Tadanari Okamoto

Directing

Tadanari Okamoto

Born January 11, 1932 · Toyonaka, Japan

Died February 16, 1990 · aged 58

Tadanari Okamoto (岡本 忠成) was a Japanese independent animator. From 1965 until his death he completed at least 37 short subject films in a wide variety of mediums, many of them winning award-winning, his honorific nicknamed "Sheldon Cohen and Hans Fischerkoesen of Japan." Eight of his films have been awarded the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the Mainichi Film Awards (more than any other director in the his…

Known For

The Flower and the MoleThe Flower and the Mole · 1970
The Flower and the Mole
4.51970
MovieAnimation
The Robot Moles is an adorable story about flowers, moles, dumb scientists and a little girl.
Mysterious MedicineMysterious Medicine · 1965
Mysterious Medicine
5.01965
MovieAnimation
Two unfettered robbers try to steal a new, mysterious medicine from a laboratory; they butt heads with a needy crow and the head professor's apprentice.
The Magic BalladThe Magic Ballad · 1982
The Magic Ballad
5.21982
MovieAnimation
The 25 minute film tells the tale of an ailing elderly woman named Itako who encounters a fox named Okon. The story opens with Itako lying bedridden, as she has for a long time. Okon enters her home and Itako tells the fox that he is welcome to take anything that he wants, for she has no use for anything anymore. Okon is delighted and in order to return the favour (the act of ongaeshi), Okon performs a magic jyōruri (a ballad with shamisen accompaniment) that heals Itako so that she is fit enough to walk again. Everyone is surprised by Itako's sudden recovery. She then hears of a hunter who has been badly injured and is near death. Itako hides Okon in the back of her shirt and has the fox sing the song while she plays shamisen in order to heal the man. This act of kindness is repeated for others until Itako's good fortune leads some to be suspicious of her.
Sozai Kara Image no Teichaku MadeSozai Kara Image no Teichaku Made · 2009
Sozai Kara Image no Teichaku Made
2009
MovieDocumentary
Behind the scenes of "Are wa Dare?"
The Tree of CourageThe Tree of Courage · 1972
The Tree of Courage
1972
MovieAnimation
A short animated film by Tadanari Okamoto.
The Restaurant of Many OrdersThe Restaurant of Many Orders · 1991
The Restaurant of Many Orders
6.41991
MovieAnimationFantasy
A short film based on a story by Japanese writer Kenji Miyazawa in which two young British hunters get lost in the woods and discover a strange restaurant. Are the hunters about to discover how it feels to be hunted?
A Donkey Got a Bit SulkyA Donkey Got a Bit Sulky · 1983
A Donkey Got a Bit Sulky
1983
MovieAnimation
In this animated musical short, a traveling donkey becomes upset at minor inconveniences, each of which his chipper young master is only too happy to accommodate.
ビューティフル・ネームビューティフル・ネーム · 1979
ビューティフル・ネーム
1979
MovieAnimation
A special performance for Laforet, the large department store/museum in Harajuku.

Filmography

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The Magic BalladThe Magic Ballad · 1982
The Magic Ballad
5.21982
MovieAnimation
The 25 minute film tells the tale of an ailing elderly woman named Itako who encounters a fox named Okon. The story opens with Itako lying bedridden, as she has for a long time. Okon enters her home and Itako tells the fox that he is welcome to take anything that he wants, for she has no use for anything anymore. Okon is delighted and in order to return the favour (the act of ongaeshi), Okon performs a magic jyōruri (a ballad with shamisen accompaniment) that heals Itako so that she is fit enough to walk again. Everyone is surprised by Itako's sudden recovery. She then hears of a hunter who has been badly injured and is near death. Itako hides Okon in the back of her shirt and has the fox sing the song while she plays shamisen in order to heal the man. This act of kindness is repeated for others until Itako's good fortune leads some to be suspicious of her.

Director