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IMDbPro

Swan Lake

Original title: Sekai meisaku dôwa: Hakuchô no mizûmi
  • 1981
  • G
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Christopher Atkins, Pam Dawber, Robert Axelrod, Lara Cody, and David Hemmings in Swan Lake (1981)
AnimeAdventureAnimationFamilyFantasyMusicalRomance

A prince falls in love with a princess cursed to change into a swan by day, but their love is threatened by the sorcerer who keeps her imprisoned.A prince falls in love with a princess cursed to change into a swan by day, but their love is threatened by the sorcerer who keeps her imprisoned.A prince falls in love with a princess cursed to change into a swan by day, but their love is threatened by the sorcerer who keeps her imprisoned.

  • Director
    • Kimio Yabuki
  • Writer
    • Hirokazu Fuse
  • Stars
    • Keiko Takeshita
    • Tarô Shigaki
    • Asao Koike
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kimio Yabuki
    • Writer
      • Hirokazu Fuse
    • Stars
      • Keiko Takeshita
      • Tarô Shigaki
      • Asao Koike
    • 25User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos52

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Keiko Takeshita
    • Princess Odette
    • (voice)
    Tarô Shigaki
    • Prince Siegfried
    • (voice)
    Asao Koike
    Asao Koike
    • Rothbart
    • (voice)
    Yôko Asagami
    Yôko Asagami
    • Odille
    • (voice)
    Yoneko Matsukane
    Yoneko Matsukane
    • Hans
    • (voice)
    Fuyumi Shiraishi
    Fuyumi Shiraishi
    • Margarita
    • (voice)
    Taeko Nakanishi
    • Queen Mother
    • (voice)
    Akira Murayama
    • Benno
    • (voice)
    Mugihito
    • Adolf
    • (voice)
    Jôji Yanami
    Jôji Yanami
    • Minister
    • (voice)
    Chiyoko Kawashima
    • Catherina
    • (voice)
    • …
    Seiko Nakano
    • Francine
    • (voice)
    Takuo Nody
      Christopher Atkins
      Christopher Atkins
      • Prince Siegfried
      • (English version)
      • (voice)
      Pam Dawber
      Pam Dawber
      • Princess Odette
      • (English version)
      • (voice)
      Kay Lenz
      Kay Lenz
      • Odille
      • (English version)
      • (voice)
      David Hemmings
      David Hemmings
      • Rothbart
      • (English version)
      • (voice)
      Nancy Link
      • Odette (English version)
      • (voice)
      • Director
        • Kimio Yabuki
      • Writer
        • Hirokazu Fuse
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews25

      7.61K
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      Featured reviews

      neonboy619

      A Lost Anime Classic

      I first viewed this anime when I was around 9 years old. Of course, I saw it in English. I am now 19, and viewing it again, I find that this movie hasn't lost most of its charm.

      A big plus in this film is how the original music from the ballet is integrated into the action going on-screen. This film actually introduced me to the music of Peter Tchaikovsky.

      Aside from the music, I loved how the 6 main characters interacted with each other.

      First, there are the two main leads, The Swan Princess herself, Odette, and Sigfried. You truly believe that these two are in love with each other. Odette also is not your typical damsel in distress, yet she's also not a tomboy. She's elegant throughout the whole movie while at the same time remaining the strong woman she is. The Prince grows through out the movie very subtly. The evil Wizard and his daughter are the total opposite of our two heroes. The Wizard Rothbart is very powerful, but appears to weaken while in the presence of Odette, whereas Sigfried seems to be more mature in the presence of Odette. The Wizard's daughter, Odelle, is very much like Odette in the way that they are both elegant. The differences start where Odelle is more provocative and sneakier than Odette. Her affection for the prince is also left up for interpretation.

      Finally, the movie has added in two cute squirrels into this love story. They add much to the story, although I believe commentary on the drama that unfolds before them is most likely so the target audience, young children, will not get lost in all the twists and turns the movie goes through. They are a nice addition.

      In conclusion, this is a really good movie to watch with your kids. A lot of heart was put into this movie and much is to be enjoyed while watching this movie.

      http://neonboy619.blogspot.com
      embla_03

      My favourite anime

      I saw this anime in 1992 in Swedish when I was 8 years old. Now I am 20 and I bought this on ebay last year (2003) and I really enjoyed watching it again. Now I am watching it in English but that is OK because I understand the language.

