The Boy Who Saw the Wind
Encyclopedia
is an animated
film based on the novel by C.W. Nicol. Directed by Kazuki Omori
, it was broadcast in Japan on Brain's Base
and Hitachi-Maxell on July 22, 2000. It was also broadcast in France by AK Video, in Spain by HBO and in Russia by MC Entertainment
. The film was adapted into a play by Japan's Atom Theater Company.
Branik: The despotic ruler of the Golden Snake Empire.
Maria: A young girl from a fishing village, she befriends Amon.
Lucia: A scientist, assistant to Amon's father, who becomes the Golden Snake Empire's head weapons scientist.
's films.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film based on the novel by C.W. Nicol. Directed by Kazuki Omori
Kazuki Omori
is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.-Career:Born in Osaka, Ōmori studied at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and actually holds a license to practice medicine. While in school, he began making films independently, with Kuraku naru made matenai! , which featured Seijun Suzuki,...
, it was broadcast in Japan on Brain's Base
Brain's Base
is a Japanese animation studio.-TV series:2002*Daigunder2003*Pluster World2005*Kamichu!*Gunparade Orchestra2006*Innocent Venus2007*Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula*Baccano!2008*Kure-nai*Natsume's Book of Friends...
and Hitachi-Maxell on July 22, 2000. It was also broadcast in France by AK Video, in Spain by HBO and in Russia by MC Entertainment
MC Entertainment
MC Entertainment is a Russian distributor of anime and films from Japan, USA, Germany, Great Britain, China, Thailand and South Korea. The company, headed by Dmitry Fedotkin, was founded in 2000. As of 2007, it the largest anime company in Russia. It is also the first Russian company aimed...
. The film was adapted into a play by Japan's Atom Theater Company.
Plot
The young boy Amon has the mysterious power of the ancient "wind people." His father, a brilliant military scientist of the Golden Snake Empire, does not want to use his son's powers for weapons of mass destruction. He burns his papers and lab and tries to escape from the country with his family, but is killed in the attempt. Amon is taken prisoner by the Golden Snake Empire's despotic ruler, Branik, who intends for Amon's powers to produce a new super-weapon. Amon escapes to Heart Island when an eagle explains to him how to see the wind and fly. On Heart Island, Amon learns a bit about the history of the wind people from a bear. He then flies off and settles in a small fishing village. There, he befriends a young girl his own age, Maria. When Branik and the Golden Snake Empire launch an attack on the village, Maria's family are killed and Maria flees with Amon. Eventually Amon and Maria are recaptured, Maria thrown in prison and Amon forced to work on weapons. Amon joins a small revolution against Branik.Characters
Amon: A young boy with powers of the ancient wind people. He can create small balls of light, called "light play", and converse with animals. Eventually he discovers the ability to see the wind and fly, as well as other ancient powers.Branik: The despotic ruler of the Golden Snake Empire.
Maria: A young girl from a fishing village, she befriends Amon.
Lucia: A scientist, assistant to Amon's father, who becomes the Golden Snake Empire's head weapons scientist.
Reception
A reviewer at Mania.com commends the film for its "beautifully drawn and animated" graphics and "top-notch" cinematography. However, they criticised the film's imitation of Hayao MiyazakiHayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
's films.