The Strange, 1974 Japanese Animated Adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk
For some reason, I was thinking about old movies that I used to watch as a kid. I remembered this really odd version of Jack and the Beanstalk, and was wondering if I might be able to find some reference to it online.
What I remember was a really trippy version, with dubbed voices and a really spaced-out princess who lived in a castle. I searched for the terms jack and the beanstalk japanese, and several related images popped up.
My jaw dropped when I saw this guy:
It’s him! From the movie! And then, I found that the entire thing is posted up on YouTube!
It’s a really long movie, clocking in at an hour and a half. I jumped around a lot, and the more I saw… the more I remembered. The talking dog, the evil witch/mother, the princess, the princess-looking mouse, the other mouse who was old and had a sword.
I have lots of memories watching this film, but not really liking it much. I think my sister really liked it, and it was something she would always put on when it was her turn to choose what to watch.
I remember it being unpleasant to watch as a kid, and that same feeling exists now that I’m watching it again, all these many years later.
In the related videos section, I came across this review of the movie… which had me in stitches.
Nice to know that it wasn’t just me who remembers watching this very strange cartoon, growing up. I remember this being on a VHS tape, and it was something we taped from somewhere else. Meaning – it was on a blank VHS tape with a bunch of other cartoons I think.
I was convinced it was something that just our family had, having gotten it from maybe friends overseas or something? But apparently this was more common than I thought. What a strange thing to remember, on a Tuesday night. And how delightful, to find that others have this burned into their brains, from so long ago.
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Came across this blog looking for this movie! It popped into my head for some reason today and I felt exactly the same as you; it was uncomfortable and unsettling to watch, definitely haunted me yet I’m sure I must have watched it quite a few times. Also thought perhaps it was just my family who saw it! Definitely won’t be showing it to my child! ?
D (May 5, 2020 at 4:35 pm)Watched this movie when I was around 6, and was traumatized ever since. I’ve seen it once since then, maybe about a few years ago, and it transported my back to my little freaked out self. One of those movies that you can really feel a sinister presence lurking within it.
Angel (November 5, 2020 at 5:23 pm)I watched this when I was 5-6 and it had a very very strange devilish atmosphere that made me feel fear and dread! Even NOW when I’m looking to those cartoon pictures on the internet, It conveys the feeling of nausea to me :((
mary (December 3, 2020 at 2:47 pm)I loooooooved this movie when I was little! I guess I’m only one of a few who have good memories of it. Lol!!! I found this page while searching for the movie. I just watched it again and brought back all the parts I had forgotten about. :) I remember it being very weird and trippy lol.
Alison (February 22, 2021 at 12:31 am)Alison!! I definitely share your love with this movie. This is my favorite movie as a child, I don’t understand the comments above.. the nostalgia I feel when I see this. I’m so with you!
By chance, have you ever watched the Sea Prince of the firechild? It was the same type of animation..the movie was available/rentable around the same time. It was like a Japanese anime take on Romeo & Juliet. These 2 movies were my fav in the early 80’s..
Nikki Scarano (March 5, 2021 at 8:16 pm)Holy craaaaao! I had relentlessly rented this video as a six yr old from my local video store.. This was one of my favorite movies as a child, but soon forgotten.
Fast forward to me now at 43 years of age… I still have nostalgic memories of this movie. With a quick Google I stumbled upon this post. I’m so happy to see that others shared a love for this movie as well! Makes me really appreciate the time that I grew up…
Nikki Scarano (March 5, 2021 at 8:11 pm)I grew up in Iran and I used to watch a Farsi dubbed version of this. I have mixed feelings, I remember watching it quite a lot but there is definitely an eerie undertone to it, and something about the princess’s eyes in the wedding scene really messed with me.
Nimbus (November 8, 2021 at 9:56 am)