      One day i decided to buy this anime film but it was difficult to find in Sweden so I checked on ebay and there it was so I bid on it and finally I had won the item. I was very pleased about it because now I was going to see Swan Lake again for the first time since 1992.

      The film was released from Japan in 1982 but I was not born at that time, only 2 years later I was born and had no clue about this film until 1992 when I was 8.

      Swan Lake is about Prince Siegfried and a mysterious Swan who is reallu an enchanted princess called Odette. Odette is hold captive by an evil wizard called Rothbard and his daughter Odile. Siegfried and Odette falls in love but Rothbart has asked Odette to be his wife but she refuses because there is only one man in her heart, Siegfried. So one day there is a ball at Siegfrieds castle and he vows Odette to be his wife. Although there is one problem, Odile and Rothbart knows about this and Odette is locked up in the tower. But two squirrels helps her to escape, Hans and Margarita. Siegfried discovers he has been fooled and follows Odette to the castle. There he and Rothbart fight and finally Rothbart and Odile are defeated with true love. And Odette and Siegfried live happily ever after.
      10jimsamx

      Everyone should see this!

      Swan Lake is one of the most beautiful anime movies ever made. It's really romantic and the music (by Tchaikovski of course!) fits perfectly to the whole story. The animation is not THAT poor. Consider that it was released in 1978 they did a marvellous work. And the theme of "true love" is presented in the most beautiful and wonderful way! Definitely a movie everyone should see including your kids. This is the way cartoons have to be.
      Eridanah

      After So Many Years!

      I am thrilled to find one of my all-time favorite pieces of anime! This is an excellent education in the story and music of "Swan Lake" for those with short attention spans and/or an adversity to ballet/orchestral music. After all, we're talking about one of the fundamentals of Western cultural literacy. This movie tells the story with all of the adventure of anime while incorporating the rich historical feel of the piece as well as the breathtaking score. I remember back when I first saw this, my mother, who is a musician and music teacher, watched it with me and went on for days about how wonderful it was as a means of introducing new generations to "Swan Lake". True!
      10deep_flame

      a fans site

      This is my childhood favorite ! I haven't seen it for so long... There are 2 set of English dubs, the 2nd celebrities dub is the less good in my opinion.

      The music fits so well with the story line, and the squirrels are so cute, you feel true, strong emotions from all the characters.

      Many of us who so it as childes are not able to forget it and looking for it ever since, to be able to let our kids enjoy it on their turn.

      here is a fan site that might be useful- http://www.pireze.org/blog/?p=129

      Cheers !

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      Romance

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Has two different existing English-translated versions. On DVD, both are only available for purchase online in bootleg-copy formats, as there was never an official American DVD release for either. On VHS, one of the English-translated versions was released in America officially, but still has a reputation for being very hard to find, at least in its original form (not a bootleg copy.)
      • Quotes

        Prince Siegfried: Are you a swan that turned into a human being, or you're a human being that turned into a swan?

        Princess Odette: I'm really a human being. But, an evil sorcerer put me under a magic spell and turned me into a swan.

        Prince Siegfried: An evil sorcerer?

        Princess Odette: Yes. I can only turn back into a human girl, after the sun goes down and the moon comes out.

        Prince Siegfried: Then, the spell that turned my friend Adolph into a statue.

        Princess Odette: Yes. That was Rothbart's doing.

      • Alternate versions
        The original English dub version by Frontier Enterprises utilizes the original end credit sequence, featuring the English-translated credits against a still of Odette's crown inter-cut with key moments from the movie in a gold frame (as seen at the beginning of the movie). The second English dub version by Sync, Ltd. omitted the end credit sequence completely, instead opting to place a THE END title over the final shot of Odette's crown sparkling in the grass (along with The Samuel Goldwyn Company credit).
      • Connections
        Referenced in Final Fantasy II (1988)
      • Soundtracks
        Swan Lake
        Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

        Conducted by Stefan Soltesz

        Performed by Wiener Symphoniker

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      FAQ15

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • July 23, 1981 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Official site
        • Movie Circus (Japan)
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Schwanensee
      • Production companies
        • Toei Company
        • Toei Animation
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 1h 15m(75 min)
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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