List of anime by release date (pre-1939)


This is a list of anime by release date which covers Japanese animated productions that were made between 1917–1938. Anime in Japan can be traced back to three key figures whom in the early 20th century started experimenting with paper animation. It is unknown when the first animated film was made, but historians have tied the year 1917 as being the key date. Very few of the first animations that were made survive to this day due to the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. At one point it was even thought that all animated works made before the earthquake were lost until the discovery of two films in 2008. Production of animated works resumed again after the earthquake, and by the early/mid 1930s sound, and cel animation were starting to appear. Later in the decade, Japan went to war with China, resulting in paper needed for the war to be used sparingly. As a result, new manga stories disappeared from the public while the Japanese government stepped in to regulate what was being released through the cinemas to take its place. The mid to late 1930s saw more animated works that were propaganda-themed to rally the public's support.

1917–1922

Japanese animation can be traced back to 1917 as a year of definitive firsts. The three key figures at the time were Ōten Shimokawa, Seitarou Kitayama, and Junichi Kouchi each contributing to making the first short films that would be known as anime. While each one of these people are respected in their own right, the status of "first animated film" remains in dispute as there is conflicting information regarding film premiere dates. According to contemporary sources of the time, an unknown titled film of Tennenshoku Katsudō Shashin premiered in January. Evidence of this comes from Kinema Record, with the July edition making specific claim to the first release occurring in January, but does not specify the title of the work. Shimokawa's film Imokawa Mukozo the Doorman is conventionally and largely claimed to be the first work, but contemporary sources portray it as the "third" film. Speculation about the error is debated, but the two now lost films and their contents have been reported by various sources allowing for a clearer picture of the early history.
The first confirmed film release occurred in the first ten days of February, with Shimokawa's Dekobō shingachō – Meian no shippai. The film was produced with chalk on a blackboard, with redrawing for each frame. Shimokawa would switch to paper for later, but the exact date and work to depict the switch is unknown. Kouchi's first film Hanawa Hekonai Meitō no Maki also known as Namakura Gatana and Tameshigiri premiered on June 30. This film is currently the earliest surviving work, and was only rediscovered in March 2008. Katsudō Shashin was widely reported as possibly dating to 1907, but is of unconfirmed origin and is not known to have premiered or been produced for commercial interest.
Of the animated films produced in 1918, at least eight are known. These films include Momotarō, which was the first animated film to be shown outside Japan, and Tarou Urashima which is based on the Japanese legend Urashima Tarō. There are no known animated films that were made from 1919 to 1923 in existence, which could be the result of the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake.
English NameJapanese NameRomajiFormatOriginal Release DateStatus
Battle of a Monkey and a Crab猿蟹合戦Sarukani gassenShort Film1917Lost film
