"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun": Review and impressions of the epic adventure and profound theme

"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" - A timeless story of adventure and friendship

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

July 21, 1968 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toei

■ Eirin Number

14483

■Frequencies

82 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■ Production

Toei Animation

■Works

©Toei

■ Story

A young boy named Horus obtains a famous sword called the "Sword of the Sun" from the rock man, Morg. After his father's death, Horus heads to a village in the north. On the way, he is approached by the demon Grunwald who asks him to join him, but he refuses and ends up living in a village where he happens to drift to. For many years, the village has suffered from demons under Grunwald's control. However, Horus uses the Sword of the Sun to repel the demons. The villagers are grateful to him, and Horus becomes the village's hero. Then, Horus encounters a mysterious beautiful girl named Hilda by the water's edge. However, she is a minion of Grunwald.

■Explanation

This original feature-length animated film is based on Fukazawa Kazuo's play "The Sun of Chikisani," which was inspired by the Ainu Yukar. Unlike mainstream entertainment animation, this film is an unusual piece with almost no laughs. It took three years to make, and realistically depicts the conflict between good and evil that humans have, and the preciousness of unity. In later years, the film's true value was recognized and it gained a wide range of support from fans. It was recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Central Child Welfare Council and the Excellent Film Appreciation Society. It won the Tashkent International Film Director Award. It was one of the works in the "Toei Manga Parade," and was shown alongside "Gegege no Kitaro," "Sally the Witch," and "Ultra Seven."

■Cast

・Horus/Hisako Ohata・Hilda/Etsuko Ichihara・Grunwald/Mikijiro Hira・Stubborn Old Man/Eijiro Higashino・Village Chief/Masao Mishima・Drago/Yasushi Nagata・Horus' father, Toto/Hisashi Yokomori・Chiro/Noriko Obara・Koro/Yukari Asai・Moog/Tadashi Yokouchi・Potom, Frep/Ayako Hori・Mauni/Yoko Mizugaki・Chahar/Noriko Sugiyama・Moog/Tadashi Yokouchi・Rusan/Masaaki Tsusaka・Piriah/Asako Akazawa

■ Main staff

・Producer / Hiroshi Okawa・Planning / Masajiro Seki, Satoru Ainoda, Toru Hara, Yuu Saito・Screenplay / Kazuo Fukasawa・Director / Isao Takahata・Assistant director / Mitsuru Takeda, Yoshikatsu Kasai・Chief animation director / Yasuo Otsuka・Scene composition / Hayao Miyazaki・Key animation / Koji Mori, Reiko Okuyama, Yoichi Kotabe, Hayao Miyazaki, Akemi Ota, Sadao Kikuchi, Masatake Kita・Art / Mataji Urata・Inspection / Saburo Niiro・Color matching / Yohei Taniguchi・Cinematography / Jiro Yoshimura, Yukio Katayama・Editing / Yutaka Senkura・Music / Yoshio Mamiya・Sound recording / Hiromi Kanbara・Recording / Setsuko Matoba・Development / Toei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.・Production / Toei Animation

■ Main Characters

Horus: A wild child who grew up isolated from other humans, with a pure personality. After his father's death, he sets out in search of other humans. Morg prophesies that once he has forged the Sun Sword and mastered its use, he will be called the "Prince of the Sun."

Hilda: The younger sister of the demon Grunwald. Under Grunwald's orders, she approaches Horus and causes discord between him and the villagers. She is the only survivor of a village that was wiped out by demons, and is torn between her roles as a human and a demon.

A demon who lives in the ice castle. He has his minions, the Silver Wolf, the Great Eagle, the Great Barracuda, and others, attack and destroy many villages. He recruits people he likes as his younger brothers and sisters, and uses them as his own hands and feet.

Wanting to protect his son Horus from the demon Grunwald, Horus' father, he lives with his son by the sea, far away from the village. On his deathbed, worried about his son who has never known other humans, he leaves a will telling him to go to a village where there are people.

・Morg the Rock Man A giant with trees growing from his head and a body made entirely of rock. He bestows the two swords that were stuck in his shoulders on Horus. He aids the human side in the battle against Grunwald and plays an active role.

