Your average person on the street has probably never heard of Ringing Bell, and is likely to dismiss it when they find out it was produced by Sanrio. (A lot of anime fans would as well.) From the 70s into the 80s, though, Sanrio had a film division that aimed to be Japan's Disney - but can you imagine Disney, then and now, ever releasing a film like this?
For a 45-minute film it is surprisingly thoughtful and deep, with a plot that raises questions and lets the viewer think for themselves about what it all means. The moral, if there is one, is so abstract that what it is is up to the viewer. Some have said it's a traditional Japanese moral about conformity; others interpret it as being about the life you choose and its consequences. All I can tell you is that, well, there's a moral somewhere in it.
The animation is far from the limited stuff seen on Japanese TV anime of the period. It moves like a Disney film and it makes the film all the more better. The character designs are also somewhat westernized as well - they don't really resemble anything you'd find in anime of the era. The music is fine and does its business, excepting the haunting main theme, which is not only an Ear Worm but a beautiful piece of music itself.
The dub... well, it's really a miracle that the film was dubbed and dubbed uncut to begin with, and in the early 80s no less. The actors give fine performances which manage to get the story across with the same impact as the original. Admittedly, the animation helps in this respect, but it's the performances that really make it work.
In summary: are you hungering for a film that will make you think? Are you an anime fan who wants to see something new and unexpected? Do you enjoy good movies in general? Ringing Bell is available on YouTube. Watch it. You won't regret it.
Literature One of the greatest pieces of Japanese animation ever made
Your average person on the street has probably never heard of Ringing Bell, and is likely to dismiss it when they find out it was produced by Sanrio. (A lot of anime fans would as well.) From the 70s into the 80s, though, Sanrio had a film division that aimed to be Japan's Disney - but can you imagine Disney, then and now, ever releasing a film like this?
For a 45-minute film it is surprisingly thoughtful and deep, with a plot that raises questions and lets the viewer think for themselves about what it all means. The moral, if there is one, is so abstract that what it is is up to the viewer. Some have said it's a traditional Japanese moral about conformity; others interpret it as being about the life you choose and its consequences. All I can tell you is that, well, there's a moral somewhere in it.
The animation is far from the limited stuff seen on Japanese TV anime of the period. It moves like a Disney film and it makes the film all the more better. The character designs are also somewhat westernized as well - they don't really resemble anything you'd find in anime of the era. The music is fine and does its business, excepting the haunting main theme, which is not only an Ear Worm but a beautiful piece of music itself.
The dub... well, it's really a miracle that the film was dubbed and dubbed uncut to begin with, and in the early 80s no less. The actors give fine performances which manage to get the story across with the same impact as the original. Admittedly, the animation helps in this respect, but it's the performances that really make it work.
In summary: are you hungering for a film that will make you think? Are you an anime fan who wants to see something new and unexpected? Do you enjoy good movies in general? Ringing Bell is available on YouTube. Watch it. You won't regret it.