Kitsune to Circus

Kitsune to Circus, localized as Big Top Crime in the west, is essentially the Japanese equivalent of a Looney Tune. Obviously it’s not nearly as smooth or high quality as a Looney Tune, but it’s not bad for something released 70 years ago in a country that had been the receiving end of two atomic bombings three years prior. The premise is simple; fox steals diamond, fox disguises diamond as rock, diamond gets mistaken for rock and picked up, fox has to resteal diamond, shenanigans ensue.

Visually, you always know what’s happening. Despite this, a narrator was deemed necessary to bookend the film. Normally I’m not adverse to a narrator, but this one just felt insulting. Granted I am a 25 year old man and this is intended for children, but children are still smart enough to understand this sort of thing without being beat over the head with it. My other issue is that some of it drags. Some sequences feel like they were stretched out for no apparent reason and get real boring real quick. At least three minutes could be cut with nothing being lost.

Even if it’s a bit rough around the edges, Kitsune to Circus is a neat watch. It serves as a decent introduction to the pre-60s world of anime. A simpler cartoon for a simpler time.

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Rate of 6
English dubbed
*note: don't be fooled by my rating i did factor accordingly with plot and art but i also factor age (1940 era production)*

Story
Could have used a more in depth introduction that answers the how and why. Remains constant. Doesn't drag in wait time. Wraps up nicely (hahaha, inside joke)

Art
Doesn't surprise me that it was rough considering the age. By rough it had what looked like drawn audience. Where the bottom of the screen was black in color and slightly torn. Yes, the animation was a little choppy and somewhat shaky but hard to say animation was perfect back then. Was not a color production(black and white). Worked well with comical aspect and plot.

Sound
no surprise it was a little off in crisp sound. Some sound effect used were wrong clearly. Not a good mix for the item or action it was supposed to be representing.

Character
Depends. Was the director planning to keep this a one time bit? If so it makes sense. It was one of those situations where just enough information was made clear but not enough for you to like any particular character.

Enjoyment
an old classic to enjoy. A reminder of back then.

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