This is 1939 cel animation moving like it shouldn't be possible, every frame of the sword duel packed with weight and speed that makes modern fight choreography look static. Masaoka treats the medium like clay, bending physics and perspective to squeeze maximum impact out of every gesture. The opening alone justifies its existence; what comes after stumbles, but by then you've already seen animation that proved what was possible before anyone thought it was.

Benkei tai Ushiwaka is a short Japanese animated film from 1939, directed by Kenzō Masaoka. It draws on the legendary meeting between the giant warrior Saitō Musashibō Benkei and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, known in his youth as Ushiwaka. Benkei is gathering swords for the Buddha, aiming to collect a thousand, when he comes up against a tiny but masterful swordsman. The film mixes action and comedy as the mismatched pair square off.