Aesop's Fables (1983)

Aesop's Fables or Manga Aesop's Fables (also known as Manga Isoppu Monogatari in Japanese) is a 1983, Japanese, anime film. It is based on the fables of the renowned, Greek storyteller, Aesop. It was co-produced by Toei Animation and Toei Company. In the U.S., the English version was released on VHS in 1985 as part of the Magic Window series. Not to be confused with the anime TV series premiering the same year as this by Nippon Animation.

Plot
A mischievous boy named Aesop loves wreaking havoc around his village. One day, when all his troublemaking eventually leads him into a perilous situation, he winds up getting lost in a fantastical world that is unlike his own. He meets and befriends the inhabitants there, including a spring elf named Pitchi (Silkwing in the English dub), a mouse named Chuchu (Skitter in the English dub), and a donkey named Barrow (Hawhee in the English dub). He comes across others who would become the characters in his stories, including those from The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Country Mouse and The City Mouse, The Tortoise and The Hare, and The Grasshopper and The Ants. After the adventure and experience he's had, he learns a valuable lesson.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) The art style is somewhat simple and flat, but nice-looking. The animation moves just as nicely, being smooth enough.
 * 2) The writing is top-notch. It is done creatively well in how it has the various fables of the real Aesop crossover and come together so wonderfully to perfection.
 * 3) Many great, likable, and memorable characters. Aesop undergoes some fine character development when it comes to him learning how he should change his ways.
 * 4) The character designs have somewhat of a flat look to this again, but still look nice.
 * 5) Well-written musical numbers, both musically and lyrically.
 * 6) The voice acting in the English dub is well-sounding.
 * 7) The dialogue has plenty going for it.
 * 8) It is one of the better-assembled movies that features crossovers of an assortment of well-known stories.
 * 9) There are several, funny moments.
 * 10) The message it delivers about how one shouldn't fabricate things and tell them to others unless he/she is serious also drives its point home well.
 * 11) It's interesting how after everything Aesop went through, the events would reflect and become the inspirations for the stories he'd later create, even though this is a fictionalized version of the real Aesop.

The Only Bad Quality

 * 1) There are a couple of goofs pertaining to the talking animation. After the hare compliments the tortoise on his win of the race, the latter says, "Aw, shucks, you're making my shell blush", but his mouth is left in the open position as he says this. Also, Barrow/Hawhee's mouth doesn't move when he's walking through a forest, complaining about how others make fun of him for constantly messing up before he approaches a lion skin.