Bumpy new picture book – Failure of a great plan凸坊新画帳・名案の失敗Dekobō shingachō – Meian no shippaiShort Film1917Lost film
Bunbuku kettle
文福茶釜
Bunbuku chagama
Otogibanashi-Bunbuku chagama		Short Film1917Lost film
Cat and Mice猫と鼠Neko to nezumiShort Film1917Unknown
Chamebō ‒ Air gun
茶目坊空気銃の巻
茶目の空気銃		Chamebō Kūkijū no maki
"Chame no kūkijū"		Short Film1917Unknown
Chamebō's new picture book – The Revenge of Mr. and Mrs. Flea茶目坊新画帳・蚤夫婦仕返しの巻Chamebō shingachō – Nomi fūfu shikaeshi no makiShort Film1917Unknown
Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow塵も積もれば山となるChiri mo tsumoreba yama to naruShort Film1917Unknown
Hanawa Hekonai – The Famous Sword
塙凹内名刀之巻
なまくら刀 or 試し斬		Hanawa Hekonai Meitō no Maki
"Namakura Gatana" or "Tameshigiri"		Short Film1917Extant
Hanawa Hekonai – The Kappa Festival塙凹内かっぱまつりHanawa Hekonai Kappa matsuriShort Film1917Unknown
Imokawa Mukuzō goes fishing
芋川椋三釣の巻
茶目坊主魚釣の巻		Imokawa Mukuzō Tsuri no maki
"Chamebōzu Uozuri no maki"		Short Film1917Unknown
Imokawa Mukuzō – Somersault芋川椋三宙返りの巻Imokawa Mukuzō - Chūgaeri no makiShort Film1917Unknown
Imokawa Mukuzō – The Janitor
芋川椋三玄関番の巻 or
芋川椋三玄関番之巻		Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no MakiShort Film1917Lost film
Kachikachi Mountainカチカチ山KachikachiyamaShort Film1917Lost film
Naughty MailboxいたずらポストItazura posutoShort Film1917Unknown
Sparrow with no Tongue舌切雀Shitakire suzumeShort Film1917Lost film
The Dream Car夢の自動車Yume no jidōshaShort Film1917Unknown
The Ministry of Culture's Art Exhibition文展の巻Bunten no makiShort Film1917Unconfirmed to exist
The Old Man Who Made Flowers Bloom花咲爺Hanasaka-jijiShort Film1917Lost film
The Pot and the Black Catお鍋と黒猫の巻Onabe to kuroneko no makiShort Film1917Unconfirmed to exist
What to do with your Postal Savings貯金の勧Chokin no susumeShort Film1917Lost film
Issun-bōshi
一寸法師Issun-bōshiShort Film1918Unknown
Kintarō金太郎KintarouShort Film1918Unknown
Momotarō 桃太郎MomotarouShort Film1918Extant
Snowman雪達磨YukidarumaShort Film1918Unknown
Taro the Guard, The SubmarineTaro no Banpei, Senkotei no MakiShort Film1918Fragmented
The Ant and the Pigeon蟻と鳩Ari to HatoShort Film1918Unknown
The Frog's Dream蛙の夢Kaeru no YumeShort Film1918Unknown
Tarou Urashima浦島太郎Urashima TarouShort Film1918Extant

1923 earthquake

The Great Kantō earthquake which occurred on September 1, 1923 dealt incredible damage in Japan with 105,385 confirmed deaths. The damage from this natural disaster was the greatest sustained prior to World War II. Prior to the rediscovery of several Japanese animated films it was presumed that all prints produced up to its date had been destroyed. The account and record of these films themselves has been expanded, with Patten's Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews 2004 book claiming that three films were produced in 1917 when over a dozen works are now known. Despite the findings, the earthquake along with World War II have resulted in only 4% of all Japanese films made before 1945 being known to exist today.

1924–1938

After the earthquake production of new films took place within a year. For the early films, benshi, storytellers were hired who sat next to the screen and narrated the silent movies. They were descendants of kabuki jōruri, kōdan storytellers, theater barkers and other forms of oral storytelling. The first animated "talkie" or sound film titled Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka was made in 1933, now a lost film it was a breakthrough for Japanese animation. However, at the time more than 80 percent of movies made