Unico in the Island of Magic

ユニコ魔法の島へ

7.18(2K votes)

Ranked #3847Popularity #10011

episodes

Type

Movie

Status

Finished Airing

Aired

Jul 16, 1983

Studios:Madhouse

AdventureFantasy

Synopsis

Based on "Unico and the Kingdom of the Sun," which was newly written as a theater version, this animated film features a battle between the wizard Kukuruku and Unico. Kukuruku builds a castle using dolls transformed from men as building parts. The story revolves around the sorrow and terror of men who have been transfigured into dolls, and a girl named Cherry who wishes to recover the kindness in her brother, who is a student of Kukuruku. This work reminds us of the fact that "transformation" or "transfiguration" - favorite themes of Tezuka Osamu - involves not only material aspects, but also man's immaterial heart. (Source: Tezuka Osamu's Website)

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Worth Watching? — Global Verdict

7.5/10

Average Review Score

100%

Recommend It

Reviews Worldwide

International Reviews

HaheeSemiquavers

Recommended

After the melancholic ending of the first film, I wondered what would be next in Unico's journey. And I was not disappointed. Visually, it is nice to see this movie is on par with the first. The moments where people are transformed into dolls are genuinely terrifying. However, it should be noted that there are many flashing lights. Even if you're not photosensitive, I do not recommend watching this in a dark room. As for sound, it is nice. Not too distracting, but it sets the dreamy tone of the movie. Storywise, it follows a similar format from the prequel. Unico is as adorable as ever, learning to love andcare for others. The character dynamics between Cherry and Torby are also pretty solid. Even the antagonist gets some character depth, which I feel is an improvement from the last film. Overall, enjoyable and bittersweet movie.

0 found helpfulJul 30, 2025

Chuy_diazz

Recommended

Community Discussion

Journey Through Madhouse, Episode 11: We're facing the studio's first sequel. A bit strange considering the studio's reputation. In this sequel, Unico's journey takes us to an island where everyone is turned into toys. Our protagonist, along with a young girl, will be tasked with defeating the evil sorcerer who is transforming people. The film is clearly aimed at a children's audience, so the story feels quite digestible. It doesn't strive for a complex plot that will keep us thinking for an hour and a half; rather, it aims to get us to press play and be distracted by the light show it has to offer. Ifthere's one thing I have to highlight about the film, it's a sequence during the third act with an animation fluidity that many current studios would envy. For a film from '83, this sequence even seems ahead of its time. If you're an adult, you'll hardly enjoy the film. On the other hand, if you have children, nephews, or young children at home, it could be a good movie for the weekend. You might get a moment of peace, whether the kids were entertained or had an epileptic seizure while watching it.