The Nation of Fish
"Fish in their underwater nation face enemies other than whales"
Keys: Space play/pause · ←/→ 10s · F fullscreen · M mute · </> speed
About this film
Hakuzan Kimura's 1928 silent animation Manga Sakana no Kuni portrays an underwater fish nation that has long organized its defenses against whale predators until new enemies appear, forcing the inhabitants to mobilize.
More about this film
About the production
Themes & topics
Historical background
The Nation of Fish emerged during its production period. Archival records and catalog entries help place the work within film-history surveys of the period.
Why this film matters
Preserved under Wikidata ID Q106398966, The Nation of Fish is valued as a screen drama within catalog and archive collections. Contemporary listings connect it to broader histories of cinema exhibition and restoration.
Making of
Production details for The Nation of Fish are drawn from archival listings and reference sources; surviving materials vary by title.
What critics said
Trade and archival sources offer limited day-one review coverage for The Nation of Fish. Modern reception rests on its availability in collections, repertory screenings, and reference works that document early cinema.
Did you know?
- Produced by the Ministry of Education as Manga Sakana no Kuni (1928).
Visual style
Visual style for The Nation of Fish reflects period camera and lighting practice documented in surviving prints or stills.
Music
As a silent work, The Nation of Fish was originally shown with live or recorded accompaniment chosen by the exhibitor.
What audiences thought
The Nation of Fish reached whatever regional audiences its distributor could access; later interest comes mainly from repertory and online preservation.
Film restoration
A copy or excerpt is available via Wikimedia Commons.
Where to watch
- Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hakuzan%20Kimura-%20The%20Nation%20of%20Fish%20(1928).ogv