The anime industry is full of beloved classics, which include everything from feature films to television series. While films by companies like Studio Ghibli tend to dominate public perception, there are other films that have been forgotten for years that deserve more attention. Take for example Sanrio’s 1981 title, The Sea Prince and the Fire Child.
From the company better known for beloved characters like Hello Kitty, this movie takes the premise of Romeo and Juliet and introduces magical magic, war gods and hide-and-seek games. in cartoons. Despite some limitations due to the limitations of animation at the time, the art, story and balanced atmosphere make the story of Sirius and Malta a gem that modern audiences still will love.
Sanrio’s classic film brings conflicting themes into harmony
The Sea Prince and the Fire Child tells a tried-and-true plot with a magical twist. The film opens with the story of the Gods of Fire and Water, Oceanus and Hyperia, who live happily together until the evil Wind God banishes them. Centuries later, the water children and the fire children were forbidden to communicate with each other for fear of war breaking out. This did not stop Sirius, Prince of the Sea, when he came across the future Fire Queen, Malta. The two begin to meet in secret, fall in love and try to find somewhere they can live peacefully.
The familiar plot is breathed anew thanks to the countless fantasy elements built on it. The gods of war feel as if they’ve stepped out of a creation myth, while the fairy-like fire children and Sirius’s demonic attitude recall the adventures of Peter Pan. The art and animation throughout the film come together in a collage; Oceanus and Hyperia will find themselves at home in an art museum, while their children seem to have jumped from a storybook and across the screen. These distinct styles come together harmoniously and complement each other, making the film feel balanced rather than patchy as one might expect.
Modern audiences can often despise older films, believing them to be underwhelming due to time constraints. But the classics are there for a reason, as the love story of Sirius and Malta proves it. Sanrio innovates the story of unhappy lovers by combining allegory with influences from various genres. The result is a film that will touch the hearts of generations and stay with viewers long after the film is over. Anime fans, both classic and modern, will truly love it The Sea Prince and the Fire Child If they give it a chance.
