An experimental environmental animated film by the late Japanese legendary cartoonist and animator Osamu Tezuka (creator of "Astro Boy"), Legend of the Forest is patterned on Disney's Fantasia, and combines a wide variety of animation techniques with a soundtrack from Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. Beginning with black and white stills depicting the disruption of animal life in the forest because of logging, the film shifts to live action and color to follow the tragic relationship of a pair of squirrels, and a battle between the Earth-Spirits of the forest and an evil timber company. The sequences don't necessarily mesh together well. Three times during the film, my 11-year-old son Chris said "what is this about?" and I gave him the standard response "it's art." Still, while Legend of the Forest wouldn't appeal to general audiences, true animation buffs might enjoy this. An optional purchase. (R. Pitman)
Legend Of the Forest
(1987) 28 min. $12.95 (booklet included). Letterboxed. The Right Stuff (dist. by Central Park Media). Color cover. Vol. 9, Issue 6
Legend Of the Forest
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