Perix der Kater und die 3 Mausketiere

Never in thirty years has it retained the sheer brilliance of animation and crisp wonderful colors! This is a "must get" and "must see" for hardcore collectors of Japanimation cinema, but it's just too hard to find these days as one may not discover its secret history. The experience is best compared to those imported afternoon cartoon shows of the 80s. While it tells the real PUSS 'N BOOTS story, the magic is in the style of humorous expressions and nicely written songs. This may not appeal to every boy or girl due to its Japanese flair, but it does entertain solid. Rarity is what makes this special. Released by Media under the generic PUSS 'N BOOTS title, and hidden somewhere in your favorite video store.

This is another favourite fairy tale that I love by Charles Perrault and was also made into a wonderful animated film in 1969. I had ordered the DVD of this film, and after watching it a few times, it became one of my favourite anime films, and also my favourite animated literary film. There are a number of song-and-dance numbers, which to bonafide anime-fans think they'd sound a little Disney-fied. But I kind of like those numbers.

I have added Princess Rosa to my list of non-Disney Princesses and I think she certainly fits the part nicely. Overall, this film is a wonderful fairy-tale fantasy and a must-have for anime fans like myself.

Fabulous wide screen cartoon feature from the days before Manga and anime had entered common our toon speak. This one was particularly imposing in it's first generation colour with the Japanese track.

Don't expect too much connection to the fairy tale we had thrust on us as kids but the chase down the spiraling INSIDE of the mountain remains printed in the memory after thousands of cheapo kiddie toons have faded.

This one comes from the days of the first Astro Boy series and while it has a style and imagery of it's own, it's not hard to imagine the people who did them downing tea and other substances together out of hours. Note Hayao Miyazaki's credit here. It would be particularly interesting to get to see a collection of his work from this period.

I believe that this film is a masterpiece, always exuberant and dynamic, full of wit and clever animation, often as hilarious as a classic Chuck Jones, sometimes as a beautiful as Miyazaki's later work. If you are able to feel at home with this older, slightly more limited style of animation (I, for one, find it lovely and full of character), than I think you will find that this film is even better than some of Studio Ghibli's work-- better, even, than "Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro" (which borrows heavily from this) or "The Cat's Return." In my view, only Miyazaki's true masterworks ("Nausicaa," "Castle in the Sky," "Spirited Away," "Porco Rosso") surpass this early work, which already beautifully interweaves action and adventure with loony comedy.

Apparently, Miyazaki himself drew much of the long, action-filled second half of the film.

I highly recommend this DVD to everyone: If we do not embrace these cult classics on DVD, they will stop releasing them! Of course, the original Japanese soundtrack is far better, and also restored for superior quality).

Puss in Boots (1969) is unjustly forgotten by animation fans. It's a charming and funny film, mixing the innocence and appeal of an early Disney fairy tale with madcap slapstick comedy. It's a good kind of old-fashioned, the sort of film which is no longer produced, here or in Japan.

While the human Rose and Pierre are a little one-dimensional, the titular puss in boots Pero is the star attraction. He's so likable and fun to watch; it's no surprise that Toei made him their mascot. The three cat assassins who chase after him and the villain of the piece, Lucifer, are magnificent adversaries.

I don't care if you think a movie from the late 1960s is "too old" for your enjoyment; watch this film! It's like being a kid again.