Japanese paper films are a rare, little-known home-cinema format made in the 1930s by three main manufacturers—two in Tokyo and one in Osaka. The films are short (often one to four minutes), and typically come in a 27mm gauge with perforations at the top and bottom of each frame. Unlike standard film, the back surface is solid paper, which can carry handwritten cues and other clues to a film’s history. Some titles are live action, others are hand-drawn animation, and a few include propaganda. Because Tokyo and Osaka were heavily firebombed, surviving paper films are extremely scarce.

In this presentation from UC Santa Barbara’s Carsey-Wolf Center, Eric Faden discusses the preservation work of the Japanese Paper Film Project. Project members encountered dozens of rolls in fragile condition—some literally falling apart—and set out to save them. They discovered etched numbers at the head of certain reels that match 78 RPM shellac records, indicating that some paper films originally had synchronized sound. To respect both media, the team works with collectors of paper films and of 1930s Japanese records—a community with little overlap—to reunite image and audio when possible.

Because the medium is delicate, the group designed a purpose-built motion scanner to capture frames gently while the film moves. This workflow allows careful color grading and minimal touch-ups to produce viewable versions without further damage. To date, the team has preserved just over 200 films and curated eclectic programs (including about 28 films for one screening), sometimes pairing them with live performance and acknowledging traditions like the benshi narrator and neighborhood kamishibai storytelling. The result is a vivid, accessible window into 1930s Japan—and a new lease on life for a nearly lost format.

Watch CWC Global: Japanese Paper Films.

Explore more in our Carsey-Wolf Center Series.