Jose Cruz This was perhaps the most sophisticated animated feature ever made up to that time, in 1968. It is much more serious and dramatic than any Disney film ever made and shows that animation is equally valid as live action for serious cinema (in fact, maybe even superior, given its exaggerated expressiveness and impressionistic potential). Note: this is not a film for very young children as it deals with very serious matters despite being an animated film made in the 1960's with talking animals.Highly recommended and I think this is a must see film for those that wish to be film buffs.

johnnyboyz Little Norse Prince was my first foray into the territory of Japanese animation, later made more popular in the West by that of Studio Ghibli, and it's a mixed effort; a film which had enough in terms of raw energy and that sense of passion or artistic integrity pumped into its animation to make me want to come back for more, but lacked an ability to really keep me entirely interested throughout. I don't think it has the sense of adventure it thinks it has, nor does it entirely make use of its premise and have us feel like we've genuinely watched the transition of a young protagonist, who's been granted a specific test or goal at this early stage in their life, from one thing into another. In essence, the film feels a lot longer than it actually is, and makes the fatal error of introducing a supporting act who ends up more interesting than the lead. Additionally, it gets bogged down in the middle with a subplot to do with a village-set power exchange and all the political strife which comes with it and enraptures the lead when all we want to see is this hero journey onwards and upwards in achieving his quest whilst learn a bit about himself in the process.The film opens in a resounding fashion, with a young boy called Horus fending off a pack of wolves along the rural plains of the ancient Nordic world with a sword and a breathtaking amount of both speed and agility. There is both something quite beautiful as well as ugly in the manner in which, with each swipe of the blade, Horus shifts and slides to-and-fro out of the way and onto the next stretch of pasture as wolves drop all around him, not necessarily killed, but with the next in line eyeing up the next available chance to attack. When all looks lost, and one of the beasts slides a sly anthropomorphic aside to our Horus as the kill looms, the ground gives way and a huge giant made entirely out of stone rises from the Earth scattering the animals but trapping Horus on his shoulder. The opening in this sense is quite magical, a really well rendered battle sequence featuring the wilds of this rural domain at work as a pack of hunters seemingly chase the next meal but coming up against a capable human-being who fends them off before everything, in this apparently enchanted land, is rounded off with a monster appearing from nowhere and now a part of the action.Things develop when Horus pulls from the giant a sword which had been stuck there, this chance encounter leading Horus to pursue a mission on which if the sword is successfully reforged, he will garner the right for a promotion into king-hood. It additionally turns out there was indeed a purpose for the wolves' being there; an off screen evil force had sent them to thwart Horus for whatever reasons in whatever capacity. Horus heads across rivers and seas to his old stomping ground, a village once torn apart by an evil which manifested itself within and tore everybody apart. He is there in his attempt to reforge that sword, and in the process garner both the respectability as well as the power an individual in the mould of Horus has the ability to achieve. Along the way, we observe him encounter an array of individuals with power able to match his own; people using such abilities and weapons for a means of bad and there are meek lessons to be learnt.Much more interesting is that of the character of Hilda (Ichihara), a girl as young as Horus whose voice is sharp and siren-like; their first interaction down by the ports of this small community, beside the waters, fitting in that sense and made even more so when we spot that she sits atop a shipwreck of some kind. Hilda is the lone survivor of a village of her own, a village which was destroyed under similar circumstances to that of Horus'. She is a loner, an outcast when brought back by Horus; her frayed beliefs and ethics clashing with the populous where duty vs. choice is at the forefront of her refusal to sew like all the 'good women' seemingly do in this community thus tying her in with the Horus we saw in the opening as a character unbounded by what's expected of them and possessing somewhat of a free spirited attitude. It is unfortunate her story and her presence overtakes that of the lead.As things unfold and Hilda's true identity, indeed prerogative, for being there becomes clearer; we sense Horus' quest undermined by the deeper tribulations and emotional conflict Hilda suffers. When the time comes for Horus to confront evil and have a big showdown at the end wherein catalysts and epiphanies and such may play out, it is with which Hilda's off screen presence and tale that we are preoccupied. The film stutters in its speed, often breezing along like a good adventure should but then unevenly pausing for more mediative moments. One of its bigger crimes is that it unfolds in an enchanted world, although often feels unenchanted – the film an unbalanced effort which has a sturdy amount of character and wonder but leaves one relatively underwhelmed on the whole.

Tweekums Having seen Isao Takahata's Ghibli films I was interested to see this much earlier work so when it was on television I couldn't not watch it. Not surprisingly it feels much older than his later work but it didn't feel out dated.The story opens with a boy called Horusu fighting off a pack of wolves. They fighting awakens a strange rock giant who is bothered by a thorn in his shoulder, much to the giants surprise Horusu extracts the thorn which turns out to be an ancient sword. He returns with the sword to his dying father who tells him that their family came from a village in the North that had been devastated by an evil sorcerer called Grunwald. When his father dies he heads North where he meets Grunwald who casts him from a mountain and believes him to be dead. Of course he survives though as is found by a child who takes him back to a village. The people there are being tormented because a giant pike is eating all the fish in the river. Horusu sets off and after a struggle manages to kill the creature and the fish return to the river, this leads to him being hailed as a hero. Later in an almost deserted village Horusu meets a girl called Hilda who he invites back to the village where to locals are enchanted by her beautiful singing. At least most of them are, the mayor is clearly upset that Horusu and now Hilda are so popular and his deputy who is an agent of Grunwald. I won't say more about the plot as I wouldn't want to spoil the ending.I really enjoyed this even though it if fairly different, it certainly felt like it was targeted at a younger audience than his later works, I was surprised for example when characters had conversations with their pets. The animation was good, especially considering its age. If you've enjoyed Studio Ghibli films I'd certainly recommend this film.These comments were based on watching the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

emasterslake Before My Neighbors the Yamadas, before Pom Poko, before Only Yesterday, and before Grave of the Fireflies. There was Little Prince Horus(USA Title). This was the first Movie Isao Takahata directed.He and legendary Anime maker Hayao Miyazaki and some other animators who were still in their early years in animation industries made this film possible.It's nothing like Isao Takahata's other works. This one is about an Alternate Viking/Scandinavian Time Period about a boy named Horus who receives a sword from some Earth God, and is sent on a quest to defeat an Ice Demon(who's pretty cool looking) meets a group of village locals and a mysterious Girl who has the key to restoring peace to the land.It took 3 years for this film to be made. Animation is well done even if this was made 38 years ago. Back when Anime was still primitive. It's interesting to watch. Too bad it didn't do well when it was in Japanese Theatures. But what's cool about it is it became known as the earliest forms of modern anime.In other words it's anime that doesn't have to be made for kids to watch.I'm not sure when it'll get licensed to get it's own English Debut. But worth seeing for those who are interested in Animes that broke the rules. I'd recommend this film for Ages 12 and up contains cartoon violence and a split second of nudity.