Speaking of early animation, a nitrate film version of Kon Ichikawa’s Yowamushi Chinsengumi (Cowardly Samurai Squad) was discovered in the archives of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills and has been moved to UCLA for restoration.
Via Helen McCarthy.
The film was made in 1935, making it the oldest existing anime by Ichikawa.
Check out the full story over at anime/manga scholar Helen McCarthy’s blog.
What can I do with a B.A. in Japanese Studies? 
That’s wild! It’s a little reminiscent of the 1930’s Fleischer Studios cartoons. It’s interesting to look at the spectrum of anime, as far as how much western influence affected the style.