My Hubby, Christopher Wanamaker, bought me "Taro The Dragon Boy" at Katsucon last weekend. I just finished watching it. Honestly, the storyline was good, though the animation quality was a bit archaic! (It was created in 1979). "Taro The Dragon Boy" is the story of Taro, a lazy, selfish boy who loves to eat and sleep and wrestle with the animals. He has little direction or inspiration in his life. That is, until a wizard passing through the forest one day bestows young Taro with a magical potion. Upon drinking the potion, he gains the strength of a hundred men! However, there is a catch: he may only summon this power when he is helping others. Taro soon learns that his long-lost mother was transformed into a dragon as punishment for her greediness. He sets forth with a sense of purpose to locate his mother and free her from the spell. All the while trying to help the peasants of his village, as well as other colorful creatures that inhabit the mountain.
I can't be sure, but I think one of the voice actors for "Taro" also provided the voice of Giuseppi Mayart in "Wicked City!" (At least, it sounded like him!)
More perplexing and probably shocking to prudish Americans is the film's casual and unashamed nudity, from Taro's genitals, which are inadvertently flashed when he stands on his head, to the surprising but completely logical appearance of semi-naked women several times during the story. The film is suitable for all ages, however, and such scenes will probably bother parents much more than their kids. Inspired by an ancient Japanese folklore, "Taro the Dragon Boy" is an enchanting animated masterpiece!
Well seeing the time this film was made the story line and animation were on point. Some of todays anime top it no doubt but Taro will always be one of the pionere films of anime, other than that your on point
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