An animated film based on one of the renku (collaborative linked poems) in the 1684 collection of the same name by the 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō. The creation of the film followed the traditional collaborative nature of the source material – the visuals for each of the 36 stanzas were independently created by 35 different animators. As well as many Japanese animators, Kawamoto assembled leading names in animation from across the world. Each animator was asked to contribute at least 30 seconds to illustrate their stanza, and most of the sequences are under a minute (Yuriy Norshteyn's, though, is nearly two minutes long).
Direction
Kawamoto orchestrated global talent like a visual symphony.
Practical Effects
Pinscreen, sand, paint on glass — every technique imaginable.
Cinematography
Norshteyn's nearly two-minute stanza is pure visual poetry.
Director
Shinichi Suzuki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Isao Takahata and Koji Yamamura both contributed — this may be the only film featuring Ghibli royalty alongside underground experimentalists.
The renku form demands each stanza both stand alone and link to neighbors; the film's visual whiplash is actually traditional.
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