Made for Toei's 20th anniversary, this film follows a boy who is the descendant of the thief leader who met a grisly end in the 1001 Nights. Joining forces with 38 cats and a mouse, he sets out to reclaim his rightful treasure from Ali Baba XXXIII, the descendant of Ali Baba who now rules the kingdom with an iron fist. The hero and villain roles of the original tale are completely inverted here—which may come as no surprise given that Hayao Miyazaki was involved in the production. One of the most rollicking and action-packed films Toei has ever produced, it embraces an outrageously cartoonish style that breaks away from the studio's usual mold. The animation team is a spectacular lineup featuring Yasuji Mori, Akira Daikubara, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe, and Reiko Okuyama. At one point, the original story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is retold in an unexpected and intriguing fashion through shadow puppets.
