The Magic Ballad

The Magic Ballad (1982)

January 1st, 19820h 26min

Animation
50%

Overview

The 25 minute film tells the tale of an ailing elderly woman named Itako who encounters a fox named Okon. The story opens with Itako lying bedridden, as she has for a long time. Okon enters her home and Itako tells the fox that he is welcome to take anything that he wants, for she has no use for anything anymore. Okon is delighted and in order to return the favour (the act of ongaeshi), Okon performs a magic jyōruri (a ballad with shamisen accompaniment) that heals Itako so that she is fit enough to walk again. Everyone is surprised by Itako's sudden recovery. She then hears of a hunter who has been badly injured and is near death. Itako hides Okon in the back of her shirt and has the fox sing the song while she plays shamisen in order to heal the man. This act of kindness is repeated for others until Itako's good fortune leads some to be suspicious of her.


Make sure to check your pop-up blocker!!

Trailer

Similar Movies

Ancestors

Ancestors


Released on: 1978-01-01
Animation, Fantasy

Ancestors is a film about spiritual forefathers and mothers in a purely fanciful sense. These are cl...

Little Russia

Little Russia


Released on: 2004-01-01
Animation

The story he has been told by his grandfather was about people's dream to go out of their small town...

La Belle Époque de Michel Ocelot

La Belle Époque de Michel Ocelot


Released on: 2021-06-09
Documentary, Animation

In the Box

In the Box


Released on: 1999-06-23
Animation, Drama

A character is inside a cubical room; there is a hole in the roof, which is too high to reach. But p...

Puppy!: A Hotel Transylvania Short

Puppy!: A Hotel Transylvania Short


Released on: 2017-07-28
Family, Fantasy, Animation, Comedy

The residents of Hotel Transylvania find their world turned upside-down when youngster Dennis gets a...

Anxious Body

Anxious Body


Released on: 2021-01-23
Animation

When living things, artificial things, geometry shapes, and lines encounter, a new direction is born...

The Vandal

The Vandal


Released on: 2021-07-15
Science Fiction, Animation

Set in a world not unlike mid-20th century America, The Vandal centers on Harold, whose tormented se...

Candy Boy

Candy Boy


Released on: 2007-05-23
Animation

Children are mysteriously falling ill at an orphanage. Candy Boy, the most valiant of the orphans, i...

Hillbilly Blue

Hillbilly Blue


Released on: 1996-02-11
Animation, Comedy

Crawdad Eustace is fed-up with being treated as food and goes with possum pal Mordechai on a cross-c...

Gravedad

Gravedad


Released on: 2019-10-31
Animation

Animated short about the meaning of life.

A Challenge

A Challenge


Released on: 1999-05-01
Animation

An educational short film about bullying.

Agent 327: Operation Barbershop

Agent 327: Operation Barbershop


Released on: 2017-05-12
Action, Animation, Comedy

Agent 327 is investigating a clue that leads him to a shady barbershop in Amsterdam. Little does he ...

In a Heartbeat

In a Heartbeat


Released on: 2017-06-01
Animation, Romance, Comedy

A closeted boy runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase...

Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond


Released on: 2014-04-19
Action, Animation, Science Fiction, TV Movie

This short celebrating 75 years of Batman from artist Darwyn Cooke returns fans to the world of Batm...

Swiss Cheese

Swiss Cheese


Released on: 1930-06-01
Animation

Terrytoons animated short film directed by Frank Moser

Kangaroo Steak

Kangaroo Steak


Released on: 1930-07-27
Animation

Terrytoons animated short film directed by Frank Moser

French Fried

French Fried


Released on: 1930-09-07
Animation

Farmer Al Falfa goes to Paris along with a flapper who turns out to be some crook.

Prometheus

Prometheus


Released on: 1966-06-06
Animation

Allegory of men's use of fire to kill, when it was given by Prometheus to help them.

Irish Stew

Irish Stew


Released on: 1930-10-05
Animation

Terrytoons animated short film directed by Frank Moser

Die Geschichte vom Fischer und seiner Frau

Die Geschichte vom Fischer und seiner Frau


Released on: 1976-07-09
Animation

A fisherman once caught a talking golden fish. He gave him his freedom and was allowed to make a wis...