Saru Masamune

Rate a 6
Eng subtitled
art piece
Special note: In terms of duration and rating understand there are two versions to this particular show. There is a 7 minute and a 9 minute. The 9 minute has a tad bit more in ending and is more cleaner with art. The 7 minute has no pause breaks(you know when black ground with text showing on screen) and has animation sounds and voices. Which is why i went with the a rate of 6. When i saw the 7 minute version i gave it a 5. But when i saw the 9 minute i was more pleased and gave it ... a 7. Which lead to a middle answer of 6.

Story
Not really focused on the letter as one might think given the synopsis. Instead it is more about the adventure from one place to another, the journey. In addition to the reward that took place on the way there. Which made the introduction slightly confusing. As for the conclusion it was okay. It did seem a touch unrealistic at the very end, right before the credits.

Art
-poor to fair depending on what version seen.
-black and white on both versions

Sound
-In terms of the only version that had audio(7 minute) the vocals were slightly soft and a tad muffled.
-although, the animation sounds blended in nicely.

Enjoyment
Watch both versions before you rate or give up on this movie.

Immediatly knew it's Yasuji Murata's work since you can immediatly recoknize his art style. It's a nice anime, well accept for a vertain scene after which I so badly wanted for the monkey to all die. Otherwise the story is great, the music this time does fit into the film. There also is a bit of "voice" acting, well only the pup barking. The characters are okay, nothing special but not too blend, again the animation is the part why it gets a 9, really saves the whole film. If you would be interested I do recomend to give it a watch, it really ... is a blast from the past.