The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon

The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon

86 mins | Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy | March 24, 1963

In this influential* cult-classic animated film based on Japanese folklore, Susano is the youngest son of Izanagi and Izanami, the heavenly couple who created the Earth. Still a young boy, Susano is devastated by the passing away of his mother. Determined to find her despite the reprimands of his father, he embarks on a journey to find his brother and his sister for spiritual guidance. *Genndy Tartakovsky identifies this film as a primary influence on the direction and design of his TV series Samurai Jack (2001–2004; 2017). Yōichi Kotabe was a character animator on the film, and used it as inspiration for the art direction of the video game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002). Tomm Moore, director of the Oscar-nominated films The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), and Wolfwalkers (2020), has identified the film as a major influence.

The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon

86 mins | Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy | March 24, 1963

The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
In this influential* cult-classic animated film based on Japanese folklore, Susano is the youngest son of Izanagi and Izanami, the heavenly couple who created the Earth. Still a young boy, Susano is devastated by the passing away of his mother. Determined to find her despite the reprimands of his father, he embarks on a journey to find his brother and his sister for spiritual guidance. *Genndy Tartakovsky identifies this film as a primary influence on the direction and design of his TV series Samurai Jack (2001–2004; 2017). Yōichi Kotabe was a character animator on the film, and used it as inspiration for the art direction of the video game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002). Tomm Moore, director of the Oscar-nominated films The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), and Wolfwalkers (2020), has identified the film as a major influence.
IMDb rating 7.0
Producers Toei Animation
Original title わんぱく王子の大蛇退治
Directors Yugo Serikawa, Isao Takahata
Writers Takashi Iijima, Ichirô Ikeda

Cast

Tomohito Sumida

as Susano (voice)

Chiharu Kuri

as Akahana (voice)

Yukiko Okada

as Kushinada-hime (voice)

Hideo Kinoshita

as Tarô / Tsukuyomi (voice) / Tsukuyomi (voice)

Masato Yamanouchi

as Wadatsumi, Kushinada-hime's father (voice)

Kiyoshi Kawakubo

as Titan-bô (voice)

Kinshirô Iwao

as Hi no kami (God of Fire) (voice)

Shûichi Kazamatsuri

as Tatakai no daijin (voice) / Minister of war (voice)

Noriko Shindô

as Amaterasu (voice)

Setsuo Shinoda

as Izanagi (voice)

Mitsuko Tomobe

as Izanami (voice)

Mitsuo Yagi

as Omoikane (voice)

Koji Koga

as Mouse (voice)