Oni (1972) 

*** 1/2 (out of 4) 

Also known as THE DEMON, this was the first film I had watched from Japanese director Kihachiro Kawamoto. The tale is pretty simple as a couple brothers leave their elderly and ill mother at home while they go into the woods to try and catch some deer. While there the youngest brother is grabbed by a demon and the older brother is able to free him by shooting off the demon's arm. The boys take the arm home with tragic results. ONI is quite simply a rather amazing movie to watch because of how much atmosphere and dread it contains. I've seen quite a few puppet films in my time but there was just something really special and original about this one. After the film was over I learned that the story is based on a 12th century tale known as "Konjaku Monogatari" and needless to say, this here is a lot darker than the rather cute tales America gets about what happens to the elderly. I won't spoil exactly what happens but it was rather morbid to say the least. The animation was certainly terrific and I really loved the various backgrounds used.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

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Stop motion animation is a technique in which physical objects or puppets are manipulated and photographed one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement when played back at a regular speed. This process involves posing and photographing the objects, then moving them slightly and capturing another frame, and so on. When these frames are played in sequence, they create the illusion of fluid motion.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Two brothers who live with their sick mother go deer hunting, but encounter a demon.

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The Demon

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