The Development of Japanese Cinema examines the evolution of Japanese film from the silent era thru to 1930s romance and mystery films, the neo-realism of the late 1940s, the emergence of Kurosawa in the 1950s along with some monsters and social issues, the wave of sex and violence films of the 60s and 70s, the rebirth of great comedy scripts and solid dramas in the 80s and 90s and the increasing dominance in anime and offbeat dramas in the 21st century.