Makoto-chan

1980 1h 25m JA

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 2

ComedyAnimation

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A series of interconnected vignettes regarding Makoto Sawada, an energetic yet socially inept kindergartner, and his long-suffering family. Makoto strives to receive the title of his school's "Best Child" award, resulting in chaos and misunderstandings wherever he goes.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Junji Chiba
Old Man (voice)
Takeshi Kitano
Beat Kiyoshi
Kazuko Sugiyama
Makoto (voice)
Kazuo Umezu
Rihoko Yoshida
Mika (voice)
Noriko Ohara
Mom (voice)
Shinichi Yanagisawa
Dad (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tsutomu Shibayama
Writers: Tomoko Konparu, Noboru Shiroyama, Tsunehisa Ito
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama, shot by Hirokata Takahashi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ryo Kawakami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kazuo Inoue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Junji Chiba and Takeshi Kitano and Beat Kiyoshi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0204460 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tsutomu Shibayama directs. Hirokata Takahashi behind the camera. Ryo Kawakami scores. Kazuo Inoue cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
246 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama, shot by Hirokata Takahashi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ryo Kawakami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Kazuo Inoue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Junji Chiba and Takeshi Kitano and Beat Kiyoshi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0204460 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.