in the country were still silents. By the mid 1930s the animation style was changing as well, chiyogami or paper animation was being phased out in favor of cel animation. Previously this latter form had been dismissed as too costly to use. In 1934, the first entirely cel animated short entitled The Dance of the Chagamas was made. Cel animated shorts of the mid 1930s borrowed aspects that were being used at the time by Disney. Towards the end of the decade, political events taking place at home as well as abroad were changing animation styles in Japan towards propaganda, and national pride.
English NameJapanese NameRomajiFormatOriginal Release DateStatus
Crab Temple蟹満寺縁起KanimanjiengiShort Film1924Extant
Genzo Performs a Ceremony with a Parting Cup赤垣源蔵徳利の別れAkagaki Genzo tokkuri no wakareShort Film1924Unknown
Jewels Whisper宝珠のささやきHōshu no SasayakiShort Film1924Unknown
Stand Up with Shinpei Goto人気の焦点に立てる後藤新平Ninki no shōten ni tateru Gotō ShinpeiShort Film1924Unknown
The Hare and The Tortoise兎と亀Usagi to KameShort Film1924Extant
Budget Politics予算政治Yosan seijiShort Film1925Unknown
Dreamy Urashimaノンキナトウサン竜宮参りNonkinatousan Ryugu MairiShort Film1925Lost film
Same Voters醒めよ有権者Sameyo yūkenshaShort Film1925Unknown
Shiobara Tasuke塩原多助Shiobara TasukeShort Film1925Extant
The PotポットPottoShort Film1925Extant
Ubasuteyama姨捨山UbasuteyamaShort Film1925Extant
A Story of Tobacco煙り草物語Kemurigusa MonogatariShort Film1926Extant
Burglars of "Baghdad" Castle馬具田城の盗賊Bagudajo no tozokuShort Film1926Extant
Diseases Spread病毒の伝播Byodoku no denpaShort Film1926Extant
Ethicization of Politics by Shinpei Goto, 1926政治の倫理化 後藤新平 1926Eigaenzetsu Seiji no rinrika Gotō Shinpei 1926Short Film1926Extant
Journey to the West: Songoku's Story西遊記孫悟空物語Saiyuuki: Son Gokuu MonogatariShort Film1926Extant
A Ship of Orangesみかん船Mikan-buneShort Film1927Extant
Kita Hell Paradise弥次喜多 地獄極楽Yaji-Kita jigoku gokurakuShort Film1927Unknown
Power of Co-operation協同の力Kyōdō no chikaraShort Film1927Unknown
Battle of a Monkey and a Crab猿蟹合戦Sarukani gassenShort Film1927Extant
The Octopus SkeletonタコなしホーンTako no HoneShort Film1927Extant
The WhaleくじらKujiraShort Film1927Unknown
Animal Olympic Games動物オリムピック大会Doubutsu Olympic TaikaiShort Film1928Extant
For the Sake of Your Country御国の為にOkuninotameniShort Film1928Extant
Mighty Taro's Reckless Training大力太郎の無茶修行Tairiki Tarou no Mucha ShugyouShort Film1928Extant
Momotaro the Undefeated日本一桃太郎Nihonichi MomotaroShort Film1928Extant
The Bunbuku Teapot文福茶釜Bunbuku ChagamaShort Film1928Extant
Star星HoshiShort Film1928Lost film
The Eraeraera of the Proposed History Agreement普選漫史協定案の巻Fusen man shi kyōtei an no makiShort Film1928Unknown
The Nation of Fish魚の國Sakana no kuniShort Film1928Extant
The Old Man Who Made Flowers Bloom花咲爺Hanasaka-jijiShort Film1928Extant
The Special Congress of Eraeraera普選漫史特別議会Fusen man shi tokubetsu gikaiShort Film1928Unknown
Liar's Castleうそつき城Usotsuki-jōShort Film1929Unknown
Taro's Toy Train太郎さんの汽車Taro-san no KishaShort Film1929Extant
The Black Cat黒ニャゴKuro NyagoShort Film1929Extant
The Golden Flowerこがねの花Kogane no hanaShort Film1929Extant
The Stolen Lump瘤取りKobutoriShort Film1929Extant
The Tiny One Makes it Big一寸法師ノ出世Issunboushi no ShusseShort Film1929Extant
Two Worlds二つの世界Futatsu no sekaiShort Film1929Extant
At the Border Checkpointお関所OsekishoShort Film1930Extant
Chimney Sweep Pero煙突屋ペローEntotsuya PerooShort Film1930Extant
Chopped Snakeちょん切れ蛇Chongire HebiShort Film1930Extant
My Ski Tripおい等のスキーOira no sukiShort Film1930Extant
Nonsense Story, Vol.1: Monkey Island難船ス物語 第壱篇 猿ヶ嶋Nansensu Monogatari Daiippen SarugashimaShort Film1930Extant
The BatかうもりKomoriShort Film1930Extant
The Donkey驢馬RobaShort Film1930Extant
The Monkey Masamune猿正宗Saru MasamuneShort Film1930Extant
The Village Festival村祭りMura MatsuriShort Film1930Extant
A Fox and a Badger in Rivalry動絵狐狸達引Ugoki-e Kori no TatehikiShort Film1931Extant
Animal Sumo動物相撲大会Doubutsu Sumo TaikaiShort Film1931Extant
At the Circus見世物見物Misemono kenbutsuShort Film1931Extant
A Wolf is a Wolf狼は狼だOkami wa okamidaShort Film1931Extant
Bakahachi to jōshu-sama馬鹿八と城主様Bakahachi to jōshu-samaShort Film1931Unknown
Chameko's Day茶目子の一日Chameko no IchinichiShort Film1931Extant
Electrical Telegraphy, Electric Bells and Telephones電信 電鈴 電話Denshin Denrei DenwaShort Film1931Extant
Home Alone Mice鼠の留守番Nezumi no RusubanShort Film1931Extant
Momotaro's Sky Adventure空の桃太郎Sora no MomotarouShort Film1931Extant
Old Man Goichi五一ぢいさんGo ichi dji isanShort Film1931Extant
Our Baseball Matchおい等の野球Oira no YakyuuShort Film1931Extant
Shipwreck Story - First Chapter - Monkey Island難船ス物語 第一篇 猿ケ島Nansensu Monogatari - Daiichi-hen - SarugashimaShort Film1931Extant
Shipwreck Story - Second Chapter - The Pirate Ship難船ス物語 第二篇 海賊船Nansensu Monogatari - Daini-hen - KaizokusenShort Film1931Extant
Slave War奴隷戦争Dorei sensoShort Film1931Unknown
Song of Spring春の唄Haru no UtaShort Film1931Extant
Spring Reviewレビュー 春Rebyu HaruShort Film1931Extant
Tanukichi's Storyタヌ吉のお話Tanukichi no OhanashiShort Film1931Unknown
Taro Urashima浦島太郎Urashima TaroShort Film1931Extant
The Candy Man's Raccoon Dog DanceあめやたぬきAmeyatanukiShort Film1931Extant
The Duckling Saves the Dayアヒルのお手柄Ahiru no OtegaraShort Film1931Extant
The National Anthem Kimigayo国歌 君か代Kokka KimigayoShort Film1931Extant
The Unlucky Butterfly蝶のさいなんCho no SainanShort Film1931Extant
Three Little Bears三匹の小熊さんSanbiki no Koguma-sanShort Film1931Extant
Will Power心の力Kokoro no chikaraShort Film1931Extant
Armies of the Worldの列国陸軍Rekkoku RikugunShort Film1932Extant
Detective Felix in TroubleFELIXノ迷探偵Felix no meitanteiShort Film1932Extant
Momotarou of the Sea / Momotaro's Underwater Adventure海の桃太郎Umi no MomotaroShort Film1932Extant
Olympic Games on Dankichi Islandダン吉島のオリムピック大会Dankichi-jima no Olympic TaikaiShort Film1932Extant
Rhythmic Triangles/Fighting Cards三角のリズム トランプの爭Hatena, Sankaku no rizumu, Toranpu no arasoiShort Film1932Extant
Sports Day at Animal Village動物村のスポーツデーDoubutsu-mura no Sports DayShort Film1932Extant
The Bear Brothersまぐこ弟兄Ma guko otōto aniShort Film1932Extant
The Cat Purr DanceニヤゴダンスNyago dansuShort Film1932Extant
The Development of the Train汽車の發達Kisya no hattatsuShort Film1932Extant
The Plane Cabby's Lucky Day大当り空の円タクOoatari Sora No EntakuShort Film1932Extant
The Ugly Ducklingあひるの子Ahiru no koShort Film1932Extant
Tonpei and Sarukichi豚平と猿吉Tonpei to SarukichiShort Film1932Extant
A Day after a Hundred Years百年後の或る日Hyakunengo no aruhiShort Film1933Extant
General of the Swamp沼の大将Numa no TaishouShort Film1933Extant
Larks' Moving Day雲雀の宿替Hibari no YadogaeShort Film1933Extant
Preventing Tuberculosis結核豫防KekkakuyoboShort Film1933Extant
Private 2nd Class Norakuro: The Trainingのらくろ二等兵 演習の巻Norakuro Nitouhei: Enshuu no MakiShort Film1933Extant
Private 2nd Class Norakuro: The Drillのらくろ二等兵 教練の巻Norakuro Nitouhei: Kyouren no MakiShort Film1933Extant
Rascal Racoon紙芝居 いたづら狸の卷Kamishibai Itazuratanuki no makiShort Film1933Extant
Sanko and the Octopus: A Fight Over a Fortune三公と蛸～百万両珍騒動Sanko to Tako: Hyakuman-ryo ChinsodoShort Film1933Extant
The Monkey's Big Catchお猿の大漁Osaru no TairyouShort Film1933Extant
