Film Discussion of the Week: Ringing Bell of Chirin

Damn dude thats a pretty sick burn

Here's the film on YouTube. I'm going to watch it myself one of these days this coming week.

Here's the Japanese one with English subtitles:


And here's one with English language:

(WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!)




This is definitely an interesting one. Ringing Bell of Chirin is often regarded as a landmark in theatrical japanese animation. This was long before anime was even an underground phenomenon in the US or anywhere else outside of Japan, and anime was still in its primitive beginnings, which shows even in Chirin; despite being competently directed and well produced, Ringing Bell of Chirin doesn't have the manga-style art direction the genre would become known for, and actually has much more in common with american animation (cartoons) from a visual perspective. In that respect (and some other respects), it definitely feels like a product of its time, even though the storytelling still holds up.

The first half of the film almost feels like a parody of Disney films. It's bright, cheery, optimistic and for me was totally forgettable (I honestly can't remember anything that happens before Chirin's mother dies). Really the film doesn't take off until the wolf is introduced. If the entire film had been like the first half it wouldn't have left behind any legacy at all (which, if anything, is a commentary on American animation). Once the Wolf appears the film very quickly turns into a dark revenge story, with Chirin vowing to slay the wolf for killing his mother. Thus begins Chirin's transformation from a happy and naive baby lamb into an angry and malicious predator. By the end of the film Chirin becomes the same as the thing that had killed his mother, and is feared by all, including his own sheep kin.

It's a great story that's full of extremely valuable morals, and ends on a very tragic note. I personally think this is the reason why Chirin is so widely regarded & remembered today. Sure it has some nice animation for its time and good production values, but the art direction itself is woefully primitive by anime standards, and if it weren't for the edgy, thought-provoking storytelling, there would be absolutely nothing to differentiate Chirin from any Disney cartoon out there. So I think it's definitely worth watching for anyone curious about the history of japanese animation; just don't go into it expecting an english dub that isn't so-bad-it's-good.

Well Japan is generally a more serious society than America is, and it shows in their animation and art (just look at Akira for example).

Watched the Japanese language version, and here's the review:

"Ringing Bell of Chirin ends up being a mixed movie for me. The first half is very much like a kids movie (the kind of kids movies that are boring to adults), while the movie really picks up during the latter half of it. Good music, okay animation (well it is the 70s, what can one expect), but very boring setting. It is sheep and wolf, not the most awesome looking thing. An alright movie." 3/5.

What the actual fuck dude. There are reviews out there which are only a single word. Of course this is a fucking review. What do you expect? A 3 volume novel maybe? I review every single fucking movie I watch. Not every review can be several paragraphs as there is not always something to say about it. This is what I had to say about Chirin. For fucks sake, it's only a 45 minute film, one can barely even call it one as it's so short. A review doesn't have a definition of length. It can be either as short or as long as the writer wishes. Be glad some people are watching your suggestion dude, because I bet most people here won't.

If you give hard criticism, you have to take hard criticism.