Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Synopsis

This film adheres closely to the original source material down to the finest details, with the sole exception of a kangaroo-rat that abruptly appears twenty minutes in. This creature follows Aladdin throughout the rest of the movie, serving no narrative function other than acting as a token animal mascot. The screenwriter requires no introduction; Akira Miyazaki single-handedly penned five of the classic WMT series, including Perrine and Rascal, while also contributing to two others. The only other recognizable name on the staff is Yukihide Takekawa, who composed the music for the magnificent yet obscure Unico pilot film. The narrative takes some illogical and confusing leaps once Aladdin begins courting the princess. Furthermore, the extravagant animation that defined Toei films of the 60s, a time when the studio boasted the finest animators, had long faded by this era. Despite these issues, the film remains above average, largely due to a screenplay that remains so faithful to the original. Additionally, the character designs appear slightly more Western than what one is typically accustomed to seeing in anime.