The appeal and evaluation of the movie version of "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils": Reevaluating the moving adventure

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (movie version) - A moving story of adventure and growth

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Fairy tales

■ Release date

January 31, 2015

■Distribution company

Tokyo Northern Lights Festival Executive Committee

■Frequencies

93 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Selma Lagerlöf

■ Director

Nagayuki Chokai

■Works

©Gakken

■ Story

Nils, a mischievous boy living in a rural area in southern Sweden, one day breaks a promise he made to a fairy and is magically shrunk. However, this leads to him being able to talk to animals, and he sets off on a journey with Morten the goose and Carrot the hamster as part of a flock of geese. Through his adventure, Nils learns courage, responsibility and cooperation.

■Explanation

This is the movie version of "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils," which was very popular on NHK. New cels were created specifically for this film, and it was shot on 35mm film. Don't miss this chance to see this elusive work that was completed in 1983 but never released. Nils' great adventure begins now, heading for Lapland, a mecca for migratory birds, in the majestic nature of Sweden.

■Cast

・Nils/Mami Koyama ・Morten/Yoshito Yasuhara ・Carrot/Yui Yamazaki

■ Main staff

・Directed by: Toriumi Eiyuki, Anno Masami, Oshii Mamoru ・Screenplay by: Taguchi Narumitsu, Nakahara Akira

■Detailed reviews and recommendations

■ Background and production secrets of the work

"The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" is based on a classic fairy tale by Selma Lagerlöf and is also known as an animated series that aired on NHK in the 1980s. This theatrical version was produced in 1983 but remained unreleased for a long time. It was finally released in 2015 by the Tokyo Northern Lights Festival Executive Committee, providing a long-awaited opportunity for fans to see it.

In order to bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest, the production team put in a lot of time and effort, including creating new cel drawings and shooting on 35mm film. With the participation of famous staff members such as director Toriumi Nagayuki, Anno Masami, and Oshii Mamoru, the high quality of the film is guaranteed.

■ The appeal of the story

Nils is a mischievous and selfish boy who breaks a promise to a fairy and ends up with a small body. This incident gives Nils the ability to communicate with animals, and he sets off on an adventure with the goose Molten and the hamster Carrot.

Through this journey, Nils learns how his own actions affect those around him and develops important values ​​such as courage, responsibility, and cooperation. The story depicts Nils's growth and is sure to inspire a wide audience, from children to adults.

One particularly memorable scene is when Nils heads to Lapland with a flock of geese. Set against the backdrop of Sweden's majestic nature, the film beautifully depicts the deepening bond between Nils and the animals, providing a visually moving experience.

■Charm of the characters

Mami Koyama's voice acting as Nils realistically expresses the change in Nils's heart as he grows from a mischievous boy, evoking deep empathy from the audience. Yoshihito Yasuhara, who plays Morten, and Yui Yamazaki, who plays Carrot, also succeed in bringing out the individuality of their characters.

The characters other than Nils are also charming, especially the goose Morten, who plays an important role in supporting Nils' growth as a good friend. Carrot the hamster is a humorous character who provides laughs to the story while also teaching Nils important lessons.

■Beauty of images and music

The visual beauty of this work has been highly praised, due to the vividness of the 35mm film and the detailed depiction of the cel animation. The scenes with the Swedish nature as a backdrop are so beautiful that they are like looking at a painting, providing a visual impression.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The music effectively creates the tension of the adventure and the moving scenes, successfully evoking the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the music played during the journey to Lapland is beautiful and heart-stirring.

■ Recommendation points

"The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Theatrical Version)" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It is especially recommended for those who like works that depict stories of growth and those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. It is also a must-see for fans of the original work and those who have nostalgia for the NHK anime series from the 1980s.

Through Nils' adventures, this film teaches us the importance of courage, responsibility, and cooperation. It's great to watch with your family, but we also recommend watching it by yourself. Please do experience this moving story.

Related information

・Original work: "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" by Selma Lagerlöf is a very famous Swedish children's book, and has been translated into many languages. By reading the original work, you can gain a deeper understanding of the work.

・NHK anime series: "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils," broadcast in the 1980s, was loved by many viewers. By watching this series, you will be able to get a deeper understanding of the background and characters of the movie.

・Director: Nagayuki Toriumi is a director who has worked on many masterpieces in the anime industry. If you check out his other works, you may be able to feel the charm of "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" even more.

■ Summary

Although "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Theatrical Version)" was a mysterious work that had not been released for a long time, its high quality and moving story has captivated many viewers. The story of Nils' growth and adventure inspires a wide range of people from children to adults, teaching the importance of courage, responsibility, and cooperation. The beautiful images and music are also points not to be missed, so it is a work that you should definitely see at least once.