Product Details

• Actors: Hiroyuki Shibamoto, Brad DeMoss, Mitch Evans (II), Yutaka Shimaka, Yuriko Fuchizaki
• Directors: Hongo Mitsuru
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Bandai
• DVD Release Date: September 16, 2003
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000AC8OO
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,396 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Spirit of Wonder: The Movie" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Spirit of Wonder is not a feature, but a pair of linked 1992 OVAs based on Kenji Tsuruta's manga, combined with two shorts involving the voluptuous restaurant owner Miss China. The fragmentary plot evokes the stories of Jules Verne and boys' science-fiction novels from the original "Tom Swift" series to the juvenile yarns of Robert Heinlein. The overage delinquents of the Boys' Club dream of going to Mars and finally achieve their goal in 1958, using the unorthodox physics of the brilliant, endlessly patient Miss Windy. Light oscillating through "ether" powers their dirigible-like ship across interplanetary space. The graceful lines and pastel colors in this disjointed but visually- rich sci fi adventure recall the look of European graphic novels. Unfortunately, Spirit of Wonder is marred by a weary sexism that was already a cliché in 1992. (Rated 16 and older: violence, nudity, risqué humor, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

Brand new adventures awaits those who seek a new 'Spirit of Wonder'. As young boys, Cooper, Gordon, and Shepherd were enchanted by the theories of life on Mars published by Percival Lowell. Forming a group club called the "Scientific Boys Club" the trio will embark upon their long-time dream of traveling to Mars! And while the town of Bristol may be small, it’s always exciting! What'll happen when the town's very own Miss China is shrunken to the size of a pea? Take a new voyage with two very special short stories "Shrinking of Miss China" and "Planet of Miss China."

KEY SALES POINTS:
The classic anime release of the early 90's is back as a brand new feature!
A whimsical journey that will spark adventure and a new spirit of wonder!
Spirit of Wonder manga available from Dark Horse Comics
Contains 2 BONUS OVA episodes of Miss China
Genre: Action/Adventure

DVD FEATURES:
Interactive Animated Menus
Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English/Japanese Language
English Subtitle Option

DVD EXTRAS:
Miss China Mini Poster
Art Gallery
Interviews
Trailers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The story of Miss China's Ring comes to life in this anime., April 20, 1998

By	Agent 760 (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring/Su [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In a small town lives a girl named Miss China, the owner of the local tavern and her friends. In an unexplained phenomenon, a message appears on the night of a full moon and she wants to know how it got there.

The story around Miss China's Ring includes many different stories rolled into one. The movie features the story of three characters and leaves viewers hanging, giving the impression that more characters and different stories will be told if this series progresses. The character designs are very well drawn and could be closely compared to the Disney style of animation. The movie does not contain any adult situations and because of that, I feel that this title is safe for the whole family to enjoy END

1.0 out of 5 stars Lacking Spirit, March 29, 2008

By	Kodi Kodai (California) - See all my reviews

Okay, let's correct some details here: the 2003 'Spirit of Wonder:The Movie' DVD is a sequel that was completed nine years after the original 1992 Spirit of Wonder animation video. The 1992 version was a one-shot charmer under the title of 'Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring'. The Spirit of Wonder 1992 OAV was produced by Toshiba EMI and originally released in vhs format, followed later by a Laser edition. It was later subbed and released in North America by Animeigo, and it became an early personal favorite among anime fans.

However, the new 2003 'Spirit of Wonder: the movie' DVD was produced by the Bandai company. It represents a new series consisting of four stories that were produced and completed for release in 2001. These new stories lack the quiet freshness and clever charm of the original 1992 'Miss China's Ring' OAV. Granted: the humor of the new Miss China lead story 'the Shrinking of Miss China' is funny. However, the following 2 part 'Scientific Boys Club' stories on the same disk becomes a miserable bore.

Although the writers and producers of The 'Scientific Boys Club' put some care into the animation design/color and art, they put too little concern or thought into the motivation, logic, and sensibilities of the characters. The two stories are also overloaded with cliched fanservice, sexism, and female harassment that becomes annoyingly repeated in other scenes, leaving little footage remaining in the movie that could be considered a good plot or story development.

So nearly 10 years later after the release of the original Spirit of Wonder charmer it seems apparent that the producers of this new 'Spirit of Wonder:The Movie' were incapable and hard-pressed to find anything original, charming, or interesting to say in this new 2001 sequel.

With the exception of the very short and funny `Shrinking Miss China', there's really not much true spirit in the new 2003 DVD version of Spirit of Wonder

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mission to Mars in 1958!, September 27, 2006

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spirit Of Wonder: The Movie (DVD)

Spirit of Wonder has one two episode story about the Scientific Boys Club and their plan to visit Mars. the club has only three members, Cooper, Gordon and Shepherd. Jack is the son-in-law of one of the members and Windy is his wife, the daughter of Gordon. She also happens to be the mind behind the theory of ether currents. In other words without her knowledge going to Mars isn't going to happen.
There is also two shorts featuring China and friends. SHE is the main character of the manga and, frankly, I don't know why she has become a side show.
At first I thought China's voice actress was Carrie Savage but it turned out to be Carrie A. Daniels (Angel Tales). Jim is played by Crispin Freeman (Hellsing, Howl's Moving Castle) while Windy is played by Tricia A. Dickson (Read Or Die, Hellsing) and Jack is played by Justin Gross (I MY ME! Strawberry Eggs, Ikki Tousen).
The stories have humor and a touch of old fashion Victorian scientific romance but are too short. The extras don't make up for the lack of material.