Anime News: Digital Meme To Release Rare (Silent) Classic Anime on DVD
Bruce Calvert
Digital Meme To Release Rare Classic Anime on DVD
Jan 15 2007
Four-DVD set of rarely-seen anime of the 1920s and 1930s includes
unprecedented multilingual translation and traditional benshi narration.
TOKYO, Japan, January 12, 2007 - Digital Meme, the premier publisher of
digitized classic Japanese films, today announced the upcoming release of a
new DVD collection of vintage Japanese anime. Presenting 55 titles from the
Golden Age of Japanese silent film, this collection is the first to offer
international audiences many of these classic anime as they were originally
experienced by Japanese viewers, with accompanying benshi narration.
Japanese Anime Classic Collection is a digital collection of hard-to-find
anime produced from 1928 through 1936. Entertaining, exciting, and
startling, the collection will be treasured by enthusiasts, who will find it
a valuable reference tool for retracing Japanese animation from its early
roots to what is now universally known as anime. Presented chronologically,
these anime have been painstakingly digitally reproduced for DVD viewing.
Nothing has been altered or edited except for the integration of music in
some titles.
All the silent anime in the collection allow the viewer to choose subtitles
in Japanese, English, Chinese, or Korean. Many feature live, simultaneous
narration by such famed and beloved benshi as Midori Sawato. These
one-of-a-kind dramatic benshi performances were a unique Japanese
contribution to silent film history. For international audiences, this set
will therefore be the first chance to experience many of these films as
Japanese audiences did. Silent movie lovers will be especially delighted by
"Danemon's Monster Hunt at Shojoji," a rare opportunity to compare and
appreciate two separate benshi performances for the same title.
Other selections in the set are "record talkies." These anime came to
theaters together with a gramophone record, which provided a separate,
simultaneous audio track with music, voice, and effects. The history of
record talkies in Japan was shortlived, as fully synchronized talking movies
quickly outdated them. These titles will thus be of interest both to those
new to Japanese silent film and to fans who have only experienced silents
with benshi performances.
With or without accompaniment, each of the 55 anime selections in this set
tells a great story in its own right. For anyone with an interest in
animation, movies, or Japanese history, Japanese Anime Classic Collection
should not be missed as an extraordinary contribution to the mostly unheard
story of Japan's silent film heritage.
For further details, please contact in...@digital-meme.com.
Title: Japanese Anime Classic Collection
Product Format: Box set collection of 4 DVDs
Total number of titles: 55
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean
Region code: All regions
Production: Digital Meme, Matsuda Film Productions
Copyright: Digital Meme
Price: US$110.00 (US$40.00 per DVD when sold separately)
Scheduled release date: 30 April 2007
About Digital Meme
Digital Meme turns the power of the digital age to preserving and promoting
the Golden Age of Japanese film. Digital Meme applies 21st century
technology and networks to constructing a universal library of cultural and
artistic legacies from Japan and around the world, and to creating unique
new cultural and entertainment products. Information is available at
www.digital-meme.com
--
Bruce Calvert
--
Visit the Silent Film Still Archive
http://home.comcast.net/~silentfilm/home.htm
Lady Wakasa
Thanks for the heads up! And thanks in general - over time, there are a
lot of things I've found out about through your postings.
Bob Lipton
Bruce is a treasure for this group, isn't he?
But I can't figure out how to order it. WOuld you be kind enough to
tell me how?
Bob
Lady Wakasa
To order: go to the "Coming Soon" page on the Digital Meme website
(http://www.digital-meme.com/comingsoon.html). There's a link to a pdf
order form (see sentence "Please download order form and fax to us at
+81 35467-4722"). Downloading and faxing will result in an email from
Digital Meme confirming that they received the order (and if you can
get to a fax machine hooked up to a network, rather than a phone line,
it will be much less expensive to send).
I'm really, really psyched about this.