A stunning masterpiece of fantasy

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2002)

There's but little to add to what has been written before, except, perhaps, my humble opinion... Never a real Japanimation-fan before I was somewhat reluctant to watch the film (especially after I had learned that the artist was the same that crafted "Heidi" --- which was some fun, I admit), but, being a little bit of a japanologist, I agreed to my friends' insist. To cut it short, I was amazed. The references to the diminishing Ainu people (Emishi) surprised me, and while the soundtrack captured my heart at once, my amazement grew when I watched the boar-demon. What imagination! And that same creative force left me captivated even some time after the movie (I simply forgot to smoke a cigarette, my friends and I wandered through the alleys without actually knowing where we were going...). Now I listen to that gorgeous soundtrack, and even now my skin creeps at certain scenes. The injured Lord of the Forests taking over the country is a view that nothing can match. And I won't forget the lovely Kodamas. You don't know who they are? Watch it, you'll know...