Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon
Encyclopedia
is a 1965 Japanese
animated feature which was released in the United States in 1966.
animated features to depart from Asian mythology, though, like Toei's previous animated features, it is modeled after the Disney
formula of animated musical feature. By borrowing elements from Hans Christian Andersen
, Jonathan Swift
and science-fiction, it was hoped that this film would attract a large international audience. However it proved to be no more popular than Toei's previous, Asian-themed films. After the failure in the U.S. of this and Toei's previous animated feature, this was the last Japanese animated feature to be released in the United States for over a decade, until Sanrio
's Metamorphoses
and The Mouse and His Child, both of which were released in the U.S. in 1978.
contributed the original Japanese score. However, for the American edition, songs were composed by Milton
and Anne Delugg, who had provided the song "Hooray for Santy Claus" for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
(1964).
In one of his earliest animation jobs, a young Hayao Miyazaki
worked on this film as an in-between artist. His contribution to the ending of the film brought Miyazaki to the attention of Toei
. The screenplay was written by Shinichi Sekizawa
, the writer of the first Mothra
(1961). Sekizawa also contributed screenplays to some of the most popular films in the Godzilla
series from King Kong vs. Godzilla
(1962), to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
(1974), including Mothra vs. Godzilla
(1964).
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
animated feature which was released in the United States in 1966.
Production
This was one of the first ToeiToei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
animated features to depart from Asian mythology, though, like Toei's previous animated features, it is modeled after the Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
formula of animated musical feature. By borrowing elements from Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
and science-fiction, it was hoped that this film would attract a large international audience. However it proved to be no more popular than Toei's previous, Asian-themed films. After the failure in the U.S. of this and Toei's previous animated feature, this was the last Japanese animated feature to be released in the United States for over a decade, until Sanrio
Sanrio
is a Japanese company that designs, licenses and produces products focusing on the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts and accessories that are sold worldwide and at specialty brand retail stores in Japan...
's Metamorphoses
Metamorphoses (film)
is a Japanese animated film, originally released by Sanrio in the United States on May 3, 1979. The film is a retelling of stories from Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid, set to rock music by Arthur Simms and Pattie Brooks...
and The Mouse and His Child, both of which were released in the U.S. in 1978.
Staff
Not yet the internationally popular electronic music composer he was later to become, Isao TomitaIsao Tomita
, often known simply as Tomita, is a Japanese music composer, regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music, and as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements...
contributed the original Japanese score. However, for the American edition, songs were composed by Milton
Milton DeLugg
Milton DeLugg is an American composer and arranger.-Biography:A talented accordionist, he appeared in short Soundies musicals and occasional movies . He quickly became a successful arranger and composer...
and Anne Delugg, who had provided the song "Hooray for Santy Claus" for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a 1964 science fiction film that regularly appears on lists of the worst films ever made. It is regularly featured in the "bottom 100" list on the Internet Movie Database, and was also featured in an episode of the 1986 syndicated series, the Canned Film...
(1964).
In one of his earliest animation jobs, a young Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
worked on this film as an in-between artist. His contribution to the ending of the film brought Miyazaki to the attention of Toei
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
. The screenplay was written by Shinichi Sekizawa
Shinichi Sekizawa
was a Japanese screenwriter. His very first screenplay was for the Shintoho Studios film Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers, which is now considered to be lost. He went on to script several films by Ishirō Honda, including several classic Godzilla films...
, the writer of the first Mothra
Mothra (film)
is a 1961 Kaiju film from Toho Studios, directed by genre regular Ishirō Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the kaiju eiga debut of screenwriter Shinichi Sekizawa, whose approach to the genre grew to prominence during the 1960s...
(1961). Sekizawa also contributed screenplays to some of the most popular films in the Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
series from King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
(1962), to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
, originally known in the United States as Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster and subsequently Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster, is a 1974 science fiction kaiju film. This was the 14th of the Toho studio's Godzilla series , it was directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano and the...
(1974), including Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzilla
is a 1964 science fiction kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda. It was the fourth film to be released in the Godzilla series, produced by Toho Company Ltd...
(1964).