The basic story is wonderfully simple: Mei and Gabu, a goat and a wolf - natural enemies - become friends by chance. When their friendship is discovered - and forbidden - by their respective groups the two decide to run away to a place where a goat and a wolf can live together in peace.
Yet overlaid with this simple tale are some rather deep themes - identity, society, and even war. There are moments of comedy, sorrow, action, and drama. The plot never lingers too long, but does slow down at just the right times. Children will enjoy the movie for its surface themes but a watchful adult will be able to pick out and appreciate some of the more subtle story elements.
Gabu and Mei's growing friendship is the source of most of the emotion delivered by this film - and it is at times very powerful, such as when Mei, seeing no other alternative, tells Gabu that he should eat him so that at least one of them will survive. Their friendship grows seemingly stronger even as it faces tremendous adversity. The moral - stick by your friends and your convictions - has the same beautiful simplicity as the story and both are delivered flawlessly.
One IMDb reviewer mentioned that Gabu and Mei's relationship had an "unintended layer of sexuality". I didn't see this, but it should be pointed out that the word "friends" doesn't quite do justice to what Gabu and Mei are. There is something... MORE.. to their relationship, for which the English language doesn't have exactly the right word. Gabu and Mei are happiest when they are together, both trust each other completely and each is willing to die for the other. They *love* each other, in the classical sense of the word. It is perhaps a sad reflection on our society that such a relationship might be seen by some as necessarily sexual or even "creepy" as I once heard elsewhere.
The animals in this film are somewhat anthropomorphised, but to a level not often seen: they use human gestures and are able to use their "hands" as humans do (by grasping things), walk bipedally on occasion and of course talk. Yet despite this, they usually walk on all fours and their behaviour is very animal-like much of the time (but especially when fighting or running). It's something audiences may not be used to, but I think it was executed very well.
There is only one flaw that this movie has, and it concerns the animation. While the backgrounds are breathtaking, the character designs are a bit too childish. The characters seem too much like caricatures, and there is in many places a definite clash between the realistic backgrounds and the characters' rather unrealistic appearance. Still, there is a certain charm to it and as the movie progresses it is easy to simply accept and enjoy how the characters look. It is also an interesting change from both American animation and the more common anime style most westerners are familiar with.
All in all, this is a great movie, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see something with a simple yet well-told story of friendship over adversity. And a happy ending. :-)
Yet overlaid with this simple tale are some rather deep themes - identity, society, and even war. There are moments of comedy, sorrow, action, and drama. The plot never lingers too long, but does slow down at just the right times. Children will enjoy the movie for its surface themes but a watchful adult will be able to pick out and appreciate some of the more subtle story elements.
Gabu and Mei's growing friendship is the source of most of the emotion delivered by this film - and it is at times very powerful, such as when Mei, seeing no other alternative, tells Gabu that he should eat him so that at least one of them will survive. Their friendship grows seemingly stronger even as it faces tremendous adversity. The moral - stick by your friends and your convictions - has the same beautiful simplicity as the story and both are delivered flawlessly.
One IMDb reviewer mentioned that Gabu and Mei's relationship had an "unintended layer of sexuality". I didn't see this, but it should be pointed out that the word "friends" doesn't quite do justice to what Gabu and Mei are. There is something... MORE.. to their relationship, for which the English language doesn't have exactly the right word. Gabu and Mei are happiest when they are together, both trust each other completely and each is willing to die for the other. They *love* each other, in the classical sense of the word. It is perhaps a sad reflection on our society that such a relationship might be seen by some as necessarily sexual or even "creepy" as I once heard elsewhere.
The animals in this film are somewhat anthropomorphised, but to a level not often seen: they use human gestures and are able to use their "hands" as humans do (by grasping things), walk bipedally on occasion and of course talk. Yet despite this, they usually walk on all fours and their behaviour is very animal-like much of the time (but especially when fighting or running). It's something audiences may not be used to, but I think it was executed very well.
There is only one flaw that this movie has, and it concerns the animation. While the backgrounds are breathtaking, the character designs are a bit too childish. The characters seem too much like caricatures, and there is in many places a definite clash between the realistic backgrounds and the characters' rather unrealistic appearance. Still, there is a certain charm to it and as the movie progresses it is easy to simply accept and enjoy how the characters look. It is also an interesting change from both American animation and the more common anime style most westerners are familiar with.
All in all, this is a great movie, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see something with a simple yet well-told story of friendship over adversity. And a happy ending. :-)