Sat Jan 25 06:10:00 UTC 2025: ## 30-Year-Old Japanese Animated Ramayana Hits Indian Screens
**Hyderabad, January 25:** After a string of live-action Ramayana adaptations, including the recent, much-discussed *Adipurush*, a Japanese animated version of the epic, *Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama*, has premiered in India. The film, originally created 30 years ago and released in Japan as a series, has been re-edited into a 2.5-hour feature for its Indian release.
Directed by Koichi Sasaki and Yugo Saki in collaboration with Ram Mohan, the film covers the key events of the Valmiki Ramayana, from Rama’s birth to his final victory over Ravana. While the storyline is familiar to most Indian audiences, the animation style is being highlighted as a unique selling point.
Reviews praise the animation quality, describing the characters as lively and realistic, a rarity in some animation styles. The emotional depth of the film is also noted as a strong point, effectively conveying the emotional core of the epic. The makers have clearly targeted a younger audience, aiming to introduce a new generation to the classic tale.
While the film sticks closely to the original narrative, some events and scenes receive more detailed treatment than others. The Telugu dubbing, however, has received mixed reviews, with suggestions for improvement in quality and the use of original Telugu songs. Despite this, the film’s advanced animation technology for its time is considered impressive, even by today’s standards.
The film’s release in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam is intended to reach a broad Indian audience, showcasing both Indian storytelling and high-quality animation. Overall, the movie is being touted as a family-friendly option, particularly suitable for children.
First Piper 