Many people like to joke that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made Japan the way it is today. I disagree, I think it was always like that. My evidence is this film. It’s about the attack on Pearl Harbor if the Japanese were cute cartoon monkeys. The idea is simple: get kids excited about kamikaze. Cue 30 minutes of heroism and patriotism. It was meant for small children who had no access to the internet. For them, it may have been exciting. For me, the film could have been 15 minutes shorter and been a more entertainingexperience. I understand that planes need to take off before they start wars they’re not going to win but these things can be cut from the film.

Underneath all that ism is a surprisingly anti-war film. There are some shots which linger on the destruction caused by the Imperial Navy which clearly weren’t placed there as celebration. Considering this and the director’s past actions and political leanings, it’s a wonder 1943 Japan approved of this at all.

It’s a propaganda film for a conflict whose 100th birthday will happen in my lifetime, so it’s difficult for me to care. It’s interesting to see a piece of animation history, it’s amusing to watch cartoon bunnies fighting for their country, but neither of these can prevent me from calling the film a bore.