Japanese

Pyon the bunny refuses to sleep and sneaks out to see the forest at night. A wise owl reminds him that bunnies need rest to play tomorrow. Pyon decides his cozy bed is best and falls asleep.

A kind old man frees a crane caught in a trap. Soon a young woman comes to stay with the old couple and weaves beautiful cloth, asking never to be watched while she works. When the worried old woman peeks, she sees the crane weaving with its own feathers. The crane thanks them and flies away. A classic Japanese folktale, “The Crane’s Gratitude.”

Toto, the smallest lighthouse on the coast, is afraid of the dark. One foggy night he shines with all his might and guides a lost fishing boat safely home. From then on he is no longer afraid.

Bow-Bow the dragon wakes up with hiccups that shoot out sparks and smoke, frightening the village. A brave girl named Hana climbs up, tries every remedy, and cures him with a big surprise “BOO!” They become best friends.

An old woman finds a giant peach floating down a river, and a baby boy, Momotaro (Peach Boy), is born from it. When he grows up, he sets out to stop the ogres troubling the village. Sharing his millet dumplings, he gains a dog, a monkey and a pheasant as companions, and together they make the ogres promise to behave.

A proud rabbit races a slow tortoise and dashes ahead, then naps under a tree. The tortoise keeps going steadily without stopping and crosses the finish line while the rabbit sleeps. Slow and steady wins the race.

Yui finds a golden pencil that brings her drawings to life. After drawing treats for herself, she sees her friend Kenta crying over a torn school backpack and draws him a new one. The pencil shines brighter than ever — the real magic is helping others.

On New Year’s Eve, a poor old man fails to sell any of his handmade straw hats. On the snowy way home he places them on six stone Jizo statues to keep them warm, using his own towel for the last one. That night, the Jizo statues leave rice, rice cakes and vegetables at the couple’s door. A classic Japanese folktale.

Ho, a baby owl, is afraid of the dark. His father takes him on a night flight to hear bell crickets and frogs, smell night-blooming flowers and see the stars. Finding no ghosts, Ho flies a little on his own and discovers the night is full of wonders.