Product Details

• Actors: Michie Kita, Reiko Katsura, Kuriko Komamura, Masako Sugaya, Taeko Nakanishi
• Directors: Yoshio Kuroda
• Writers: Akira Matsushima, Michio Satô, Ouida, Ryuzo Nakanishi, Shin'ichi Yukimuro
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2000
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305731934
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,672 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Dog of Flanders" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ouida's Flemish classic children's novel of the late 1800s gets a slightly more unusual treatment here than in the 1999 live-action release. Originally a 1975 Japanese series called Furandaasu No Inu, The Dog of Flanders, set in 19th-century Belgium, is in the original Japanese with English subtitles. While the packaging proclaims it appropriate for ages 3 and up, it's best for older children, unless they can read English or understand Japanese. The subject matter--which covers death, despair, and unresolved disappointment--may be difficult for sensitive viewers. The story follows the adventures of artist Nello, a young peasant boy separated from his closest companion, wealthy Aloise. Nello only has his beloved grandfather and his faithful dog Patrasche, but his grandfather dies suddenly. Nello must fend for himself. Dog and boy master brave a frightful snowstorm, at the end of which Nello is finally able to view the work of his idol, Reubens. The ending, while grim, switches to the future with a grown Aloise (now a nun), and it's clear Nello's spirit lives through his still-devoted friend. A wonderfully animated film for the viewer who has the maturity to understand its deeply powerful story. --N.F. Mendoza

Product Description

Come experience the granduer, the beauty and the tragedy... A heartfelt story of a poor young boy dealing with the hardships of having to grow up too fast in a world that doesn't care. Based on a Flemish story set in the 1800's, this movie has warmed the hearts of people around the world for over 130 years!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for Children or the Faint of Heart !!!, June 6, 2000

By 

R. R. Rudell "Read-a-holic" (Los Gatos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dog of Flanders (DVD)

After seeing this video advertised on one of my children's television shows, I immediately sought it out. The animation reminded me of "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service" (both of which are among the best childrens' videos available, imho).

After peeling off the wrapper (which had a sticker on it which said it was suitable for ages 3 and up) I sat down to watch "The Dog of Flanders" with my two children (ages 7 and 9), and the three of us were bawling our eyes out by the end of the film (me primarily due to guilt for not screening it earlier!) My kids were devastated by the ending of this movie. This is NO Disney flick. Any of you familiar with Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" will have an idea of how this story winds up.

I do, however, give this movie 5 stars because it is a beautifully rendered video of a classic tale. The characters are very well developed and the animation is really beautiful. However, this probably only served to contribute to the sense of horror my children experienced when the video was finally over. They were truly inconsolable.

If you do decide to purchase this video, please be sure to watch it yourself before screening it for your kids.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Boy, Did I Cry, And How!, March 12, 2003

By 

Kelly K. Coyle "generally annoyed" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dog of Flanders [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Where do I start, without giving anything away? I watched this movie yesterday with my daughter. We were thinking, "La-tee-da, a happy movie, with beautiful Japanese animation (in the tradition of Kiki's Delivery Service and Totoro), about a boy and his dog . . ." And boy, were we in for a loo-loo of a surprise. I never cried so much at an animated movie, I gave myself one mondo killer headache, attempting to retain some composure for my child's sake, but lost it in the end, and we both sat there, in her room and cried together. She summed things up pretty well, when she said, "Mommy, sometimes sad movies are still beautiful." And this one is a beautiful story indeed.
The movie is about a poor,young boy and his love for his dog.(and vice versa) He lives an oh-so-humble, but happy life with his aging grandfather. The movie tells the story of how his life then changes, based on the actions/thoughts of those around him. It's also about art/love and the beauty of art, as the young boy, the center of the movie, Nello, loves to draw, and does it well. He longs to see some of the paintings of Reubens,but cannot afford the cost of viewing the paintings.
I guess the overall message of the movie is that, God is beauty and art and love and the three of these things are all one giant amorphous blob of , well, blob of goodness . . .and that human lives are fragile and finite.
I wouldn't recommend this for the very young, and would suggest parents view the entire movie (with tissue nearby) before showing to the kiddies.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pioneer DVD Shames The Movie, May 7, 2003

By 

James Francis Ryan "manicsounds" (Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dog of Flanders (DVD)

This classic from the World Masterpiece Theater series gets seriously botched by Pioneer Entertainment. First Off, this is the EDITED VERSION, and ONLY the EDITED VERSION! Scenes were cut from the original Japanese theatrical release to 'tame the violence to the dog' sequences, which were some important moments. Also, the original Japanese dialogue is nowhere on this disc.
But for some reason, the VHS release comes in either edited and dubbed, or widescreen uncut japanese with english subtitles.
My opinion is to go for the subtitled uncut version on VHS. Either that or somehow find the original series that aired on Japanese TV years ago to get the full story.
This movie is an absolute treasure in many Japanese childrens' childhoods, and now pioneer disgraces the DVD format.
5 stars for the movie, and 4 stars gets retracted for the butchering.