MURAMASA
STORY
Hyakkimaru a paper cutout artist is a die-hard fan of Tezuka Osamu. He declined all other offers to take part in this short animation project. The story is about a haunted sword called "muramasa," which was found stuck in a wara-ningyo (straw figure). The Samurai who obtained it cut at wara-ningyo every time he found any in order to test the sharpness of the sword. But whenever he cuts, the figures immediately turn into humans. The story symbolizes a warning to protect the current state of peace that rests solely on nuclear deterrence.
CREDIT
(c) Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd.
Shown at the 2nd Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival / 8 minutes 44 seconds / Partly in color
Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. / August 21, 1987
STAFF
Original Story, Story line, and Direction: Tezuka Osamu
Character Design: Hyakkimaru
Layout: Moto Noriyuki, Hasegawa Shoji
Music: Tousha Roetsu, Tousha Yuho
Art: Ishizu Setsuko, Miyamoto Seiji
Background: Saito Masami, Takato Kazushige
Animation: Kobayashi Junji
Finishing: Fujita Rika
Producer: Shimizu Yoshihiro
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