Ali Baba to 40-hiki no Touzoku
Japanese title: アリババと４０匹の盗賊
Alternative titles: Ali Baba to Yonju-hiki no Touzoku, Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, Alibaba's Revenge, Ali Baba to Yonjuppiki no Touzoku
Type: Movie
Source: Unknown
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 18, 1971
Duration: 55 min
Rating: G - All Ages
Studios: Toei Animation
Genres: Action, Fantasy

A film produced for Toei's 20th anniversary. A boy who is the descendant of the leader of the theives who met a grisly fate in the 1001 Nights bands together with 38 cats and a mouse to get back his rightful treasure from Ali Baba XXXIII, the descendent of Ali Baba who now rules the kingdom with an iron fist. This is a reversal of the good guy/bad guy roles in the original story! (perhaps not surprising for being a film in which Hayao Miyazaki was involved) This film is one of the most rollicking and action-packed films made by Toei, and is in an outrageously cartoonish style breaking with the Toei mold. It has a spectacular lineup of animators including Yasuji Mori, Akira Daikubara, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe and Reiko Okuyama. The original story about Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves itself is recounted at one point in the film in an unexpected and interesting way using shadow-puppets. 

(Source: pelleas.net)