Oyayubihime (Thumb Princess)

Oyayubihime (Thumb Princess) is a 1999 Japanese TV movie, which is a take on Thumbelina. Being a part of the "Kowai Douwa (Scary Fairy Tales)" series, the movie stars Chiaki Kuriyama.

Story

In this version of Oyayubihime, Sayako is a high school girl with a crush on a boy in her class named Yuuichi. Becoming obsessed with him, she tries to gain his attention and wins his affections. One day, she meets a strange man at a flea-market. The man gives her a red liquid, telling her that if she splashes it on Yuuichi, her wish will become true. After acquiring the liquid, Sayako gets courage and confesses her love to Yuuichi. After being rejected by him, she splashes the liquid on Yuuichi, believing that it will cause him to love her, however, it causes him to shrink. Although he still has no feelings for Sayako, she takes him home and desperately tries to get Yuuichi to love her. Things soon take a turn for the worse, when she realizes that she can do whatever she wants to him. A group of girls at her school begin to grow suspicious of her cheeriness, and send one of her friends, Aya, to find out in return for 500 yen. She finds out, however, it caught and shrunk as well. Yuuichi convinces Sayako to take him on a day alone, and Yuuichi escapes to a colony of other small people. While Sayako was out, Aya sends a cry for help, via e-mail, to her brother. Sayako finds out upon her return, and kills her. However, the e-mail didn't go unnoticed, and soon, finding evidence such as Aya in the trash can, the police are on her tail. On the run, she finds the colony of other small people that Yuuichi joined. She decides to go to the flea market man and switch places with Yuuichi. Yuuichi promises that they will be together forever upon receiving her, but turns her in to the police.

Cast

• Chiaki Kuriyama

Current Condition

The movie is difficult to find, for it was only released on VHS, shortly before DVD use came into fruition. Today it is out-of-print, and no longer for sale anywhere. However, the full version is now available in YouTube.