Tsubasa Chronicle - Nendaiki Torikago no Kuni no Himegimi

I had wondered why this movie was only under 35-minutes when it's mate xxxHOLiC - Manatsu no Yoru no Yume was an hour. It may have been a total-time consideration, but I don't think the writers spent that much time working on this movie, which is unfortunate.

While there isn't the slow pacing of the TV series, at under 35-minutes, the movie really doesn't do a lot to establish itself. A bit of time is spent at the begining showing how Syaoran, Sakura-chan, and the others met up with Yuuko-san and why they are on their world-hopping quest. However, no time was spent on developing the situation in this land of birds. So why is this land basically one giant birdcage? The uncle has one of Sakura's feathers, but what the smeg is this "eternal darkness" blathering he was on about? Talk about your one-dimensional villians. Ugh! Makes me want to vomit! Nothing is explained as to why Princess Tomoyo is this "key." As such, everything becomes some "by the numbers" clichéd affair.

The ending has its tie with xxxHOLiC - Manatsu no Yoru no Yume in which Yuuko-san is consulted. However, that felt forced, mainly because no time was taken for Syaoran or Sakura to suggest, "Hey! You know we might be able to correct this situation if we talk to Yuuko-san." No time was done for anything constructive which is why the story is so smegging weak.

Art and animation are top-notch, as one would expect from a movie. The animators had a little fun doing their version of the barrel scene from The Hobbit.

Bottom line: Beautiful to look at, but ugly to watch. No time is taken on doing a proper story leaving us with a clichéd mess. The ultra-weak story takes it below a "Rent" to a "Watch."

Last updated Saturday, March 25 2006. Created Saturday, March 25 2006.