■ Related works

・Simultaneous screening of "GeGeGe no Kitaro"
"Sally the Witch"
"Ultra Seven"

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song: OP Horus no Uta ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Chofu Boys and Girls Choir, Japan Choral Association
(Asahi Sonorama)

・Inserted song: Harvest Song ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Choir: Japan Choral Association

・Insert song: Children's song ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Chofu Boys and Girls Choir

・Inserted song: Wedding song ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Choir: Yoko Mizugaki, Japan Choral Association

・Insert song: Hilda's Song ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Choir: Mutsumi Masuda

・Insert song: Hilda's Lullaby ・Lyrics: Kazuo Fukazawa ・Music: Yoshio Mamiya ・Performance: New Chamber Music Association ・Choir: Mutsumi Masuda

The appeal and evaluation of "The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun"

"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" is a feature-length animated film produced by Toei Animation and released in 1968, and is known for its unique worldview and deep themes. The film is based on Kazuo Fukazawa's play "The Sun of Chikisani" and tells a story based on an Ainu legend. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this film.

The appeal of the story

The story of this work depicts the adventures of the young boy Horus, who obtains the "Sword of the Sun" and fights the demon Grunwald. Horus sets out on a journey after his father's death, and becomes a hero when he encounters a village along the way, protecting the village from demons. However, when he meets Grunwald's sister, Hilda, Horus faces a new challenge. This is not just an adventure story, but a profound work that depicts human relationships, the conflict between good and evil, and the importance of friendship and unity.

In particular, the relationship between Horus and Hilda is the core of the story, and Hilda's conflicts and growth leave a strong impression on viewers. Although Hilda follows Grunwald's orders, her heart changes through her interactions with Horus. This portrayal of the inner thoughts of the characters has a depth not seen in other animation works at the time, and it moved many viewers.

Beautiful images and music

The visual beauty of this film can be said to be the result of the combined talents of director Isao Takahata, animation director Yasuo Otsuka, and scene composition by Hayao Miyazaki. The background art for each scene, such as the natural landscapes and the devil's ice castle, is extremely beautiful and full of visual appeal. The character movements and expressions are also realistic, expressing the subtleties of their emotions in detail.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. Mamiya Yoshio's music has a dramatic effect as the story unfolds, stirring the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the theme song "Song of Horus" and inserted songs "Harvest Song," "Children's Song," "Wedding Song," "Hilda's Song," and "Hilda's Lullaby" not only add to the atmosphere of the story, but also have beautiful melodies that are deeply engraved in the hearts of viewers.

Evaluation and impact

"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" was not a commercial success when it was released, but its true value was recognized in later years and it gained many fans. In particular, it had a major influence on animation works from the 1970s onwards, and its influence can be seen in Studio Ghibli's works.

This work has received high praise, including being recognized as a "Recommended Work by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Central Child Welfare Council and the Excellent Film Appreciation Society" and winning the "Tashkent International Film Director Award." These acclaims prove that this is not just a children's entertainment film, but a work with deep themes and artistic merit.

Character Appeal

Each character in this work is unique and fascinating. The main character, Horus, is an innocent and brave boy, but his relationship with others and conflicts are portrayed realistically. Hilda is a complex character who, despite being the sister of a demon, undergoes a change of heart through her interactions with Horus. Grunwald is portrayed as a ruthless demon, but also cunning, using humans.

In addition, the rock man Moog, Horus' father, and the villagers all have their own unique personalities, enriching the story. Moog in particular plays an important role in supporting Horus' growth, and leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Comparison with related works

This film was shown at the same time as "Gegege no Kitaro," "Sally the Witch," and "Ultra Seven." These films were popular children's animations at the time, but "The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" stood out among them. With few humorous elements and a deep theme, this film stands out from the others.

"GeGeGe no Kitaro" and "Sally the Witch" are entertainment works with themes of supernatural powers and magic, while "Ultra Seven" gained popularity as a special effects hero story. On the other hand, "The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" is a work that depicts human drama and the conflict between good and evil, and was praised for its artistry and depth.

Recommendations and how to watch

"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" is a masterpiece that tells the story of adventure and friendship, and is recommended for a wide range of generations. It is a must-see for those who are interested in the history and artistry of animation, and for those who want a work with a deep theme. It is also recommended for those who like Studio Ghibli's works.

This work can be viewed on DVD and Blu-ray. It may also be distributed on streaming services, so if you are interested, please check it out. Furthermore, you can understand the work more deeply by reading related books and online reviews.

Conclusion

"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" is a feature-length animated film released by Toei Animation in 1968, and is known for its unique worldview and deep themes. The story of Horus' adventure and friendship touched many viewers and had a major influence on later animated works. With beautiful images and music, charming characters, and deep themes, this work is a masterpiece that can be recommended to a wide range of generations. Please give it a watch.