The Dog of Flanders
Mimi: Only two anime films have ever made me cry. They are: Grave of the Fireflies (1988), a heartbreaking story about two children struggling through the end of World War II in Japan, and The Dog of Flanders (1997), about a poor kid and his dog, Nello and Patrash. Plan on watching the latter soon? Then you better have your tissue box handy, you know, just in case you bawl like a baby. The film connects way back to an 1872 novel by Ouida, which has stood the test of time and inspired a real statue of the said characters. Despite that I have only just become familiar with the story, the spirit of this classic touched me like no other, easily becoming one of my favorites.
So what exactly is it that makes this simple story so powerful and moving? I’m not particularly a dog lover; however, the characters are extremely likeable and easy to get attached to. I admire Nello for his good-natured personality and devotion to helping his grandfather, so I cannot help but also feel fond of his affectionate bond with Patrash. My heart only breaks as one unfortunate event after another befalls them, as well as when they grow stronger and keep on smiling despite of their circumstances. Although dated, the background art of 19th-century Belgium is nothing short of being highly detailed and stunning. This beautifully crafted masterpiece should not be missed by anyone.
Alex: I don’t exactly like many “older” anime. It’s hard to find them in a good quality, and more often than not impossible to find subtitles. Considering that i’ve watched things the other way around, a lot of the unique parts of the story are what we’d call clichéd and boring nowdays.Whilst the story itself is simple but full of life, the emotional reaction your average viewer would have from it is way beyond what most people nowdays are capable of.
Maybe it’s because they just forgot what makes a story good. Instead of trying to jazz it up and make it some form of super creative anime, going back to the basic simplicity that brings The Dog Of Flanders to life is the best thing which can be done.It’s an absolutly beautiful story, and it’s something that i’d buy on VHS and show to my kids one day.
Mimi’s Score: 10 Meeps out of 10 (Masterpiece)
I’ve been waiting for this review! Glad you both liked it! And yes, it VERY BADLY needs a DVD release. I’m gonna go pester Discotek on their Facebook page about it.
i have not seen this movie as yet…but its sounds very interesting…i’ll have to put this on my list to watch…thanks for the review
Dieser Klassiker solltet viel mehr publik gemacht werden. Als die englische Schriftstellerin Marie Luisa de la Ramee 1872 bei einen Reise in Antwerpen sah, das Kinderarbeit und Tierquälereien ganz normal war, schrieb sie das Meisterwerk ” A Dog of Flandern”. Sie war aktive Tierschützerin und gegen jede Art der Kinderarbeit. Anfang des 1900 Jahrhundert machte diese wunderbare Geschichte die reise nach Japan und in den USA. 1975 wurde sie als japanische Zeichentrickserie in die ganze Welt ausgestrahlt.
Im Original “Damals bei uns, oder A Dog of Flandern” 1997 ist das Ende sehr dramatisch und tränenreich. ( Als 1997 Jan Corteel bei den wunderbaren Remake „ A Dog of Flandern“ mitwirkte, nach dem er sich der Nachforschung annahm, war das sicher ein riesiger Arbeitaufwand wo Niklaas & Patrasch gelebt haben sollte, konnte er seine Infos in das Drama einbringen. Respekt.)
Die synchronisierte deutschsprachigen Version bei “Niklaas, ein junge aus Flandern.1975 wurde das ende sehr beschwichtigt und hatte einen glücklichen Ausgang. Wahrscheinlich sind wir deutschsprachige Zuseher nicht so stark,wie die Japaner die es als Unterrichtsfach haben. Ich bin froh diese Brillant schöne aber auch traurige Geschichte (schniff) früherer und auch heute gesehen zuhabe. Obwohl ich schon aus den Kinderschuhe herausgewachsen bin, ist dieser Roman nicht nur für die Kleinen. Nach dieser Geschichte denkt man ein bisschen anders