- Magic Boy (film)
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Magic Boy 
1959 Japanese movie posterDirected by Akira Daikubara
Taiji YabushitaProduced by Hiroshi Ōkawa Screenplay by Michihei Muramatsu
Toppei MatsumuraStory by Kazuo Dan Music by Satoshi Funemura
Toru FunamuraStudio Toei Animation Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release date(s) December 25, 1959 Running time 83 minutes Country Japan Language Japanese Magic Boy, known in Japan as Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (少年猿飛佐助, "The Boy Sarutobi Sasuke"), is a full length animated film released on December 25, 1959. Released as Toei Animation's second theatrical anime, the film was released in theaters in North America on June 22, 1961 making it the second anime film to be released there after The Tale of the White Serpent.
In medieval Japan, a boy named Sasuke and his sister live in a forest along with several young animals of different species. One day, one of the animals is grabbed by an eagle and thrown into a lake. Sasuke and another animal jump into the lake to save it. But a monstrous salamander arrives and devours one of the animals. Sasuke tries to fight the monster, but is defeated. And the beast leaves the lake, revealing its true form: a female demon named Yakusha. Sasuke's sister tells him Yakusha was transformed into a salamander by a powerful wizard millennia ago. But now she could muster enough power to have her normal shape back. And now she will found a reign of terror in Japan! Then, Sasuke decides to seek a magician master to learn to fight against Yakusha to save Japan and avenge the death of his pet.
Contents
Cast and characters
- Teruo Miyazaki as Sarutobi Sasuke
- Harue Akagi as Omon Yayamata
- Hiroko Sakuramachi as Oyû
- Katsuo Nakamura as Yukimura Sanada
- Kenji Usuda as Tozawa Hakuun
- Ryôei Itô as Okera no Kinta
- Shunji Sakai as Batta no Miyoshi
- Tomoko Matsushima as Okei-chan
- Yoshio Yoshida as Gonkurô
The MGM version
Magic Boy promotional poster
In the English language version, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer left most of the original songs with Japanese language lyrics. Since the creators of the English version preferred to liken Sasuke to the public perception of samurai, who were viewed as heroic, as opposed to the ninja, who were viewed as "sinister spies and assassins," MGM's publicity incorrectly claimed that The Adventures of the Little Samurai was the Japanese title of the film.[1]
Video game
A video game titled Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (also known as Sasuke Ninja Boy) was released by Sunsoft for the Super Famicom in 1994.[2]
Reception
According to animation historian Jerry Beck, the film exhibited Toei Animation's effort to use the "Disney formula of presenting a traditional folktale with songs and plenty of cute animals."[1] As of October 2010 the film is rated 7.2/10 at the IMDb.
See also
References
- ^ a b Beck, Jerry. The Animated Movie Guide. Chicago Review Press. 2005. 158.
- ^ (Japanese) 忍者ゲーム 【スーパーファミコン】
External links
- Official Web site (archived)
- Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Magic Boy (film) at the Internet Movie Database
Tōei Dōga theatrical features 1950s Hakujaden (1958) · Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (1959)1960s Saiyūki (1960) · Anju to Zushiō Maru (1961) · Arabian Nights: Sinbad no Bōken (1962) · Wanpaku Ōji no Orochi Taiji (1963) · Wanwan Chūshingura (1963) · Gulliver no Uchū Ryokō (1965) · Cyborg 009 (1966) · Shōnen Jakku to Mahōtsukai (1967) · Cyborg 009: Kaijū Sensō (1967) · Hyokkori Hyōtanjima (1967) · Andersen Monogatari (1968) · Taiyō no Ōji: Hols no Daibōken (1968) · Nagagutsu o Haita Neko (1969) · Soratobu Yūreisen (1969)1970s Chibikko Rémi to Meiken Capi (1970) · Kaitei San-man Mile (1970) · Dōbutsu Takarajima (1971) · Ali Baba to Yonjū-ppiki no Tōzoku (1971) · Nagagutsu Sanjūshi (1972) · Maken Liner 0011 Henshin Seyo! (1972) · Panda no Daibōken (1973) · D51 no Daibōken: Kikansha Yaemon (1974) · Andersen Dōwa: Ningyo-Hime (1975) · Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Hachijū Nichi-kan Sekaiisshū (1976) · Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Hakuchō no Ōji (1977) · Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Oyayubi-Hime (1978) · Tatsu no Ko Tarō (1979)1980s Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Mori wa Ikite iru (1980) · Terra e… (1980) · Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Hakuchō no Mizūmi (1981) · Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Aladdin to Mahō no Lamp (1982) · Manga Aesop Monogatari (1983)1990s Rokudenashi Blues 1993 (1993) · Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo (1996)Not including spin-offs of prior animated television productions nor Madhouse-animated features produced by Tōei Categories:- 1959 films
- Japanese-language films
- Anime films
- Anime of the 1950s
- Adventure anime and manga
- Chanbara anime and manga
- Films based upon Asian myths and legends
- Ninja anime and manga
- Toei Animation
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