Now this was a challenge! And I would say a challenge I only-sort-of met.
If you’re new to this blog series, it features a visually impaired idiot trying to understand what’s going on in a foreign-language film without the use of an English dub or subtitles.
My copy of this charming vintage anime didn’t have an English dub anyway, so that sorted that out right away. It also seems to go by many titles: the online department store calls it one thing, the box says another, the hard-stamped subtitles over the opening credits says another, Wikipedia says yet another, and IMDb says yet two more things. Sigh. Like the LGBT community failing to agree on acronyms, it’d be nice if distributors got together to have a meeting prior to releasing stuff in foreign territories.
Even just a quick phone call would solve the problem.
As best as I could tell, The Little Norse Prince, to give it one of its English titles, is about a stout young boy who, after his sole guardian passes away, leaves his hovel for pastures new. The boy eventually comes across a merry rural community, the men and boys of which seem to be under the beguiling spell of a siren-like young girl. The story of this girl, who appears to be rallying against unwanted obligation, proceeds to take up a good third of the middle section of the film.
This leads me to believe the film’s English title is very incorrect and misleading indeed.
After some very-1960s psychedelic bollocks, and a couple of awesome giant monster fights, whatever was at stake is saved and everyone skips off towards the horizon holding hands and laughing.
Right, let’s look up a proper synopsis and see how I’ve done…
…one second…
Ah okay, I didn’t do too badly. It turns out the girl is under an evil spell by the film’s antagonist, so that’s what she’s rallying against throughout. So at least I picked up on that. Oh and the village is where the boy is supposed to be originally from. Or something. There seems to be a few key story discrepancies between the Japanese and English versions, so I’m glad I just tried my best to understand the Japanese one. I know Disney likes to fuck around with their anime translations, with Studio Ghibli severing their ties with the former over such disrespect.
The inclusion of talking animals I found confusing, never being sure if they’re meant to be traditional Japanese “yokai” spirits or just, erm, Disney-style talking animals. I allowed both possibilities to work side-by-side in my head as I watched, which I was comfortable with.
The Little Norse Prince, or The Norse Prince Valiant, or The Adventures of Horus: Prince of the Sun, or Taiyô no ôji: Horusu no daibôkenor, is a cute combination of Laputa and Future Boy Conan and The Mysterious Cities of Gold, which helped keep my early-morning interest in its familiar-yet-different story. Based on the fragmented nature of the storyline, I suspect this is the product of two bankrupt productions hastily stitched together in order to make some money back. But I’m sure I’m wrong about that. Still, the battle scene in which you only get single-frames of the action leads me to believe they didn’t have the cash to literally fill in the gaps.
Perhaps it was a legitimate artistic choice, which only the most minor amount of online research would surely clear up. But who honestly has the time?!
I would say the film is very notable for being one of the few, if the only, anime to be presented in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with pretty much every other one I’ve ever seen being in 1.85:1 or 4:3. I dearly hope this is how it was originally made and not dastardly tinkering by the distributors! If there is another one out there in this format, I have yet to find it. This aspect ratio makes the story feel somewhat larger in scope, even though there really are just a few intimate locations within the tale. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more in 2.35:1, but perhaps there’s a strict technical reason why not.
Answers on a postcard!
I discovered this film whilst searching for whatever-it-was I originally mistook Sailor Moon for, the identity of which remains a mystery. This was one of the few titles that came up that looked promising, even though I was wrong. I’m glad it’s accidentally come into my life and, now that I know for sure what the bloody hell is going on, will definitely be watching again.
Even if you can’t find a physical copy, I’m sure there are plenty of digital services out there that carry it. Whether they have the right to or not.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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