DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Two Worlds remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you are a fan of old-school animation or just want to see what Japan was doing before the big studios took over, Two Worlds is worth a look. It’s only about ten minutes long, so it won't kill your afternoon.
But if you hate being lectured by a cartoon from nearly a century ago, you might want to skip it. It’s very preachy in that way old fables usually are. 🐜
The whole thing is based on the Aesop story. You know the one—the grasshopper plays his fiddle while the ants do all the heavy lifting.
I actually felt kind of bad for the grasshopper here. He looks so genuinely happy just playing his little song in the grass.
The animation style is what they call cutout animation. It’s basically flat pieces of paper being moved around, but it’s surprisingly smooth for 1929.
There is this one shot where the grasshopper is leaning back, totally lost in his music. You can almost hear the tune even though the movie is silent.
Then you see the ants. They look like a tiny, buggy military unit. 🪖
They don't look like they are having any fun at all. It’s a bit depressing if you think about it too much.
The way the background shifts when the seasons change is actually pretty cool. The white paper they used for the snow feels heavy and cold.
It reminded me a bit of the physical sets you see in The Doll, even though that’s a totally different kind of movie. There is just something about that early cinema texture.
I noticed the grasshopper’s legs are incredibly spindly. It’s a miracle the animator, Yasuji Murata, didn't tear the paper while moving them.
He was a real master of this specific craft. You can tell he cared about the weight of the objects, even if they were just scraps of paper.
The movie gets pretty dark once the winter actually sets in. The grasshopper isn't just cold; he looks like he’s actually fading away.
It’s not exactly a barrel of laughs like The Strong Man. It’s much more of a 'do your homework or else' kind of vibe.
I kept thinking about how kids back then must have felt watching this. It’s basically a horror movie for lazy people.
It’s good in a way that an antique is good. You appreciate the work that went into it more than the actual story.
The "moral" is shoved down your throat so hard it’s almost funny. 🎻
There is no middle ground here. You are either a productive member of the colony or you are a frozen musician in the field.
I think the movement of the grasshopper’s bow is the best part. It has a rhythm that feels human, which is hard to do with cutouts.
If you've seen something like Pop Tuttle's Tac Tics, you know how weird these old shorts can get. This one stays pretty grounded, though.
It’s much more straightforward than The Dreamer, which has a lot more going on beneath the surface.
One weird detail: the ants’ house looks way more comfortable than it has any right to be. It’s like a little bug bunker.
I caught myself wondering where they got the lumber for their tiny furniture. Then I remembered it’s a cartoon about talking insects and I should probably shut up. 🤐
The ending is abrupt. It doesn't give you a hug or a warm feeling.
It just says, "See? He’s dead now because he didn't carry grain." The end.
I respect the honesty, I guess. No sugar-coating for the 1920s kids.
If you have an interest in the history of Japanese art, this is a must-watch piece of the puzzle. Otherwise, it’s just a very pretty, very mean little story.
I'm glad I watched it, but I think I’ll go do some work now. Just in case there are any ants watching me.
IMDb 5.4
1925
Community
Log in to comment.
