Taro the Dragon Boy (1979)

I was born the same year this film came out. Being half Japanese and having read or been told many other Japanese folk stories, I am very familiar with some of the characters in this particular story (the Onis and Tengu for example).There are several lessons to be learned from this film; from trusting those around you, to being selfish and the rewards of helping those in need. Although there is some nudity, the audience needs to look past that and focus on the morals being told.The ending holds a lot of emotion and the theme song throughout has a nice rhythm! I would recommend watching this in Japanese with the subtitles on.9/10 stars for me on this one. :)

I saw this last night, and I was deeply, deeply moved. This film is pure gold, a drink of clear water after a day in the sun. This is a story of hope, love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of selflessness. This film does not need to resort to preachy-ness, its message is shown through the deeds of Taro and what he inspires others to do for themselves. The art style is very distinctive, and beautiful. The landscapes feel very real, and the characters fit well within their world. The music and songs are lovingly crafted, and the story will leave you smiling through tears. This was an incredible work of love, and it deserves to be seen again and again. There is some slight nudity, but only once, and nothing sexual. I can't praise this one highly enough. See it for yourself, and you will understand.

I first saw Taro when it was released by Turner on VHS back in the late 1980s. It instantly became a hit with my children, all three of whom came to love it; and we all watched it countless times. We were discouraged to learn that Turner had decided not to re-release the film on VHS, and we subsequently waited for years to see it come out on DVD. The artwork in this film is lovely, with many of the frames looking like a Japanese watercolor. There are elements of Japanese mythology here, as well as action, adventure, and important lessons in life and character building. Taro, an immensely strong and chubby orphan, must set out alone to discover the secret of his mother's disappearance. Along the way he learns that hard work, cooperation, honesty and ambition are essential to his survival. Children will enjoy the film and they may come to identify with the heroic Taro, the Dragon Boy, despite cultural differences and/or language barriers.

I love this film! When I was little (4 or 5) I used to watch it over and over again...I think I eventually wore out the tape. It has everything to keep kids mesmerized: demons, spirits, dragons and a superstrong child protagonist. I would love to get my hands on another copy...