When a European lies down on the job.

Despite the title, that is a frame of Japanese animation.

Cats getting married? It'll be people next...

Yes, they're standing outside a film studio.

Mummy Cat holds her daughter, who isn't keen on her new foster sibling.

Two children sit amidst rubble. A girl reaches out to a boy.

Specifically, how did Masaoka manage to get this cartoon out?

Some Americans, on a ship, in 1945.

A review of SEO Mitsuyo's "Momotaro: Sacred Sailors", the final Japanese animation made before the end of World War II.

Nothing funny this time.

A sepia cartoon image. In front of a pair of torpedo tub seals, two figures in Japanese navy uniform throw their gloved hands in the air in celebration.

A little ladybird, looking lovely. From "The Spider And The Tulip", 1943.

A pig and a mouse teach their friends. From "Co-operative Air Defence", 1942.

An offensively English gentleman spy. From "Supai Gekimetsu", 1942.

Washing clothes was unbearable before machines. From "Doubutsu Tonarigumi", 1941.

Alt: A cartoon head that resembles Homer Simpson is at the centre of flashing pink and peach triangles. Above him, and in a speech bubble to his left, is Japanese text. It's meant to read: "MR SPARKLE! Power Clean!", but the writers mis-spelled it.

Ari-chan, in a very fetching hat. From "Ari-chan The Ant", Geijutsu Eigasha, 1941.

YouTube video by Modern Chinese Cultural Studies

A lady waits for her lover, and her doom. From "Madame Butterfly's Dream", ARAI Wagoro, 1940.

Ushiwaka “fights” a forest lord. From “Benkei Vs. Ushiwaka” (Nihon Doga, July 1939)

Mabo strides out. From “Mabo As Tokichiro Kinoshita”.

YAMAMOTO Sanae keeps plodding along, ASHIDA Iwao begins his career, and a new propaganda hero enters the fray.

Ohno composed Lupin III anime's music, iconic theme song since Lupin III: Part II in 1977

MURATA Yasuji's animating career comes to an end, MASAOKA Kenzō shows no signs of stopping, and OFUJI Noburo tackles a folk-tale.

Alt: A coloured cartoon image. As red and pink segments flicker, a cartoon face that resembles Homer Simpson says something in Japanese.

SEO Mitsuyo begins a career that will survive the war, even though it's not entirely clear how he managed it.

Today, JO Studio works on a shoestring, Masaoka throws in the towel, a skiving fuel store owner keeps going, and Murata runs out of steam.

Masaoka Kenzō gets unlucky, Ofuji Noburo uses another name, Seo Mitsuyo monkeys around, and an unknown director drives his characters mad.

SAITO Makoto joins the list of failed Japanese Prime Ministers. Meanwhile, MURATA Yasuji continues to make cartoons with dogged persistence.

MURATA Yasuji's work has been dominating this blog since the company was founded, and this year will be no different.

A curated collection of stories from around the world