Inspiration day: Shiba Productions

When I started making my vignettes, a few people mentioned that they'd make great illustrations for storybooks. I remembered a set of books with 3-D illustrations and hologram covers that I had when I was a kid. Specifically, I remembered The Little Mermaid, but I couldn't remember the publisher or the illustrator. It was not easy sifting through the hundreds of versions of the book published in the late 60's and early 70's, but I found it! Actually, my copy of the book, along with The Snow Queen and The Steadfast Tin Soldier, are biding their time in my mom's garage, but that's another story.

I found out that - of course - they were produced in Japan! A stop-motion film animator named Kihachiro Kawamoto started Shiba Productions as a young man. Most of the books have covers similar to the Thumbelina one above. Some of them are collectors items, and very expensive. A few are sold on ebay from time to time, and I recently scored a few. (I am also on the lookout for affordable copies of Mr. Kawamoto's films if anyone knows of a source).

He says that even though the figures in the photos are dolls, he likes to call them puppets because they are actors in the scenes. I love that!

And they aren't all fairy tales, what's not to like about a puppy in a space suit? The hardest part of this post was deciding what pictures to use. I find all of them extremely inspiring. Hope you like them too, and happy first day of summer!

Comments

[Siri]

Was there a "Night Before Christmas"? I had one that looks like it's done in the same style with one of those "scratchy hologram" covers.

[Snowbear]

I had one of these too and I loved it! It was the Hans Christian Andersen tale of THE WILD SWANS. i wonder what happened to it--interesting to see the background of this series.

[jess hutch]

Agh! I love this stuff! I just got some similar stuff on ebay, by these 60s artists named Sass & Dorne - 3D illos are the best.

[jek in the box]

oooh! i had the Snow Queen! i miss those books...

[laura]

Awwww, I had all of the ones you've mentioned here and have been looking for info about them or any existing ones! My favorite was The Snow Queen..... If anyone knows where I can buy one, let me know.
thanks!

[Tilly]

I had The Wild Swans, which I inherited as they were printed in the sixties, so it was hand-me-down from my Mum or her sisters.

[Carole]

I have a copy of The Fairy Tale Treasury in living color. It is a much loved book, by both my sister & I and now my daughters. The book really needs rebinding (although the front cover with a hologram of cinderella is in really good condition). Does anyone know what this book is worth as it is likely to cost £50 to have it rebound?

[jonathan becker]

was each of the shiba productions golden books an adaptation from a japanese film,i.e., was there a shiba producitons FILM of thumbelina, the little mermaid, etc.?
sincerely,
jon

[tina bowlin]

I remember these books as a child. Did Shiba make all of his stories into these books because I only had a few. Would you know how to find any others besides Thumbelina,Little mermaid, The emperors new clothes and the Snow Queen? I looked on ebay and usually see the ones I already have.

Thank you

[Caroline]

I have the Thumbelina one. It was so magical when I was small, and still pretty effective today. My sister had a different one, but I can't remember which. I'm 47!

[Daphne]

I'm looking for The Little Mermaid and The Emperors New Clothes. If anyone knows where I can find them, PLEASE email me.. daphner@truvista.net

[fallout11]

Shiba did stop-motion marionette/puppet commercials (and even a few films) in Japan during the 1960's, but to my knowledge no, none of these books were ever made into video/film/tv format. A shame in a way, as this was the heyday for stop-motion & marionette animation worldwide.

T. Izawa and S. Hijikata did most of the memorable Shiba doll work after Kawamoto left Shiba in 1967.

The last picture is the last scene from "A Rocket Trip To The Moon", 1970. It did not, as I recall, feature a lenticular cover illustration. A lovely hardcover book.

I want to say that there was, indeed, a "Night Before Christmas", but cannot confirm this.
Others by Golden/Shiba include:
"Tom Thumb", 1968.
"Puss In Boots, 1967.
"Sleeping Beauty, 1968.
I'm sure there are many more, as well.

[Patty]

I would like to purchase the little mermaid.
If anyone has the golden press book, please email me.

Thank you for your help

Patty
Wisconsin

[KFORD]

Here is some info on this book series with the black hardcover and 3-D puppet pictures (shown above)
12221 THE LITTLE MERMAID
12222 THE LITTLE TIN SOLDIER
12223 THUMBELINA
12224 THE SNOW QUEEN
12225 THE WILD SWANS
12226 THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
12227 SNOW WHITE
12228 PUSS IN BOOTS
12229 HANSEL AND GRETEL
12230 SLEEPING BEAUTY
12231 LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
12232 CINDERELLA
12233 GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
The first printings start in 1966 with the GOLDEN PRESS covers. The GOLDEN BOOK covers are usually reprints. The last picture is from A ROCKET TRIP TO THE MOON which is also from the same team.
There are hundreds of other puppet books illustrated by the Shiba team of Tadasu Izawa, Kihachiro Kawamoto and Shigemi Hijikata.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is from A PUPPET STORYBOOK series (white hardcover) which also featured the 3D Lenticular/Hologram puppet covers.
Many can be found on ebay/amazon etc. if you are interested in buying these books. Try searching for IZAWA, since he is the illustrator of ALL the puppet books.

[de goedkoopste hypotheek]

It is great to see such blog.Thanks guys keep going like this.

[Teresa Plett]

Would also love to find The Snow Queen,

[Marlene]

I have The original Thumbelina copyright 1966 Shiba production.
Cardboard pages w/ a thick holographic picture on the the front
of the book with her sitting in a red rose with a crown on her head.