It was directed by Wagorō Arai, a dentist who created nearly a dozen short films between 1939 and 1947 in the style of silhouette animation.

Outside of his work as a dentist, Arai collaborated with a small group of friends (particularly Tobiishi Nakaya) to create roughly one short animated film each year between 1939 and 1947.

All of these films are in the style of silhouette animation and many, including Madame Butterfly's Illusion (1940), Jakku to mame no ki (Jack and the Beanstalk, 1941), and Kaguyahime (Princess Kaguya, 1942), are based on popular tales.

It is believed that Arai - despite his talents as an animator - stopped creating films soon after World War II because of Tobiishi's untimely death.

[2] The film's Puccini-esque score was composed and performed by renowned Japanese opera singer Tamaki Miura.