Beautiful visuals but clumsy story
Millennium Dragon is about a young boy in modern day Japan who get dragged through time to the Heian period where he is told he is the only one who can save the peaceful nation from the dreaded Oni, monsters who fight with magic and kidnap children in their beds. Our young hero happens to be the only one who can control the powerful eight headed dragon who is the last hope for humanity. Millennium Dragon's story is told in a clumsy way, the phasing is very off and some parts which had needed time is rushed through and other parts drag on forever. The motivations of the characters are never that explored and I found myself getting bored which this movie quite often, which is quite a feat since I am a fanatic about dragon tales.
In the middle of the story Millennium Dragon takes a twist which is a good one, and which do make the story allot deeper, but this twist is very clearly heavily inspired by Princess Mononoke and I constantly found myself wishing I was watching that...
The visuals are worth checking out.
Roman Martel, DVD Verdict --Legend of the Millennium Dragon is one of those anime movies that is really pretty to look at but lacking in the substance department. If you are familiar with the whole "insecure young man is declared a savior and must overcome his fears to save the world" storyline, the plot holds no surprises. Once Jun is introduced, you know how the whole thing is going to play out. Luckily, the movie does have something else going for it.
The animation is impressive, specifically the backgrounds and battle scenes. The opening sequence with Gen'un and his men facing down the army of Oni is a perfect example. There is depth and detail in the surrounding countryside, the small village from which the Oni emerge, and the enormous statue of Buddha that forms the climax of the scene. The action is full of motion, from the rampaging Oni to the spear wielding foot soldiers. And the magic looks great; when Gen'un unleashes his powers, it's quite a sight...
Some Good Visuals Ruined by Dull Storytelling
It is surprising that they have released "Legend of the Millennium Dragon" (original title "Onigamiden" literally meaning "Demon God Chronicle") outside Japan. When the film was theatrically released in Japan back in April 2011, it was not a big hit (it missed the top 10 box office chart) and if I remember correctly, the film was not well-received. I saw it in Kyoto (where the film's story is set) and was not impressed because of the dull storytelling and rather some dated artworks, especially the character designs. I have seen it again on DVD and my opinion remains the same.
The animated film follows the story of a timid 15-year-old middle school boy Jun Tendo, who is attacked by a strange creature while walking down the street of Kyoto. He runs into a nearby temple for shelter, where he meets a mysterious monk called Gen'un. Gen'un seems to possess special powers and Jun is whisked to the ancient city of Kyoto of the Heian era (794-1185), where humans are fighting fierce...
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