.
There are some musical scenes. Of note is The Song of AIUEO, a scene where Japanese soldiers teach local animals how to speak.
The Naval Ministry previously showed Seo Fantasia, a 1940 Disney film. Inspired by this, Seo tried to give dreams to children, as well as to instill the hope for peace, just as he did in the prequel movie, Momotaro's Sea Eagles.
The Song of AIUEO is famous for being given an homage in the series Kimba the White Lion by Osamu Tezuka (Tezuka watched the film in April 1945. He later said that he was moved to tears by the movie's hints of dreams and hopes, hidden under the appearance of war propaganda).
For a long time, the film was presumed to be confiscated and burnt by the American occupation. However, a negative copy of the film was found in Shochiku's depot in 1984. A reproduced movie was later screened and the VHS package is now available in Japan.
Just like its prequel, the movie features the "Peach Boy" character of Japanese folklore. The film is about the surprise maneuver on Sulawesi island, depicting parachute troops' actions. The whole movie also depicts how Japan "liberates Asia", as proclaimed by the Government at the time.
There are some musical scenes. Of note is The Song of AIUEO, a scene where Japanese soldiers teach local animals how to speak.
The Naval Ministry previously showed Seo Fantasia, a 1940 Disney film. Inspired by this, Seo tried to give dreams to children, as well as to instill the hope for peace, just as he did in the prequel movie, Momotaro's Sea Eagles.
The Song of AIUEO is famous for being given an homage in the series Kimba the White Lion by Osamu Tezuka (Tezuka watched the film in April 1945. He later said that he was moved to tears by the movie's hints of dreams and hopes, hidden under the appearance of war propaganda).
For a long time, the film was presumed to be confiscated and burnt by the American occupation. However, a negative copy of the film was found in Shochiku's depot in 1984. A reproduced movie was later screened and the VHS package is now available in Japan.
