Somebody else has gotta see this cartoon, too

Cafe Society
1

I was idly surfing at youtube the other day, and I came across this gem of a classic cartoon from Japan, circa 1943.

This thing is a marvel. Despite its sketchy quality, it comes across quite well. Check out that seductive spider - isn’t that a marvelous voice? I’d like to know the name of the brilliant Japanese singer and voicework actor who did it. Also, that melody he’s singing is hauntingly pretty. I’m going to bet it’s along the lines of a lullaby.

I’m less enthralled by ladybug girl. She’s a bit overly cute and has a screechy little voice.

Someone here at work suggests that this is a parable to warn the Japanese public of the day to beware of the seductions of the western world, but I don’t know if I see it that way. What do you think?

2

You mean the blackface spider and the Boop-clone ladybug? I think they were just trying to copy Disney.

3

Before another animation enthusiat jumps on my back - yes, I know Boop wasn’t from Disney, and they probably employed blackface the least out of all the major animation houses. But animation style in that short(? 15 GD minutes?!) definitely Disney-esque.

4

BTW, I must say excited to see this from your description, I was curious to see something uniquely Japanese in a style that predated the TV borne limited animation of today’s anime.

Kinda disappointing to see a Disney rip-off with a blackface main character (wearing a straw boater, no less).

I did like the ladybug song, though.

5

Check out the 1933 cartoon posted by the same user. The style is a close copy of Fleischer, but the story adheres to Japanese themes.

6

Wow. “Close copy” was an understatement.*

*in internet terms, at least, where hyperbole is expected. IRL, it’s just an accurate statement.

7

I was surprised how much the song that opened the cartoon sounded the stereotypical Asian music that is usually used in Western cartoons to represent a character is Asian or the scene is set in Asia, etc. (espcially the bit with the xylophone at the beginning) I didn’t realize Asian music actually sounded like that.

8

I really like that one, too. I’m hoping that the poster tracks down and posts more examples of older Japanese cartoons. They’re pretty cool.

9

This wonderful cartoon is far more than an imitation of Disney. Listen to the soundtrack, note the infusion of Japanese artistic techniques into the cartoon.

Thank you for linking this, teela brown. I enjoyed it immensely.

10

15 minutes of that?

Sorry. I donated two minutes. The third time through the screechy ladybug was too much.

I’m curious. What’d you find so interesting about it?

11

I thought it was kinda cool, and found the story line pretty self-explanatory despite the language barrier.

However. . .

Anyone with knowledge of Japanese care to translate some of the lyrics the ladybug and spider were singing??? Just curious.

12

Just what I stated in my opening post. I love the spider’s deep, melodious voice and his song. I like the Japanese take on a western-style theme, and how the artist embeds Japanese sensibilities into the Disney-inspired style.

Also, I have sympathy for the spider. I’d have liked to have seen the kewpie-doll bug end up on his menu.

Yeah, I’d like to know too. Maybe I’ll luck out and one of our Japanese-speaking Dopers will click on this thread.

13

We totally agree. :slight_smile: