Checking out Noburō Ōfuji’s short, The National Anthem

Is it worth your time?

Honestly? Only if you are a total fanatic for animation history. If you’re looking for a plot, or even a cohesive story, skip it. You will probably find this incredibly boring if you want anything beyond a simple, static exercise in visuals.

I sat down with The National Anthem expecting maybe some of the charm I’ve seen in other works by Noburō Ōfuji. Instead, I got something that feels like a school project from a hundred years ago. It’s very, very short, which is its best feature.

The experience

The whole thing just sort of floats by. It doesn't try to grab you or make you feel anything deep. It’s just there. It’s a bit like watching The Story of the Monkey King if you stripped away all the fun and left just the technical skeleton.

There’s a weird rigidity to the movement. It reminded me of the stiff, formal pacing in Riley the Cop, though they are obviously totally different animals. You can tell the creator was trying to handle something heavy and serious, but it just comes off as a bit stiff.

Random thoughts

• The lines are shaky in a way that feels more like an accident than a style choice.
• I kept waiting for something to happen in the background, but the background just stayed... blank.
• It really makes you appreciate how far animation has come since.
• I’d rather watch Cissy's Saucy Stockings just for the sheer personality of the thing.

It’s not a bad piece of work, just a very dry one. It feels like a historical footnote. 🎞️ Maybe don't go out of your way to find this unless you're writing a thesis or something. It’s just one of those things you watch once to say you did, and then move on with your life.