"Unico the Island of Magic" is a charming and whimsical animated film that tells the story of Unico, a small white unicorn with the magical ability to bring happiness to those around him. The film, which was released in 1983 and directed by Osamu Tezuka, is a sequel to the 1981 film "The Fantastic Adventures of Unico." The story begins with Unico living happily on a small island, spreading joy and happiness to the animals and people who live there. However, his idyllic life is disrupted when a jealous sorceress named Moura kidnaps Unico and takes him to the Island of Oblivion, a place where forgotten creatures and people are banished. On the Island of Oblivion, Unico befriends a young girl named Chao, who has been turned into a Sphinx by Moura's dark magic. Chao explains that Moura is the ruler of the island, and she keeps all the creatures there under her control.
Overall entertainment: 7/10
Sex: Gee, I wonder
Violence: 3/10
Horrifying moments: Plenty
Cute moments: Just as many
Mechanical dragons: Christ, I forgot about him
Tolby: What a dick, man
Side note: My god do the animators love it when Unico cries. They keep zooming in on his little face.
By giving us a bad guy who s more relevant to the main story, who is talked about before he even makes an appearance, the writers allow him to be more fleshed out than monster in a man-suit from the first film, and this is definitely a major plus. His name is Toby and his job is to lure all the animals of the forest close to his person, so he can zap them into some sort of lifeless cutout thing.
Chao explains that Moura is the ruler of the island, and she keeps all the creatures there under her control. Unico and Chao embark on a quest to find a way to defeat Moura and escape from the island. Throughout their journey, Unico and Chao encounter various enchanting and bizarre creatures, each with their own unique story and struggle.
Unico in the Island of Magic
A while back I looked at the nauseatingly adorable The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, a little film that played out like three episodes of a kids’ show. There was a talking cat, a kindly old woman and a benevolent and sentient wind. And then everything got super dark. And then it got super adorable again! Unico was a wild ride – insofar as such a product can be – and one I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to experience again. And then Unico and the Island of Magic appeared in my life, so here we are.
In this one, Unico is still being moved from place to place by the West Wind, and after an encounter with an asshole cat, comes across a young girl named Cheri whose brother Tolby is working for an evil wizard named Kurukuru. Tolby is using his magic to transform animals and people into strange, featureless, stone (or maybe cardboard) monsters called Living Puppets, who he then transports to an island for Kurukuru, in exchange for learning more of the weird, globe-shaped wizard’s magic. Also, he takes on the asshole cat as an apprentice. Unico goes to investigate, and somehow ends up at the Edge of the World, where he learns from a rocking horse the truth about Kurukuru.
Well, it’s nice to learn that Unico hasn’t lost any of the mind-boggling zaniness that made the first one stand out (a phrase I should probably put in air quotes). The Unico movies love to surround themselves in dark imagery and morbid themes, and then decide to make the main character a doe-eyed pink unicorn baby who cries when he gets bullied by an asshole cat. It’s something that I should commend the films for; they have a pretty decent imagination and if they didn’t insist on being so cute all the time, there’s definitely potential for some really riveting stuff.
The island that the wizard is making out of stone people is an amazing visual, and has some seriously dark undertones. What about the people submerged in water? How long has this wizard been doing this? Kurukuru himself is a fascinating character, a terrifying orb-being with few features who talks in an unsettling voice. By giving us a bad guy who’s more relevant to the main story, who is talked about before he even makes an appearance, the writers allow him to be more fleshed out than “monster in a man-suit” from the first film, and this is definitely a major plus.
Like the previous film, this Unico picture doesn’t lend itself to much analysis or anything, and so there really isn’t a hell of a lot to talk about outside of a) the Unicorn is adorable (to the point where you feel awful whenever anything happens to him), and b) the villain is great (and has a really interesting backstory). That’s basically it. If you liked the previous one, you’ll get a kick out of this. I actually found myself enjoying it more than I thought. The storyline is better structured, the villain is interesting and while the side characters aren’t as good as the previous film, it won’t matter as much. There’s enough horror, bizarre moments and unadulterated cuteness for this to please any fans of the last movie.
