Product Details

• Actors: T?ru Furuya, Mami Koyama
• Directors: Masami Hata
• Format: NTSC
• Language: Japanese, English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: April 24, 1991
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300137236
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,893 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So beautiful!, January 15, 2004

By 

Miriam L. A. Gunn (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sea Prince & the Fire Child [Animated] (Shiriusu no densetsu / Legend of Sirius) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My mother, sister, and I all fell in love with this in the original japanese as the "Legend of Sirius" even though we couldn't understand it. We were shocked to find it in English in a local video rental store, but thrilled that we could finally hear the whole story.

It is just beautiful to watch, the music is lovely, and the characters are cute. I love the mythological take on Romeo and Juliet, and the ending is much easier to live with :-)

We still have our VHS copies in both English and Japanese, but this is one we really want on DVD.

I have read online that it had a limited release on DVD in Japan, but that it is nearly impossible to find. Please re-release it on DVD!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My life is now complete, March 3, 2007

By 

TrezKu13 (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Prince & the Fire Child [Animated] (Shiriusu no densetsu / Legend of Sirius) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was perhaps (along with "The Three Caballeros") one of the first animated films I ever watched. I had to have seen it at a very young age - probably when I was six or seven - but even then it struck deep in my memory. Martin Scorcese once said the first films you see have an impact on you - I think this was probably what helped later spur my interest in art, and later get a degree in animation. Since then, I had forgotten the name, and never got a chance to see it again. Then with the advent of the internet I did some research and discovered the title. Later on YouTube (a site I love and hate with equal passion) I found the original Japanese trailer for it. I knew I had to fulfill that gap left from my childhood. I found a decently priced used copy on Amazon and bought it. I just now watched it today, and I have to say it felt great to relive those moments as a young boy again.

"Sea Prince and the Fire Child" (originally called "The Legend of Sirius" in Japan) takes place in a mythological world where fire and water hate one another. The Queen of Fire, Hyperia, and the King of the Sea, Oceanas, used to be brother and sister, but the God of Wind, Algorac, turned them against one another. Oceanas eventually overthrew Algorac and trapped him in the Forbidden Zone, which seperates fire from water. Since then the two sides have maintained a status quo - no side can meet the other, therefore it's impossible for any one to become enemies.

In the world of the sea, Prince Sirius (who is referred to as Oceanas' son in reviews and synopsis alike, even though he never refers to Oceanas as "father" and Oceanas speaks to him as if he's just another noble) turns 16 and is granted the title of "King of the Sea," to watch over the realm while Oceanas sleeps. Aroused by curousity, Sirius wanders into the Forbidden Zone and comes out on the other side...to see Malta, daughter of Hyperia, tending the kingdom's flame. Both youths are interested in the fact neither is the "savage" their cultures make the other side to be, and an interest grows into love.

Granted, when I was younger there were some things I didn't notice (like the poor dubbing, or the attempts to censor nudity at the film's climax - and before any parent worries, I assure you it is entirely tasteful) but my second experience watching it was just as good as the first. The relationship between the two, while awkward at first, does grow on you, and you begin to feel for the two lovebirds. The film's cast is well designed in their own right - don't expect the anime you grew up with on Cartoon Network or Adult Swim. These characters are more in the vein of Osamu Tezuka and the 1960's character design, and the fish character in particular seem like something out of a Saturday morning cartoon. (actually, I began to wonder if Pixar took a few cues from this film for "Finding Nemo") There are a lot of goofy scenes played for laughs (check out the "Let's break Sirius out of jail" scene) but unlike most films today they don't distract from the serious message. I have to also say the music, done by Koichi Sugiya, is simply beautiful. I have to also commend writer and director Masami Hata for what is just a visually well done film - the music and visuals compliment one another again and again.

It was really great to see this again, after nearly 16+ years. I'm certainly going to treasure my used VHS copy along with some other hard to find films! My only hope now is that maybe someone will get the distributing rights to it and release it on DVD. It would be wonderful to see this not only widescreen with restored film and sound, but unedited and with the original Japanese cast as well. Still, the film as it stands now is a great watch, and I'd encourage any one out there thinking about watching this movie to give it a chance. Whether with the family, friends, or by yourself, it's a great film, and a lost animated treasure.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Disney . . ., November 2, 2001

By 

Heather (Nevada, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Prince & the Fire Child [Animated] (Shiriusu no densetsu / Legend of Sirius) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was the first anime I EVER watched and it took me forever to find out the title. It took even longer to buy it since it's out of print. The animation, though sparse, is beautiful and fluid. The storyline is based on the legend of Sirius. It is totally captivating. I recommend this movie to people of all ages, but mostly those who are romantics at heart.