Absolutely groundbreaking animation film for the likes of '68. The directorial feature film debut of Isao Takahata and the very first film worked on by Hayao Miyazaki (Art Department-Scene Designer) is an enjoyable watch and easy to get into.
The vast array of characters are all rather memorable (with exception of maybe one or two). The main character, Hols, is a little firecracker that helps drive the film along. Coro, Hols best animal friend, may be the cutest animated character I've ever seen.
While some scenes and transitions are undeniably clunky and rough, there are other sequences like the intro scene and the battle of the pike that are truly mesmerizing. Both of these examples provide ample evidence of the talents we would later get in all Studio Ghibli films.
With a story maybe as old as time, with Faustian tropes, it is good for kids and adults alike. Which leads to another remarkable trait of the film being that Takahata and Co. showed the world there could be animated films not only made in the vein of Disney but also for adults.
I usually like watching these films with subtitles but the only version available to me is the english dub. I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the voice talents (Rockoar FTW) here and the overall dub work is good to great.
Highly recommended for Studio Ghibli fans and animation fans solely for what this film has contributed to its genres and the development of two of the now animation-director legends.
The vast array of characters are all rather memorable (with exception of maybe one or two). The main character, Hols, is a little firecracker that helps drive the film along. Coro, Hols best animal friend, may be the cutest animated character I've ever seen.
While some scenes and transitions are undeniably clunky and rough, there are other sequences like the intro scene and the battle of the pike that are truly mesmerizing. Both of these examples provide ample evidence of the talents we would later get in all Studio Ghibli films.
With a story maybe as old as time, with Faustian tropes, it is good for kids and adults alike. Which leads to another remarkable trait of the film being that Takahata and Co. showed the world there could be animated films not only made in the vein of Disney but also for adults.
I usually like watching these films with subtitles but the only version available to me is the english dub. I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the voice talents (Rockoar FTW) here and the overall dub work is good to great.
Highly recommended for Studio Ghibli fans and animation fans solely for what this film has contributed to its genres and the development of two of the now animation-director legends.