Enchanted Journey is a 1981 anime film directed by Hideo Nishimaki and based on the book of the same name by Atsuo Saitō.
A chipmunk named Glikko is raised domestically in a big city along with his sister, Fluff. While frolicking through their apartment, Glikko is approached by a pigeon named Pippo who tells him all about the chipmunks living in the vast North Forest. The following day, Glikko decides to go see the North Forest. Despite being warned of the many threats along the way, Glikko insist on going. Understanding the domestic life is too small for her brother, Fluff allows him to go while she stays behind.
After escaping the dangers of his city, Glikko arrives at a zoo where he meets a female chipmunk named Nono, who also wishes to go to the North Forest. Glikko is against it at first, but reluctantly allows Nono to come and the two chipmunks begin their epic journey to their true home while trying to avoid being eaten by dangerous predators.
This anime provides examples of...
- Brutal Bird of Prey: The hawk which starts off stalking Nono and Glikko as they are talking to a squirrel. After snatching the squirrel, it immediately comes after the two chipmunks, but fortunately they elude it. However, it comes after Glikko and Nono again while they are starting to climb a mountain. Fortunately, the fox shows up.
- Cats Are Mean: There's the neighbor's housecat that tries to eat Glikko and Pippo outside of the apartment. Afterwards, a black barn cat attacks Nono and Glikko while they are trying to pick persimmons from a tree.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Nono was originally born in the forest, but, while still a baby, she and her mother were captured by a human hunter and taken to the zoo. Nono grew up believing the whole world was inside of cages, but her mother told her otherwise. Nono's mother greatly missed the freedom she once had and eventually died from stress, but not before telling Nono she must return to the forest.
- Determinator: Despite the many dangers (predators, snowstorms, lack of food), Glikko and Nono were extremely determined to reach the North Forest.
- Disney Villain Death: The fox chases Glikko through the forest until they approach a branch on the edge of a cliff. The fox leaps at Glikko just when he jumps to the other side, but misses. Glikko makes it safely across, but the fox falls to his death.
- The Homeward Journey: This film focuses on Glikko, and later Nono, as they journey through wilderness, cross deep water, and climb a mountain to reach the North Forest and live among the other wild chipmunks.
- Killed Offscreen: The unfortunate squirrel that Nono and Glikko encounter on their way to the vast forest. We see the hawk swoop down and fly off with him, but we don't see him get eaten afterwards.
- Last Request: Before dying at the zoo, Nono's mother tells her to return to her homeland and promises she too will be there in spirit.
- Nice Guy: Pippo the pigeon. It is because of him, Glikko learned of the North Forest which started his journey and led to him meeting Nono. Pippo's also shown to be daring and brave as he tries to distract the fox when he started attacking the chipmunks.
- Official Couple: Glikko and Nono, of course.
- Predators Are Mean: You have the neighboring tabby cat at Glikko's apartment, the black cat guarding the persimmon tree, the hawk, and the super-persistent fox. According to an elderly chipmunk, the fox had been terrorizing the chipmunks for years, suggesting that he took pleasure in attacking the chipmunks.
- Shipper on Deck: Though Glikko is unable to mention his relationship with Nono to Pippo, the wise pigeon is easily able to figure it out.Pippo: Perhaps you might say "People, this chipmunks means the world to me."
- Stern Chase: The major scene where villainous fox attacks the chipmunks and pursues Glikko through the forest.
- Super-Persistent Predator: The hawk attacks Nono and Glikko at least twice, but is killed by the fox in their second encounter. However, despite killing the large bird of prey, the fox only wants the chipmunks and immediately targets them afterwards.
- Swarm of Rats: The sewer rats and the house rats.
- Villainous Rescue: When the hawk has Glikko cornered, it is attacked and killed by the vicious fox, giving time for Nono and Glikko to escape further into the mountain.
- You Dirty Rat!: Averted in the case of Gamba, the rat Glikko befriends after leaving home, and his gang of sewer rats. However, the house rats strongly fit this.
