Onigamiden

"Onigamiden" (2006), or "Legend of the Millenium Dragon", is an alright movie that has some slight issues, however, if you want to get as much out of it as possible, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before watching:

Onigamiden is currently rated 5,8 on IMDb. Even though the movie isn't perhaps one of the better animes out there, I do believe that this one is somewhat underrated. There are some fresh ideas and imagery used which, even though it doesn't save the movie, should justify a rating around 6,5 or so. Don't see this one with your mind made up it will be bad, but don't expect a masterpiece either.

The more knowledge you have about Japanese culture, the better. References are being made early to the beings known as "Oni", and characters recall and comments on different eras in the Japanese history, as well as old cities and villages. There are some points to gain here if one has a basic knowledge on those things.

Finally, the movie's plot is somewhat of a mess, and this is where its main problem lies. Objects which we understand have a big importance to the ongoing events are introduced to left and right without proper introduction, characters often do things while their intentions or motivations remains undisclosed, and the main protagonist has basically no character arc for the first 60-70 minutes. Some major loopholes can leave the viewer confused as well. I do not list this to discourage viewers, but rather to give you realistic expectations. It feels as though the movie was intended to be about two and a half hours, but an hour was edited out.

Overall, Onigamiden is an okay, care-free watch, but it needs not be prioritized too high on any's watchlist.

My personal grade: a puzzled 6/10. If you found this helpful, check my profile for more reviews.

The recipe is simple and that did the film decent. a middle - school boy as arbiter in a conflict, appearences, impressive fight scenes and the importance of values. sure, not remarkable animation. but one of many respecting conventions of genre, proposing a reasonable story for young public, remembering pieces from ~Neverending Story~ and other classic tales. in first part, the animation seems not brilliant. in the second, the story has more coherent. but not exactly convincing. because the fight of man against nature, theoretically noble, is not served by a story who seems a fruits basket. and Jun is so bizarre in the status of great hero , than something seems missing in profound sense. so, a nice film. but far to be memorable.

What can I say about this film? It could have been brilliant, the story line is OK, the setting imagery is very nice, and a lot of detail has been put into it. However, the human characters have a annoying 'Dora The Explorer' nature to them, both crudely drawn in comparison to the settings, and unbelievable in ratio the story line. It turn's a possible classic into a cartoon movie for the under 12's.

Personally, I don't understand why use inferior character depiction when they clearly went to so much effort in the setting and story.

Its the eyes...

Don't bother with the English dub; it will only make you more angry.

If you're looking for action / adventure, good guy vs evil guy, basic story nothing-special anime, this will fill the bill. The animation is so-so, the story very basic, the characters very 2-dimensional, the ending lackluster. It's okay to watch if you're bored on a rainy afternoon. If you don't go in expecting much you might enjoy it.

Even if a anime misses the mark story wise, they usually can make up for it by painting up a beautiful world. This film however does not. The character designs are cheap and crude and while the backgrounds are usually pretty good, they're also at time very simplistic. For example, when the protagonist goes back in time to the city in the beginning and the city is attacked by demons, keep an eye on the background stick figures in one of the scenes where people are panicking. Look at the guy who falls into the river. Sheesh.

This anime is for kids who are used to cheap, mass produced Saturday cartoons. If you value quality then look elsewhere.