The appeal and evaluation of the Grimm fairy tale "The Golden Bird": A thorough explanation of its perfection as an animation

Grimm's Fairy Tale The Golden Bird - Grimm's Fairy Tale The Golden Bird

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Fairy tales

■ Release date

March 14, 1987 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toei

■ Eirin Number

24769

■Frequencies

52 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Jacob L. C. Grimm, Wilhelm C. Grimm

■ Director

Toshio Hirata

■ Production

Toei Animation

■Works

©Toei Animation

■ Story

This film was produced in 1984, then shelved, but was released in theaters in 1987 as part of the "Toei Manga Matsuri" festival. Madhouse was responsible for the actual production. It is notable for the various creative touches that are put into each scene, such as musical-style direction.

■Explanation

The three princes, Kroynar, Walnar, and the good-natured youngest son Hans, are ordered by their father to search for the Golden Bird. Just as the three are at a loss as to where it is, a fox named Lulu who can speak human language appears before them. The two brothers, not trusting Lulu's words, shoot flaming arrows at the fox.

■Cast

・Hans/Katsue Miwa ・Lulu/Yoshiko Fujita ・Witch/Kei Toyama ・Princess Roland/Konoha no Ko

■ Main staff

・Original story / Jacob L. C. Grimm, Wilhelm C. Grimm・Director / Toshio Hirata・Screenplay / Junji Tashiro・Producer / Tomonori Imada・Planning / Toshio Katsuta・Production manager / Yasuo Takahashi・Character design and animation director / Manabu Ohashi・Screen composition / Atsuko Fukushima, Nobumasa Shinkawa・Musical animation / Koji Minamiya・Art director / Yamako Ishikawa・Director of photography / Kinichi Ishikawa・Editor / Toru Mochizuki・Music / Kuni Kawachi・Sound effects / Michihiro Ito・Production cooperation / Aoni Production・Theme song
ED
"The Earth is a Party"
Lyrics and composition: Kunikawachi Uta / Katsue Miwa, Koorogi '73

■ Main Characters

Prince of Hanskaisel. Kind-hearted but self-paced. Set out on a journey with his two older brothers to find the golden bird.

A mysterious fox who speaks the language of the Lulu people. He tells Hans where the golden bird lives.

■ Related works

Also showing: "New Maple Town Story: Palm Town"
・"Choushinsei Flashman: The Great Turnaround! Titan Boy!!"

Grimm's Fairy Tale The Golden Bird - Grimm's Fairy Tale The Golden Bird Review

The Grimm fairy tale "The Golden Bird" is an animated film that was released as part of the Toei Manga Festival in 1987, and its unique charm and storytelling are still loved by many fans today. The film was produced under the direction of Toshio Hirata, based on the original story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and background of this work, as well as its evaluation.

Background and history

"The Golden Bird" was produced in 1984, but was initially shelved. However, it was released as part of the "Toei Manga Festival" in 1987, and the story was able to reach many children. The film was actually produced by Madhouse, and is characterized by its musical-style direction and the ingenuity of each scene. The Toei Manga Festival is an event where multiple animated films for children are screened at the same time, and "The Golden Bird" was screened as part of it.

Story and Themes

The story begins with the three princes of the Kaiser Kingdom, Kroyner, Walner, and the youngest son Hans, setting out on a journey to find the Golden Bird at their father's command. The three are at a loss as they cannot find the Golden Bird's location, but are rescued by a fox named Lulu who can speak human language. However, the two brothers do not believe Lulu and shoot flaming arrows at the fox. This scene symbolizes the contrast between trust and betrayal, and between justice and evil, and is an important theme of the story.

Hans continues his journey to find the Golden Bird, trusting Lulu's help. Along the way, he meets various characters, including the witch and Princess Roland, and overcomes many challenges. In the end, Hans' pure heart and courage are the key to obtaining the Golden Bird, and the story has a touching ending. This story depicts the traditional theme of "good triumphing over evil" in Grimm's fairy tales, teaching children the importance of courage and justice.

Character Analysis

Hans is the youngest prince of the Kaiser Kingdom, and is characterized by his kind-hearted but laid-back personality. His purity and courage are at the heart of the story, deeply moving the viewer. Lulu is a mysterious fox who can speak human language, and is an important character who guides Hans on his journey. Her wisdom and kindness contribute greatly to Hans' success.

Characters such as the witch and Princess Roland also add depth to the story. The witch is a symbol of evil and plays a role in highlighting Hans' trials. On the other hand, Princess Roland sympathizes with Hans' pure heart and supports his journey. The drama woven by these characters makes the story even richer.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of "Golden Bird" are characterized by their musical-like direction, and each scene is carefully crafted. The beautiful visuals of character designer and animation director Ohashi Manabu enhance the visual appeal. In addition, the skillful direction of Fukushima Atsuko and Shinkawa Nobumasa, who were in charge of screen composition, also effectively supports the development of the story.

Music is also an important element of this work, and "The Earth is a Party" composed by Kuni Kawachi decorates the moving ending. The singing voices of Katsue Miwa and Koorogi '73 convey the theme of the story even more deeply. The work of Michihiro Ito, who was in charge of sound effects, also plays a role in integrating the images and music.

Evaluation and impact

"The Golden Bird" is an animated film that expresses the traditional theme of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale, and its moving story and beautiful images have been loved by many viewers. It has been especially praised for teaching children the importance of courage and justice. In addition, the musical-style direction and the ingenuity of each scene enhance the visual appeal and draw the viewer into the world of the story.

This work was also shown as part of the Toei Manga Festival, allowing the story to reach many children. Its impact was so great that it continues to be loved by many fans today. It is also a work that symbolizes the golden age of animation films in the 1980s, along with "New Maple Town Story: Palm Town Arc" and "Choushinsei Flashman: The Great Reversal! Titan Boy!!," which were shown at the same time.

Recommendations and how to watch

"The Golden Bird" is highly recommended for fans of Grimm's fairy tales and those who love animated films. It is especially recommended for parents who want to teach their children the importance of courage and justice. It is also recommended for those who enjoy musical-style productions and beautiful visuals.

You can purchase it on DVD or Blu-ray. It may also be available on streaming services, so be sure to check them out. You can also get a deeper understanding of the appeal of 1980s animated films by watching the related films "New Maple Town Story: Palm Town Arc" and "Choushinsei Flashman: The Great Turnabout! Titan Boy!!," which were shown at the same time.

Conclusion

The Grimm fairy tale "The Golden Bird" is an animated film that features a moving story, beautiful images, and musical-style direction. While the theme continues the tradition of the Grimm fairy tale, it also teaches modern children the importance of courage and justice. Please watch this film and feel its charm.