Heartwarming / Unico in the Island of Magic

"You do love me!"

While this film has already entered much darker territory compared to The Fantastic Adventures of Unico. Being a Sanrio and Tezuka production, Unico has it's fair share of genuinely heartwarming and sweet moments sprinkled in to counteract the melancholy tone.

Warning: per wiki policy, Heartwarming Moments pages are Spoilers Off.

• Unico first meeting Cheri is adorable and cute to watch. Cheri puts him into a small basket for him to sleep in alongside feeding him soup to warm him up. While Unico remained silent due to his shyness, he manages to say his name to Cheri as she's sleeping at bedtime.
  Unico: (timidly) I'm... Unico.
  • The next morning, he properly introduces himself to Cheri which makes her extremely excited. She's so happy that she runs outside to tell her parents that Unico talked to her.
• After Toby is ordered to turn Cheri and Unico into toys for Kuruku's private showcase of sentient toys instead of puppets. He quietly decides to free the duo and take them far away from Nightmare Island to prevent them from getting into more danger with Kuruku. He even turns Cheri and Unico back to normal before he continues on turning more creatures into puppets.
• When Cheri decides to leave Unico behind in the middle of the desert to confront Kuruku and her brother. Unico is confused thinking she doesn't love him anymore. He later realizes from Marusu/The Sphinx's Daughter, that she was doing it out of love, and is seen chasing after which causes him to turn into The Mighty Unicorn.
  Unico: What's wrong? She doesn't like me anymore.
  Marusu/Sphinx's Daughter: Aw yeah?
  Unico: That's right she's leaving me behind isn't she?
  Marusu/Sphinx's Daughter: Bonehead, she not only likes you, she loves you.
  Unico: No she doesn't. If she did. She wouldn't go away and... leave me here. She wouldn't.
  Marusu/Sphinx's Daugher: It's because she loves you that she's making you stay here. She doesn't want you to have to suffer, too! She's going to find the end of the world all by herself. She's really something else!
  Unico: (happily) Ah you're right. Cheri! Wait Cheri! You do love me, you do! And. I. Love. You! (turns into The Mighty Unicorn) I can help you Cheri! I can!
  • As Marusu/Sphinx's Daughter is chasing after Unico telling him not to forget her. Unico instantly grabs her and puts her onto his back before taking off to the next destination.
  • The brief montage of Unico (as "The Mighty Unicorn") taking care of Cheri and Marusu. Notably the scene where Unico uses his wings to prevent Cheri and Marusu from getting wet on a mountain top. Meanwhile, Cheri is very worried for Unico and hoping he's alright, unaware that Unico is taking care of her in his Mighty Unicorn form.
  • When they finally make it to the end of the Earth, Unico returns to normal in front of Cheri, who is overjoyed to be reunited with him.
  Cheri: Unico, it's you! I should have known we never could have been separated! Thank you!
• After learning about Kuruku's backstory, when Unico finally confronts him after Cheri and everybody are puppets. He tries his hardest to avoid fighting him by avoiding his attacks (which causes pillars around Nightmare Island to collapse) before being forced to penetrate his chest. After Unico managed to strike him, Kuruku tells him that his attack "was more than a scratch" with Unico actually apologizing to him after learning this.
  Unico: I should have know, I'd never stand a chance against him.
  Kuruku: What are you talking about? This is more than a scratch.
  Unico: But I had no idea, I hardly touched you. I'm sorry.
  • Knowing Unico doesn't like being lonely, he strongly sympathizes with Kuruku after learning his mistreatment by his two former owners alongside living alone at Nightmare Island. After revealing that he felt sorry for him, he insists on becoming Kuruku's very first friend (much to his confusion and shock). As he watches him dying, Unico promises Kuruku that he would be "Friends Forever" once he turns everybody back to normal.
    Unico: Kuruku, don't worry! I'll be your friend, okay?
    Kuruku: (shrieks at his suggestion)
    Unico: If you free all your puppets from your magic spell, I'll be your friend forever!
    Kuruku: (screams) That word again! Who would ever want to be a friend of mine? WHO!?
    Unico: Oh wait, Kuruku, don't be frightened! Anyone can have a friend, really!
  • The fact Unico genuinely wishes to make himself Kuruku's friend so he won't be lonely anymore is extremely heartwarming. After all the wicked things he put Unico and his friends throughout the film alongside terrorizing everything in sight. Unico prefers using love over violence and never tells Kuruku how much he hates him for all the hell he put him and everybody through. He dislikes Kuruku's actions, but feels very sorry for him as a person knowing he was powered by his own hatred. Especially since Kuruku had been lonely for centuries and Unico is no stranger to being lonely himself causing him to instantly sympathize with Kuruku.