Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1) [DVD]

Review

Director: Isao Takahata Screenplay: Yoshiaki Yoshida Animation Director: Toshiyasu Okada Character Design: Yoichi Kotabe Voice Cast: Yoshiko Sugiyama, Kohei Miyauchi, Noriko Obara, Rihoko Yoshida, Miyoko Aso Narration: Toshiko Sawada -- Synopsis (from the "CD Journal" database)

From Amazon

Five-year-old Heidi is entrusted to her grandfather, Uncle Alm, who lives in the Alps. Though known for his eccentricity and stubbornness, Uncle Alm opens up to Heidi, and she lives a carefree life surrounded by nature. However, when she turns eight, her aunt Dete forces her to live at the Sesemann estate in Frankfurt. There, Heidi befriends a lame girl named Clara, but she cannot suppress her desire to return to the Alps... This 1974 animated series is based on the original work by Johanna Spyri. Directed by Isao Takahata, with Miyazaki Hayao credited as a screen designer. Many viewers will remember the opening scene of Heidi swinging on a long swing, the scene of softly covering her straw bed with sheets, and the delicious-looking goat's milk and melted cheese. This masterpiece has now become almost legendary.

While this work is a prime example of what is known as a "masterpiece anime," Nippon Animation's "World Masterpiece Theater" series began the following year with "A Dog of Flanders." Nevertheless, it contains all the fundamental elements of the later "masterpiece" series: an innocent protagonist, the people around him who change as a result of his influence, adorable animals and abundant nature, the hardships that come with life, the friendships that are forged, and the success of hard work. It is, so to speak, a standard work in the "masterpiece" series. The script, animation, and direction, backed by meticulous research, are truly superb, and the impression is of the craftsmanship unique to the early days of TV animation at its finest. It may even be said to be the first and greatest "masterpiece" series. (Shogo Yasukawa)