The Three Fearless Frogs蛙三勇士Kaeru sanyushiShort Film1933Extant
World of Power and Women力と女の世の中Chikara to Onna no Yo no NakaShort Film1933Lost film
Yoshichiro Salutesまんが劇 與七郎の敬禮Mangageki Yoshichiro no keireiShort Film1933Extant
Corporal Norakuroのらくろ伍長Norakuro GochouShort Film1934Extant
Kamishibai Kintaro紙芝居 金太郎の卷Kamishibai Kintaro no makiShort Film1934Extant
Hyoei and Heibei's Tengu Hunt天狗退治Tengu TaijiShort Film1934Extant
Princess of the Moon Palace月の宮の王女様Tsuki no Miya no Oujo-samaShort Film1934Extant
Sankichi the Monkey: Shock Troopsお猿の三吉 突撃隊Osaru no Sankichi: Totsugeki Tai no KanShort Film1934Extant
Sankichi and Osayo A Genroku Romance元禄恋模様 三吉とおさよGenrokukoimoyo Sankichi to OsayoShort Film1934Extant
Spring Comes to Ponsukeポン助の春Ponsuke no haruShort Film1934Extant
The Dance of the Chagamas/The Teakettle Marching Song茶釜音頭Chagama OndoShort Film1934Extant
The Gang and Dancerギャングと踊り子Gyangu to OdorikoShort Film1934Unknown
Toy Box Series Episode 3: Picture Book 1936オモチャ箱シリーズ第3話 絵本1936年Omocha-Bako Series, Dai-3-Wa: Ehon 1936-nenShort Film1934Extant
An ExpressionAN EXPRESSIONAn Expression, HyogenShort Film1935Extant
Cowardly Samurai Squad弱虫珍選組Yowamushi ChinsengumiShort Film1935Extant
Danemon Ban - The Monster Exterminator證城寺の狸囃子 塙団右衛門Ban Danemon - Shojoji no tanuki-bayashiShort Film1935Extant
Ninja Fireball in Edo忍術火の玉小僧～江戸の巻Ninjutsu Hinotama Kozou: Edo no MakiShort Film1935Extant
Private 1st Class NoraKuroのらくろ一等兵Norakuro IttoheiShort Film1935Extant
Private 2nd Class NoraKuroのらくろ二等兵Norakuro NitouheiShort Film1935Extant
PropagatePROPAGATEPropagate, KaikaShort Film1935Extant
RhythmRHYTHMRhythm, RizumuShort Film1935Extant
Ta-chan's Underwater Adventureターチャンの海底旅行Tāchan no kaitei ryokoShort Film1935Extant
Taro's Monster Hunt古寺のおばけ騒動Furudera no Obake-soudouShort Film1935Extant
The Hare in Inabaいなばの国の兎さんInabanokuni no usagisanShort Film1935Extant
Tiny Chibisuke's Big Adventure一寸法師〜ちび助物語Issunboushi: Chibisuke MonogatariShort Film1935Extant
Why is the Sea Water Salty?海の水はなぜからいUmi no Mizu Hanaze KaraiShort Film1935Extant
A Night at the Bar居酒屋の一夜Izakaya no IchiyaShort Film1936Extant
Chinkoroheibei and the Treasure Boxちんころ平平玉手箱Chinkoroheibei to tamatebakoShort Film1936Extant
Mabo's Big Raceマー坊の大競争Mabo no DaikyosoShort Film1936Extant
Mabo's Tokyo Olympicsマー坊の東京オリンピック大会Mabo no Tokyo Olympic TaikaiShort Film1936Unknown
Mt. Kachikachi新説カチカチ山Shinsetsu Kachi Kachi YamaShort Film1936Extant
My Big Emergencyおいらの非常時Oirano hijojiShort Film1936Extant
Saturn土星DoseiShort Film1936Unknown
Taro's Early Training Days日の丸太郎～武者修行の巻Hinomaru Tarou: Musha Shugyou no MakiShort Film1936Extant
Taro's Training Days日の丸太郎 武者修行Hinomaru Tarou: ShashiShort Film1936Unknown
The Monkey Fleetお猿の艦隊Osaru no KantaiShort Film1936Extant
The Sparrows' Lodge雀のお宿Suzume no OyadoShort Film1936Extant
The Sun and the Frogsお日様と蛙Ohi-sama to KaeruShort Film1936Extant
Mabo's Boy Aviation Squadronマー坊の少年航空兵Mabo no Shonen KokutaiShort Film1937Extant
The Making of a Color Animation色彩漫画の出來る迄Shikisaimanga no dekirumadeShort Film1937Extant
The Missing Dumplingだんごの行方Dango no yukueShort Film1937Unknown
Eagles鷲ArawashiShort Film1938Unknown
Mabo as Tokichiro Kinoshitaマー坊の木下藤吉郎Mabo no Kinoshita ToukichiroShort Film1938Extant
NoraKuro's Tiger Huntのらくろ虎退治Norakuro tora taijiShort Film1938Extant
Sky Eagles空の荒鷲Sora no arawashiShort Film1938Unknown
Taro Overseas海國太郎　新日本島萬歳Kaikoku Taro Shin Nihon-jima BanzaiShort Film1938Extant
Tekusuke Monogatariテク助物語Tekusuke MonogatariShort Film1938Extant
The Aerial Battle over Shanghai-Sora no Shanghai SensenShort Film1938Unknown