Three Tales (1960)

A 1960 Japanese animated short film by Makoto Wada, weaving three fantastical stories into a compact anthology.

Three Tales - Movie Information

  • Original Title: 新しい動画 3つのはなし
  • Release Year: 1960
  • Directed by: Makoto Wada
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Fantasy, Animation
  • Runtime: 30m
  • Original Language: Japanese
  • Spoken Languages: Japanese
  • Production Countries: Japan
  • Alternative Titles: 3-tsu no Hanashi Atarashii Douga (JP)

Three Tales - Plot

The three tales were "The Third Blood" (第三の皿), "Oppel and the Elephant" (オッペルと象), and "Sleepy Town" (眠い町).

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Three Tales - FAQs

What is Three Tales (1960) about?

Three Tales is a 1960 Japanese animated short film that brings together three distinct stories: "The Third Blood," "Oppel and the Elephant," and "Sleepy Town." Each segment offers its own imaginative world, blending fantasy and animation in a compact, anthology-style format characteristic of early Japanese animation.

Who directed Three Tales (1960)?

Three Tales was directed by Makoto Wada, a figure associated with early Japanese animation. The film stands as a notable example of the creative experimentation happening in Japan's animation industry during the late 1950s and early 1960s, a formative era for the medium.

What are the three stories in Three Tales?

The film is made up of three short segments: "The Third Blood" (第三の皿), "Oppel and the Elephant" (オッペルと象), and "Sleepy Town" (眠い町). Each tale is a self-contained animated story, offering a variety of moods and themes across the anthology's brief runtime.

Is "Oppel and the Elephant" based on a literary work?

"Oppel and the Elephant" is adapted from a beloved short story by Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa, one of Japan's most celebrated writers of children's literature and fantasy. Miyazawa's whimsical, morally rich tales have inspired numerous adaptations in Japanese animation over the decades.

How long is Three Tales?

Three Tales runs for approximately 30 minutes, making it a short film. The compact runtime is divided across three individual animated segments, each telling its own story. It's a quick but imaginative watch, ideal for fans of early Japanese animation and anthology-style storytelling.

What genre is Three Tales?

Three Tales falls into the Fantasy and Animation genres. The film blends imaginative storytelling with hand-drawn animation, reflecting the creative spirit of early Japanese animated filmmaking. Its anthology format and fantastical subject matter make it a distinctive piece of mid-century animation history.

Where can I watch Three Tales (1960)?

You can check current streaming and viewing options for Three Tales on JustWatch, which tracks availability across platforms in your region. As a rare 1960 Japanese animated short, availability may be limited, so JustWatch is your best resource for finding where it's currently accessible.

What are some similar films to Three Tales?

If you enjoy Three Tales, you might also like other animated fantasy films such as Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989), Mai Mai Miracle (2009), and X: The Movie (1996). These films share a love of imaginative worlds and hand-crafted animation, spanning different eras of Japanese and international animation.

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