Review of Tezuka Osamu's "Buddha" -- Captivated by the beauty of the red desert --

Tezuka Osamu's Buddha ──Red Desert! Beautiful──

Overview

Tezuka Osamu's Buddha: Red Desert, Beautiful is an anime film based on the manga of the same name by Tezuka Osamu. It was released on May 28, 2011 and distributed by Toei and Warner Bros. Pictures. It is directed by Morishita Kozo and Koga Go and produced by Toei Animation and Tezuka Productions. The film is 111 minutes long and has a self-contained episode format.

story

The story is set in India in the 6th century BC and follows the life of Siddhartha (later known as Buddha). Although born into royalty, Siddhartha witnessed the suffering of the world and set out on a journey to attain enlightenment. His journey depicts his encounters with various people and trials that ultimately lead to enlightenment.

A particularly impressive scene is when Siddhartha travels through the red desert. The desert symbolizes his inner desolation and suffering, and his inner growth is depicted in this beautiful yet harsh natural environment. In addition, the scenes where Siddhartha meets important characters such as Devadatta and Ananda also add depth to the story.

character

Siddhartha (Buddha) : The protagonist of the story. Born into royalty, he sets out on a journey to attain enlightenment. He is kind-hearted and has the ability to empathize with the suffering of others, but he also needs to face his own suffering.

Devadatta : Siddhartha's cousin and rival. He is an ambitious man who tries to prevent Siddhartha from attaining enlightenment, but his actions also reveal his inner self.

Ananda : Siddhartha's cousin and faithful disciple. He accompanies Siddhartha on his journey and is his support. He is gentle and has a deep understanding of Siddhartha's teachings.

Maya : Siddhartha's mother. She dies early in the story, but her presence lives on in Siddhartha's heart.

Background

Tezuka Osamu's Buddha is a long manga series that was serialized from 1972 to 1983, and is one of his masterpieces. This work was drawn by Tezuka over his entire life, and it is also a work that allows one to gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings. In adapting it into an animated film, the aim was to respect the spirit of the original work while drawing out new appeal through visual expression.

Directors Kozo Morishita and Go Koga faithfully reproduced Tezuka's original work, while making full use of beautiful images and music to liven up the story. In particular, in the red desert scene, CG technology was used to create beautiful scenery, visually expressing Siddhartha's inner conflict. In addition, Joe Hisaishi was in charge of the music, which adds a rich emotional touch to Siddhartha's journey.

Recognition and Awards

"Tezuka Osamu's Buddha - Red Desert! Beautiful -" was highly praised when it was released. It was especially praised for its faithful reproduction of the spirit of the original work and the beauty of its visual expression. The story of Siddhartha's inner growth also touched many audiences.

This work won the Excellence in Animation Award at the 2011 Japan Academy Prize, and also won a special award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. These awards are proof that the value of Tezuka Osamu's original work and the beauty of its visual expression have been recognized worldwide.

Recommended points

1. Beautiful visual expression : The beautiful visual expression, including the red desert scene, has the power to draw the audience in. The landscape depiction, which makes full use of CG technology, visually expresses Siddhartha's inner conflict and is worth seeing.

2. Deep story : The Buddhist teachings depicted through Siddhartha's journey deeply touch the audience. In particular, Siddhartha's inner growth and the contrast with Devadatta give the story depth.

3. The appeal of the music : Joe Hisaishi's music adds a rich emotional touch to Siddhartha's journey. In particular, the music in the red desert scene makes us feel the inner conflict of Siddhartha even more deeply.

4. Based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka : Osamu Tezuka's original work is a work that provides a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings, and the animated film, which faithfully recreates its spirit, is a work that fans of the original work should not miss.

Related Titles

Tezuka Osamu's other works also have many interesting contents. In particular, the following works share themes and expressions in common with "Buddha."

"Phoenix" : One of Osamu Tezuka's masterpieces, this work depicts the eternity of life and human desires. Like "Buddha," it deals with a deep theme.

"Black Jack" : A work depicting the exploits of the doctor Black Jack. Although it is in a different genre from "Buddha," you can feel the depth of the human drama depicted by Tezuka.

"Jungle Emperor" : A work that depicts the themes of peace and coexistence through the story of animals. Like "Buddha," it reflects Tezuka's philosophy.

How to watch

"Tezuka Osamu's Buddha: Red Desert! Beautiful" is available on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on video streaming services. It is especially available on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, so you can watch it easily.

summary

"Tezuka Osamu's Buddha - Red Desert! Beautiful" faithfully reproduces the original work by Tezuka Osamu, drawing the audience in with its beautiful visual expression and deep story. The Buddhist teachings depicted through Siddhartha's journey have touched many people. This work, which allows you to feel the beautiful visual expression and music, as well as the spirit of Tezuka Osamu's original work, is definitely worth watching at least once.