Windaria

While it might not be the right film to cheer you up when you're feeling blue, I found Windaria to be a good movie. The dubbing left something to be desired (this is Streamline, after all) and I suspect it may have been edited somewhat for the US release. Still a film worth checking out. I hope an unedited version will be released someday.

Windaria is one of the most depressing films I have just about ever seen, but I was moved by it as well.

I really, really like this film despite its small plot holes. The Art and Character designs are just wonderful. If you think that Characters Eyes are too big, then I guess you just don't get it. The soundtrack is outstanding as well.

Some things about Windaria still haunt me today... you'll find yourself doing a lot of thinking after you watch this film. I first saw it back in like 1991, I paid $30 for a copy of it because I thought the box art was good, and the story sounded interesting. I scored big; I must have watched this movie about 10+ times. Fairly recently I was able to get a hold of the original Japanese version Subtitled in English. I was very interesting to finally see the movie as it originally intended. I thought it would answer all my questions. It did answer some, but also created some new ones. The difference between versions is quite interesting. For example, I can remember at least one occasion that dialogue existed in the US version, where the Japanese version was silent. Then of course there is some dialogue in the Japanese version that was changed into something completely different in the US version. I must admit, after watching both versions I think I still like the US version best, probably just because it is what I am used to, and is what I saw first.

This film is a unique Romeo and Juliet style story, but it goes much deeper than that. It is also not just about one couple, but two. Who struggle because of foolish war, seduction, temptation, and decite.

I personally loved this film and give it a 10, as long as you're not anti anime and have an open mind you'll enjoy it as well.

What's not to find here that you would expect in an elaborate tragedy: War, corruption, greed, betrayal... At its core Windaria is about the journey of a boy, ambitious yet unaware of at what cost his ambitions will come to fruition. Buyer beware, true love doesn't conquer all in this, mostly unknown in the west, gem. Quite the contrary, blinded by greed, lust and the desire for self-worth through the admiration of others, love takes a distant fourth place right up until the end when our protagonist repents for his sins and decides that love was all he needed after all. As it stands, it works more of as a cautionary tale.

Full disclosure: I watched it first as a young boy at the age of 8 or 9 and it had quite an impact on me so that years later when I managed to drag it from the collective knowledge of the interwebs, I had no idea whether the actual experience of it would match the memory. In all fairness, it came as close as possible.

although i have only seen the american version, this movie can be described as nothing but beautiful. the animation (particularly for something released in the mid 80s) is lovely, the plot is unique, and the characters are memorable. the tragic endings to two seperate but intertwined love stories bring tears, but overall this movie is wonderful

Echoing the comments made by others here, I would agree that the original Japanese version (rather than Harmony Gold's English dub) is by far the superior movie. The original is a tragedy in the classic sense of the word, while the English rewrite significantly softens the impact by grafting on a different ending, an ending that undoes the gravity and impact that the story had worked so hard and so skillfully to build.

The original version of "Windaria" is a genuinely moving and beautiful film, and deserves a new dub that is true to its dramatic spirit and content. Even if this never happens, however, the film is worth viewing in the original Japanese; such is the skill of the animators and writers that the story doesn't really require spoken dialog. Even if you don't understand a word of Japanese, you'll still be moved.