Taro the Dragon Boy

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. :)

Taro the Dragon Boy is an animated movie taken place in ancient times. Back when Zen art was one of the few art hobbies in Japan and rice was like gold to the people.

In a small village, lived Taro a lazy boy who doesn't do work or help his own grandmother. He likes to eat and wrestle with the animals in the woods. One day he wrestles with the long nose wizard who granted him the strength of a hundred men. Which made Taro thrilled, but he was told to only use it to help others in need. Taro accepted that, and now becomes a better help to others around him.

One day Taro wondered about the scales on the side of his body. His grandmother tells him that he's not like the other boys because,Taro was born half dragon. His mother was cursed as a dragon when giving birth she had to live North because of her image of a dragon.

Taro now knows what he must do is go on a quest to find his mother. And he will help others in need and make new friends on the way too.

Taro the Dragon Boy is something different for an old school anime. It's very well animated and has a great use of Zen like backgrounds. Even though the original trailer said it's based off of a kids story. There are plenty of inappropriate parts in the movie. Including small amounts of violence and brief nudity of a boy's pelvis and a woman's breasts.

Just to know, the rating system in Japan is different from here. Cause a film like this would receive PG-13 in America. Since I recommend this film for teens or those who are mature enough to see brief nudity in a movie. I suggest watching it yourself and see if it's OK to let a kid watch it.

Other than that I highly recommend it to all time anime lovers.

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...

This is a beautiful rendition of what I assume is an old Japanese legend. The animation is simple yet satisfying because the illustration is so beautiful and compelling.

The film presents the story of Taro, a young boy with great strength who leaves his village and friends to find his mother. During the course of his journey he learns much of the world. He frees himself of those who wish to use him and welcomes those who help. There is much delightful magic and powerful mythological truth in this film.

I have an English language version (Turner Program Services) with exceptionally well done music and voices. My children have viewed this over and over again, and unlike Disney films, the adults have not tired of it. The music, language and story are both charming and profound.

This is an excellent old anime. It is very stylized with Japanese ink paintings for backgrounds and characters reminiscent of those in Miyazaki films. I am not sure if this is a Japanese or Chinese film however.

I have enjoyed this movie since I was a kid and still enjoy it, though it is very hard to find.