A Japanese family makes paper lanterns with the help of a stork.A Japanese family makes paper lanterns with the help of a stork.A Japanese family makes paper lanterns with the help of a stork.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring WW2 the title was changed to Chinese Lanterns, due to anti-Japanese sentiment.
Featured review
Japanese Lanterns
Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
While Van Beuren have done worse overall, for me 'Japanese Lanterns' is one of the worst of their "Rainbow Parade" cartoons (27 in the series overall and a mixed bag). Not without redeeming qualities and not a complete waste of time, but it just didn't do anything for me. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths certainly. Quite liked most of the animation, which has come on a lot since (human) Tom and Jerry and Cubby the Bear. Despite the character drawing lacking refinement, the shading appeals to the eye while the backgrounds are elaborate and meticulous. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough.
'Japanese Lanterns' suffers from a lot of things, and with complaints common in the "Rainbow Parade" series. The content is pretty thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. The cartoon is too saccharine and very cutesy in characterisation, some of the sugar excessive.
None of the characters make much impression. Luckily there is nothing to be offended by, but the characters are not particularly well drawn at times, are flat in personality and they don't really have much to do, what they have is bland. The story is non-existent with little in terms of events and conflict to be engaged by, and the pace never really comes to life.
Overall, not unwatchable but weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
While Van Beuren have done worse overall, for me 'Japanese Lanterns' is one of the worst of their "Rainbow Parade" cartoons (27 in the series overall and a mixed bag). Not without redeeming qualities and not a complete waste of time, but it just didn't do anything for me. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths certainly. Quite liked most of the animation, which has come on a lot since (human) Tom and Jerry and Cubby the Bear. Despite the character drawing lacking refinement, the shading appeals to the eye while the backgrounds are elaborate and meticulous. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough.
'Japanese Lanterns' suffers from a lot of things, and with complaints common in the "Rainbow Parade" series. The content is pretty thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. The cartoon is too saccharine and very cutesy in characterisation, some of the sugar excessive.
None of the characters make much impression. Luckily there is nothing to be offended by, but the characters are not particularly well drawn at times, are flat in personality and they don't really have much to do, what they have is bland. The story is non-existent with little in terms of events and conflict to be engaged by, and the pace never really comes to life.
Overall, not unwatchable but weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•21
- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 4, 2018
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Chinesische Lampions
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime8 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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