Sun Prince Holmes' Big Adventure

The film is based on a Japanese puppet play, "The Sun of Shiki-San," which is rooted in the legend of the Ainu people. However, the setting is adapted to resemble a Nordic style, although the creators, including Yoshiyuki Tomino and Isao Takahata, have stated that the film's location is not explicitly specified. This ambiguity has led to differing opinions among the production staff. Originally, the film was scheduled to be produced within eight months with a budget of ¥700 million. However, the actual production period lasted approximately three years, and the budget ballooned to ¥1.3 billion. The film's poor box office performance led to the demotion of several staff members, resulting in the departure of several key personnel, including Takahata and Isao Takahashi, who went on to join the A Production studio. After leaving Toei Animation, Takahata did not direct another animated film until his departure from the company. Ironically, another film, "The Cat from Outer Space" (a.k.a. "Longkatsu o Haita Neko"), which featured many of the same staff members, was a major commercial success, and its protagonist, "Baron," has become a beloved character in Toei Animation's repertoire. Over time, the film has gained positive reviews, and it is now considered one of the outstanding animated films produced by Toei Animation in the 1960s, alongside "Prince of the Beast" and "Animal Gold Island."