News
Japan Society in NY to Hold N. American Premiere of Tezuka's Completed Legend of the Forest Film
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The Japan Society in New York City will host the North American premiere of Osamu Tezuka's completed Legend of the Forest (MoriI no Densetsu) film on February 21.
The world premiere of Osamu Tezuka's Legend of the Forest: Part 2 screened at the Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival last August. Tezuka's eldest son, Makoto Tezuka, finished the film 25 years after his father's death. Osamu Tezuka was able to complete the first and fourth parts before his death, while his son finished the second through the notes his father left behind.
The first 30-minute short, which featured no dialogue, premiered in 1987. America's Right Stuf International and Australia's Madman Entertainment licensed Legend of the Forest in the past, and Right Stuf released the film on DVD in 2009 with other Tezuka shorts.
Legend of the Forest was inspired by Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, Op. 36, which in turn was created in honor of Walt Disney. The story is about a tranquil forest and all of its residents who must face its destruction by man. A squirrel, born and raised in the forest, fights to defend his home and faces trials and adversities along the way.
The Japan Society will also screen Tezuka's "Jumping" and "Broken Down Film" shorts.
