Taihei Imamura
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese film critic and film theorist. Born in Saitama Prefecture
, he attended the Kobe University of Commerce (the precursor to Kobe University
) but left before graduating. In 1935 he helped found the film dojinshi
Eiga shūdan (Film Collective). Writing from a left-wing perspective, he was a strong advocate of the realistic aspects of cinema and thus a champion of documentary film
. He was also the first in Japan to pursue an extensive study of animated film. After World War II
, he became the publisher of the journals Eiga bunka (Film Culture) and Eizō bunka (Image Culture). In his later years, he penned a study of the novelist Naoya Shiga. He published over 27 books during his career.
Anime
directors such as Isao Takahata
have expressed their debt to Imamura and Studio Ghibli
has republished his book on animation, Manga eigaron.
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, he attended the Kobe University of Commerce (the precursor to Kobe University
Kobe University
Shindai is one of the leading universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university is ranked 10th in 2010 in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai...
) but left before graduating. In 1935 he helped found the film dojinshi
Dojinshi
is the Japanese term for self-published works, usually magazines, manga or novels. Dōjinshi are often the work of amateurs, though some professional artists participate as a way to publish material outside the regular industry. The term dōjinshi is derived from and . Dōjinshi are part of a wider...
Eiga shūdan (Film Collective). Writing from a left-wing perspective, he was a strong advocate of the realistic aspects of cinema and thus a champion of documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. He was also the first in Japan to pursue an extensive study of animated film. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he became the publisher of the journals Eiga bunka (Film Culture) and Eizō bunka (Image Culture). In his later years, he penned a study of the novelist Naoya Shiga. He published over 27 books during his career.
Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
directors such as Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
is a Japanese anime filmmaker that have earned critical international acclaim for his work as a director. Takahata is co-founder of Studio Ghibli with long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki. He has directed films such as the war-themed Grave of the Fireflies, the romantic-drama Only...
have expressed their debt to Imamura and Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
has republished his book on animation, Manga eigaron.