Screen play

An old man becomes emotionally involved with recollections of his youth.

--------------

The Narrator's Text:

THIS STORY IS IMPORTANT

PAY ATTENTION WHILST I SHOW YOU

YOUNG HEARTS IN LOVE

YOUNG HEARTS IN PAIN

THIS IS THE STORY OF TAKAKO AND NAOKI

I HAVE BEGUN AT THE END

NOW IS HAPPINESS

IT WAS NOT ALWAYS SO....

TAKAO WAS CHILD TO EISHIRO

NOBLE OF RANK

IN SPIRIT FULL OF NAILS

TAKAKO TO HIM WAS COIN IN THE COFFER

SUITORS CAME LIKE WASPS TO AN APPLE

POWER. MONEY. AND THE STRONG SWORD ARM.

BUT TAKAKO's HEART WAS A BUD IN WINTER.

NAOKI WORKED IN TAKAKO's GARDEN

SENT HER A KEY TO HIS HEART AND HOME.

WELL, HE COULD DREAM.

TAKAKO's MAID WAS OLD AND UGLY

SHE WATCHED TAKAKO LIKE A BEETLE

THE BOY NAOKI COULD NOT FORGET THE GIRL.

OH IF HIS HEART COULD FLY TO HERS

TAKAKO WAS CLEVER

NOW CRACK OF THUNDER WOULD NOT WAKE THE MAID

TAKAKO RAN

LOVE MET LOVE, DELICIOUS AND DANGEROUS

FOR TAKAKO IS SOON TO MARRY

SAMURAI WARRIOR, RICH WITH PLUNDER

EISHIRO HAS AN IRON HEART

TAKAKO DREAMS OF THE TIME THAT MAY COME.....

.....SO TAKAKO LIVES FOR THE MOMENT ONLY

BUT TAKAKO's SECRET WAS SECRET NO LONGER

EISHIRO BANISHED NAOKI

EXECUTION AWAITED HIS RETURN

COMES THE DAY OF TAKAKO's WEDDING

THRUST BEFORE THE SAMURAI SHE MUST MARRY

NAOKI TOOK TAKAKO, QUICK AS RAIN

THE VENGEFUL SAMURAI CHEATED OF HIS BRIDE

THE ISLAND HID THEM FROM ALL EYES

YEAR CREAPT ON YEAR

IN THE QUIET OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER

IN THEIR HOUSE AMONG THEIR FLOWERS

TAKAKO AND NAOKI

IT HAD A HAPPY ENDING AFTER ALL

SO LIFT YOUR HANDS

AND THANK THESE LOVERS FOR THEIR STORY

IT IS AN OLD ONE,

AS OLD, ALMOST, AS I AM.
-------------------------------

The story about Takako and Naoki seems to be inspired and/or taken from an ancient/medieval chinese tale: The Legend Of Blue Willow. Follow this link for more informations:

http://www.seniors2.com/cookbook/bluewillow.htm

As you may have noticed, near the end of the movie (at 10:14) you can see a blue willow, what is a reference to the aforementioned tale.

The link above tells a story very similar to that one of Takako and Naoki.
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Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Screen
• Play
• Screenplay
• Purves
• Animation
• Japanese
• Theater
• Kabuki
• Romance
• Romeo
• Juliet
• Shakespeare

[nosophorus]

Hi!

I think the sound problem has been solved. At least when I play it, the sound comes perfectly and well synchronized.

Are you folks also watching it with sound? I hope it may not be audible just to me.

Please, if the sound is still off, report it in the comments.

Thank You!

[nosophorus]

Hi!

Soon, I shall upload that video again.

Until the end of this coming week.

Regards.

[CowsAndCrows]

sad you dont like it.. but everyones entitled to their opinions :) I did puppet animation when Barry Was teaching us, (the guy who did this) its SO hard to get timing right and this peice actually shows impecable timing :).

it wasnt meant to be kabuki style.. just a story.

[Kabukiwk]

It's too beautifull... I aways loved this animation. This bring back memorios of the good old day of locomotion Chanel!

Thanks for the post

[Chepita]

this is so beautifull!!!!! I really miss Locomotion :( and hate Animax :S

[ruzickaw]

The story is unimportant, boring as most of the japanese love stories. The scene changes are too fast. No dialogues. But the setting is great.

[Ayskelx3]

Tengo los sub en español para quien este interesado. Saludos ^^

[martin4u2]

Thank you very much for uploading this. This a very beautiful little masterpiece

Do you happen to have any more information about the people who made it?

Is there any way to get this , amazon,ebay?

Thanks again

[bakelitetim]

I remember watching this as a very small child, on a betamax recording made by my late grandfather.

[greenpapyr]

yes, this is perfect...the most unique and satisfying animated shorts I've seen.

[Peultje]

love it!

[msm2you]

I agree - but I don't think this is the original version that I saw in 1992. There are bits that seem to have been added and removed.

[iaracutlong]

the best short animation i ever seen

[dafadowndilly]

Great animation. Had the privilege of meeting Barry in a seminar whilst studying animation at Uni. Lovely, generous man.