Verdict: Filled with plenty of what-the-fuckery, Unico in the Island of Magic is a surprisingly good sequel, and is probably lots of fun to show to people new to anime.
Overall entertainment: 7/10
Sex: Gee, I wonder
Violence: 3/10
Horrifying moments: Plenty
Cute moments: Just as many
Mechanical dragons: Christ, I forgot about him
Tolby: What a dick, man
Side note: My god do the animators love it when Unico cries. They keep zooming in on his little face.
Unico in the Island of Magic (1983)
Also known as: ユニコ 魔法の島へ(Uniko: Maho no Shima e), lit. Unico to the Magic Island
Japanese
Director: Moribi Murano
Writer: Masaki Tusji
CAST
Katsue Miwa – Unico
Iruka – Narrator
Chieko Baisho – West Wind
Sumi Shimamoto – Sheri
Fujio Tokita – Kurukuru
Shuichi Ikeda – Tolby
Ichiro Nagai – Tamaneko
Noriko Tsukase – Marusu
Ryuji Saikachi – Horse
Kazuo Harada – Sheri’s father
Unico the actual character was created by legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka. The being itself is basically what a unicorn would look like if it was also a kitten. Instead of trotting, Unico leaps and bounds across the screen like he's chasing an imaginary ball of string. It's important to know this, because a lot of really terrible shit is about to happen to a baby animal with pink hair. Clearly the creators intentionally crafted the cutest animal imaginable so that every time someone kicks, hits, or tries to kill Unico kids learn the valuable lesson that the world is garbage.
They meet a Rag Doll who dreams of becoming human, a Mermaid who longs to be able to walk on land, and a Devil who seeks redemption for his past actions. Unico's kind and pure-hearted nature has a profound impact on each of these characters, bringing them hope and happiness. As the story progresses, Unico and Chao face numerous challenges and obstacles, including a confrontation with Moura herself. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and the power of kindness in the face of adversity. Unico's unwavering optimism and ability to see the good in everyone he meets serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and empathy. "Unico the Island of Magic" is a visually stunning film, with vibrant and imaginative animation that brings the fantastical world of the Island of Oblivion to life. The film also features a beautiful soundtrack, composed by Masahiko Sato, which adds to the whimsical and enchanting atmosphere. Overall, "Unico the Island of Magic" is a heartwarming and magical film that appeals to audiences of all ages. It teaches valuable lessons about the power of love and kindness, and reminds us of the importance of cherishing and embracing our differences. With its memorable characters and touching story, "Unico the Island of Magic" is a true gem in the world of animated films..
Reviews for "Unico: The Island of Magic and the Importance of Friendship and Empathy"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I recently watched "Unico the Island of Magic" and I have to say, I was not impressed. While the animation style was charming, the plot was convoluted and hard to follow. The characters lacked depth and development, leaving me feeling disconnected from their journey. Additionally, the film seemed to jump from one scene to another without much explanation or coherence. Overall, I found "Unico the Island of Magic" to be a disappointment and would not recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I have to admit, I am a fan of animated films, but "Unico the Island of Magic" fell flat for me. The storyline was weak and the pacing was incredibly slow. The movie failed to capture my attention and I found myself getting bored within the first few minutes. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real substance. Overall, "Unico the Island of Magic" was a forgettable film that I would not recommend to others seeking an engaging animated experience.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - After hearing some positive reviews, I decided to give "Unico the Island of Magic" a chance. However, I found myself disappointed by the lack of character development and the disjointed narrative. The film had some potential with its unique premise, but it failed to deliver a compelling story. The animation was decent, but it was not enough to salvage the overall experience. I would recommend skipping "Unico the Island of Magic" and opting for a more coherent and engaging animated film instead.