A thorough review of the moving and beautiful Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid!

Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" - A deep look into the appeal and emotion of the film version

The animated film "Andersen Monogatari Ningyo-hime", based on Andersen's classic fairy tale "The Little Mermaid", was released on March 21, 1975. The film is a moving 68-minute story distributed by Toei and directed by Katsumata Guji. Its Eirin rating is 18193, and each story is self-contained. Below, we will introduce the appeal of this film, the background to its production, the cast and staff, and the details of the story, and delve deeper into its moving moments.

■Released media and original media

This is a theatrically released animated film based on H. C. Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid." Andersen's fairy tale is loved around the world for its unique beauty and profound themes, and this film version also brings out the charm of the original to the fullest.

■Release date and distributor

The release date is March 21, 1975, and the distribution company is Toei. Toei is a company with a long history and track record in Japanese animation production, and this work is also part of that.

■ Eirin number and minutes

The film's Eirin number is 18193, and the length of the film is 68 minutes. In that short time, it has succeeded in capturing the essence of the original work.

■Number of episodes and original work

This work is a one-episode story based on H. C. Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." It faithfully reproduces the beautiful story of the original, while bringing out new charms through its adaptation into a film.

■ Director and producer

The film was directed by Katsumata Guji and produced by Toei (Damono). Katsumata Guji is a director who has produced many masterpieces with his unique sensibility and technique, and his talent is fully displayed in this film.

■ Story

Marina is the youngest princess of the mermaid castle. A mermaid girl is not allowed to see the human world above the sea until she turns 15 and receives a pearl hair ornament. However, Marina is longing for the human world and begs Fritz the dolphin and Duke the whale to tell her about it. One day, Marina hides in Duke's mouth and sneaks out of the castle. The first human she sees and her heart flutters is a beautiful prince. The prince is having a birthday party on a ship floating on the sea. Suddenly, a storm breaks out and the prince is thrown into the sea. Marina helps the unconscious prince and swims to the beach. A young girl comes out of the monastery on the beach and smiles at the prince. The prince realizes and thinks that the girl has saved him. Marina returns to the castle and cannot forget the prince. The mermaid king thinks that Marina has become a full-fledged mermaid and holds a lavish coming-of-age ceremony for her. Fritz had found out what country the prince was from for Marina. "I'll leave my life's happiness in his hands," she decided, and went to the sea witch to get a potion that would turn her into a human. The witch said that she would grant her wish if she could give him her beautiful voice, and that if she became a human, she would never be able to return to being a mermaid again, and that if the prince married another girl, Marina would turn into sea foam. Eventually, Marina arrived at the prince's castle, took the potion, and fainted from the burning pain. When she woke up, the prince was standing in front of her, and Marina's tail had turned into two legs. The prince took Marina to his castle and dressed her in silk clothes. From then on, the prince was very fond of Marina, and they went everywhere together. Soon, the prince was proposed to marry the princess of a neighboring country. The princess was the girl from the beach. The prince and the princess had a grand wedding. Fritz carried the news to the mermaid's castle. Marina's sisters received a dagger from the witch in exchange for their hair. If Marina stabbed the prince with the dagger and his blood got on her leg, she would return to being a mermaid. A ship carrying the eldest sister and the prince was gliding across the sea. Marina was standing on the gunwale. The sisters threw the dagger overboard, but Marina could not bring herself to stab the prince. She threw the dagger into the sea and threw herself towards the rising sun. She felt her body melt into sea foam. The morning light warmly enveloped the foam. The prince and Fritz saw Marina, a beautiful, clear figure, rising high into the sky...

■Cast

The film features a stellar cast of voice actors, including Fumie Kashiyama, Mariko Miyagi, Taro Shigaki, Hidekatsu Shibata, Kosei Tomita, Kaneta Kimotsuki, Ichiro Nagai, Kenichi Ogata, Haruko Kitahama, Miyoko Asou, Kazuko Sugiyama, Kazuko Sawada, Nana Yamaguchi, and Rihoko Yokota. Their performances add depth and emotion to the story, drawing the audience in.

■ Main staff

This film was produced by Tomonori Imada, planned by Ken Ariga and Yoshio Takami, based on a novel by H.C. Andersen, written by Ikuko Oyabu and Mieko Koyamauchi, directed by Guji Katsumata, animation director Reiko Okuyama, music by Kishu Hirayoshi, and art direction by Mataji Urata. Professionals from various fields came together to create this film. Their efforts and talents make this film shine even more.

■ Background and significance of production

"Andersen Monogatari Ningyo-hime" aimed to convey this beautiful story to as many people as possible by recreating Andersen's fairy tale in the form of animation. The deep themes and beautiful depictions of the original work were expressed through images and music, moving the audience. This work is also an important piece in Toei's long history of animation production, and is highly praised for its technique and artistry.

■ Impressive points

The moving element of this film is Marina's pure love and spirit of self-sacrifice. She loves the prince even at the expense of her own voice, and even though she knows her love will not be reciprocated, she remains true to that love until the end. Her actions evoke deep emotion and empathy in the audience. The beautiful animation and music also enhance the moving story. The depiction of the sea world and the human world faithfully reproduces the beauty of the original, drawing the audience into the world of the story.

■ Recommendation points

This is a film that the whole family can enjoy. Children will enjoy the beautiful story and animation, while parents will enjoy the deep themes and emotional impact. It is a must-see for fans of animation and fairy tales, and you will be able to fully enjoy the beauty and emotion of the film. Furthermore, those who are familiar with Andersen's original work will be able to enjoy the story from a new perspective.

■ Summary

"Andersen Monogatari Ningyo-hime" is a moving work that recreates Andersen's classic fairy tale in the form of animation. Marina's pure love and spirit of self-sacrifice, the beautiful animation and music, and the profound theme deeply move the audience. This work is not only enjoyable for the whole family, but is also a must-see for fans of animation and fairy tales. Please experience this moving story for yourself.