Schwanensee

In September last year I had a lot of luck. I checked on ebay and there it was Swan Lake so i bid on the item and finally I had won it. And the film was sent to me only a week after thanks to a fast money order. I was very amazed after seeing this film again. It was good and romantic and beautiful. If I am bored I can just watch Swan Lake to forget about why I am bored. Swan Lake is truly a very amusing anime.

I was 19 when I bought Swan Lake at ebay last year. And it was about 13 years ago I last saw it but then it was in Swedish. Now this is in English and i understand it very well so that is not a problem.

Swan Lake or "Svansjön" as it is called in Swedish was very rare to find and I had almost given up the hope about it until I saw it on ebay. I am so glad that I can watch it over and over again without getting bored.

The plot is very well done and easy to follow and the main characters a also very beautiful. Swan Lake is about prince Siegfried who is looking for a future bride to be queen when he becomes king. I am so thankful I finally bought Swan Lake because it wasn't easy to find. And finally I found it. This is my favourite film so I can only say: Swan Lake is the greatest anime ever made.

I grew up loving the immortal, timeless story of "Swan Lake" and I still love it to this day. I also adore the ballet by Tchaikovsky, that is just as magical and as enchanting as the story it is based upon. Then there are two movie versions that I saw, one was the 1994 film "The Swan Princess" by Richard Rich, while charming and a childhood favourite it isn't the Swan Lake that I love. Then there is this 1981 anime, which follows the story more closely while putting its own spin on it. The result is a beautiful, captivating and heartfelt film, that while it has its minor fault is definitely better than "Swan Princess".

I really do need to mention the beautiful artwork of "Swan Lake". This film, like Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (also based upon the fairytale and another one of Tchaikovsky's ballets) does have a gorgeous stylised look, with convincing character features, breathtaking background art and lavish colours. There are stunning images of Odette in swan and human form and the haunting images of Rothbart's castle. In regards to the lip-synching, it was good in most parts but there were other parts where it was sloppy. While Odette's monologue about where she came from and how she came to meet Rothbart was beautifully written and sad, the lip synching was a lot of the time behind the speaking so it was a little distracting.

Tchaikovsky's music as always is absolutely outstanding, I heartily concur with the reviewer who said that it is the heart and soul of the film,for me it is by far the best asset of the film, and the main reason why I wanted to see it. Of course it is quite melancholy, but it is also enchanting, charming and haunting. So many standouts, including the adorable Dance of the Baby Swans, the heart-rending finale and the beautiful and haunting Pas De Deux(here done as Siegfried following Odette in a very effective scene). But I would also like to give special mention to the music accompanying the scene where Siegfried meets Odette for the first time in swan form, it is so gorgeous and really adds to the atmosphere.

I have already said how good the story is, and I also thought the dialogue was not at all bad. I particularly loved Odile calling Siegfried "a dreamboat on wheels", and Rothbart's dialogue in the climax is delicious. It avoided being clichéd which was gratifying, as much as I like "Swan Princess" some of the dialogue is clichéd there.

I also love the characters, and the voice acting was strong. The Media Home Video dubbing is indeed awful, but the one I am more familiar with and much prefer is the Samuel Goldwyn Co. one. This is more superior, because it suits the dark, enchanting and sombre tone of the film better. Christopher Atkins is appealing as Siegfried, and portrays him as handsome, headstrong and somewhat naive. Odette isn't the feisty and vivacious woman she is in "Swan Princess", instead she is beautiful and pure yet fragile and delicate. Pam Dawber brought some vulnerability into Odette, and it worked wonders. Kay Lenz is brilliant as Odile, who is possibly my favourite character, because she is so cool and seductive. And David Hemmings positively relishes the role of Rothbart; instead of the really sinister and imposing villain he is in the ballet or the threatening yet humorous one he is in "Swan Princess" he is a bit of both here. His climax scene see him at his most frightening, and his scenes with Odile, which accentuates his flaws as awkward and reluctant to hurt Odette because he does genuinely love her border on hysterical. Then there are the squirrels Hans and Margherita, who are both engaging and don't interrupt the flow of the story too much.

In conclusion, this is a brilliant anime, that I recommend strongly. If you love anime or if you love the music of Tchaikovsky, I promise you are in for a treat! 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

Although the animation is very poor, the script is quite good and the drawings are very imaginative. It´s a fairy tale like any other; a prince and a cursed princess fall in love, but their love is impossible.

I especially liked that wonderful soundtrack from Piotr Tchaickovsky´s "Swan Lake", an extraordinary waltz that provides the perfect mood for the movie. The screenplay is better than in most Japaneese animated features, and you´ll think it´s one of the movies your children should see. Very good film.

This is my childhood favorite ! I haven't seen it for so long... There are 2 set of English dubs, the 2nd celebrities dub is the less good in my opinion.

The music fits so well with the story line, and the squirrels are so cute, you feel true, strong emotions from all the characters.

Many of us who so it as childes are not able to forget it and looking for it ever since, to be able to let our kids enjoy it on their turn.

here is a fan site that might be useful- http://www.pireze.org/blog/?p=129

Cheers !

I saw this when I was in grade school in China. I don't even remember what language it was when I first saw it, probably Chinese. And it has been at least 15 years until I saw it again in the US. I didn't even think it was possible to get a copy of it to watch but to my surprise this chain video store in my area TLA has it so I rented it. It is of course a beautifully done animation, not bad considering it is quiet old. People who think the animation quality is poor is comparing it to today's animation, but it really isn't fair to do that if you take in the fact that it is so old. I love the music, it is one of the reasons I remembered this animation so well. and because of this animation, I fell in love with the music of Swan Lake. I didn't give it 9 or 10 stars is because the English dubbing is terrible. I know it is old and maybe back then it is the standard, but still it would be better if they don't dub it and just have subtitle. Well I love this piece, and in recent years there has not been many animation that has surpassed it other than things like spirited away or the Incredibles etc. But I love this animation and I always will as it not only reminds me of my childhood, it relaxes your body and mind as you listen to its beautiful music and see how love is born.