Ringing Bell (1978) User Reviews

Cute and clever movie about the Natural Order

[Imdbidia · 7/10 · 15 February 2011]

A 2-D Japanese animation movie that tells the story of Chirin, a baby ram who wears a ringing bell and wants to become a wolf.

The first part of the movie is very bucolic, with Chirin is in the farm with his mother and all the sheep eating, playing and frolicking around. Chirin is the cutest thing ever. The second part of the film, in which Chirin trains to be like a wolf, is much darker in colors, sharper in lines, and darker in mood, but it is also more interesting.

The story has all the elements of traditional storytelling, in which Nature, family, social relationships, life and death are explored naturally and organically, and in which the children are expected to learn about them from an early age.

In fact, the movie is a terrific way to teach children that Nature and the natural order is what it is, despite its harshness, we like it or not, that Nature has its own logic, that you cannot change your nature without becoming lost and isolated -an outcast. It also shows that all natural creatures have a right to live, and that you cannot consider one good and the other bad, as even the bad ones have their reasons to behave the way they do. Finally, the movie shows that resentment can harm and ruin your life.

To modern standards and moronic treatment of children, this could be considered an adult movie. The thing is, no child is going to like the end and is going to cry through, but with the parents by his/her side, he/she will learn an important lesson in life.

The animation is simple but very cute, with an adorable drawing of Chirin and of all animals, except for the wolf and other fierce animals, which are, of course, ugly and frightening. What is more, the animation reminded me of Disney, old-Disney, especially of Bambi, to which Ringing Bell relates both in the drawing style and in the message conveyed.

The movie just lasts 47 minutes.

The cute tale of a little lamb turns into a tragedy about revenge

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 12 July 2010]

"The Ringing Bell of Chirin" was a short animated film produced by Sanrio, and while at first it may look like something like "Bambi", the story of this film quickly evolves into something more tragic and dark. "The Ringing Bell of Chirin" starts off as a children's film but quickly merges into a dark, tragic story about revenge and its bitter consequences, managing to subvert any possible expectation a viewer could have towards a seemingly cutesy tale of talking animals in a rather impressive way.

I honestly doubt a film like this could be done in this day and age, much less in Hollywood.

It broke my heart, but there is no more beautiful catharsis

[Amigaslost · 8/10 · 28 May 2006]

I saw this movie as a child and it broke my heart! No other story had such a unfinished ending... I grew up on many great anime movies and this was one of my favourites, because it was so unusual - a story about unfairness, and cruelty, and loneliness, and life, and choices that can't be undone, and the need for others. Chirin is made alone when the Wolf kills his mother, but the Wolf is alone, too, when Chirin follows him into the mountain. The Wolf doesn't kill the lamb, even though each night he says "maybe I'll eat you tomorrow." The tape of it I have is broken and degraded from age and use. I will repair it and watch the movie again someday and cry just as hard as I did as a child. Stories like this, with this depth and feeling, and this intricacy of meaning, are very rare. It is a sad story, but I've never encountered any catharsis more beautifully made. I am glad I have seen this movie, and I'm glad I saw it as a child.

Wonderful, mind-expanding, film...

[siriusblacklegolas420 · 8 November 2004]

*** SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***

I own this wonderful movie, one film of many that I am proud of. Basically, the plot of the film short is based on a baby lamb named Chirin, a playful and curious lamb who goes just beyond the safe boundaries of the paddock fence he lives in one day and is scolded by his mother. He also wears a bell around his neck to keep him out of danger. (Think "Bambi") Well, one night the wolf that Chirin's mother kept warning him about that lives on the mountain outside the fence comes to their farm and invades the barn in which they live. (There are many sheep, not just Chirin and his mother) The wolf comes to the farm occasionally for a feast of lamb, and when he's about to pounce on and devour Chirin, his mother jumps over him to protect him. She dies. Then, Chirin, fueled by rage of his mother's death, leaves the farm in search of the wolf. He pursues the wolf, determined to be stronger in order to strike down the wolf that had killed his mother. (Yes, the very wolf Chirin wants to have train him, he also wants to kill.) Well, years pass, Chirin grows up to be a merciless killer with the wolf at his side. As partners, they ravage the land and kill all that stand in their way. As a last lesson the wolf teaches Chirin, he takes him back to the very place he had left years before to go join the wolf. He begins as if he is fearless of the thought of killing his own kind but, sees a lamb and he remembers his childhood and refuses to do it. The wolf heads in toward the barn to do it for him but, Chirin won't let him kill his past life. He charges the wolf one last time, and runs him through with his dagger-like horns. Then, even after slaying the wolf the sheep are too afraid of him to let him live with them. They lock him out and finally he realizes that without the wolf now, he is completely alone. He leaves, and later the sheep claim to hear the bell Chirin wore as a child to protect him from danger, ringing quietly in a raging blizzard. The End. It's a bit depressing but, most children would probably be too young to understand the deeper concepts the movie displays. All in all, the movie is really very good, enjoy!

It's Like Bambi, Only Far More Depressing

[elicopperman · 6/10 · 11 October 2018]

In 1978, the same company that produced Hello Kitty, Sanrio, made a television film adaptation of the Japanese children's book, Chirin's Bell. Infamously known for its story that tackles the themes of revenge in a brutal manner, it has been seen as possibly the only Japanese shock film made for children. Some have even compared it to Bambi, although they've also stated to not really show it to young children. After watching the film myself, I did admire it for what it was, but I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied in some aspects.

The basic story revolves around a little lamb named Chirin, who seeks revenge on a wolf that killed his mother. Upon realizing that he must become like the thing he wishes to destroy, he is aided by the wolf to become a fearsome fighting beast. What's unique about this film is that it starts off as cute and sweet, but once the wolf comes in, the film takes a tonal 180 and becomes a grim tale of vengeance and the harsh realities of nature. Chirin acknowledges that he must become like a wolf if he wishes to destroy his enemy, which makes him develop into a fierce warrior whose innocence is taken away from him. However, the film also subtly speaks of the cautions of venturing away from home, as once you turn into something that you're not, you'll never be looked at the same way again. Once Chirin succeeds in killing the wolf, he thinks he can go back home, but all the sheep at the farm see him as nothing but a monster. All that Chirin has left is the bell on his neck, the one reminder of his once innocent life.

With all of that said, I think my biggest issue with the film is that I think it could've been longer than 46 minutes; maybe 75 or 80 at most. When Chirin vows to become the wolf's apprentice, there's never a moment beforehand that shows him contemplating wanting to do it. As the old saying goes, show, don't tell. That, and if you're trying to convey the idea that nature turns innocent lives into ferocious beasts, maybe have a few scenes where the wolf talks about his upbringing and how that affected him. That way, we can see multiple views of how nature affects animals, even those who are built to be predators. I'm not saying the film needs to be overly complex, but just a little more momentum would've fit well.

All in all, despite my personal issues with the film, I highly recommend watching Ringing Bell if you're looking for a family film that does not hold back in terms of tackling serious issues. A lot of family films today don't even have the guts to attempt that, so it's great to gain a breath of fresh air from the perspective of a film that tells us to never leave home, or else. Be warned though, unless your child can handle dark content, it's probably best to show them when they're about 8 or 9, no younger. One thing we cannot deny is how a company known for making kid friendly junk actually had guts in tackling subject matter this realistic.

A fantastic rare example of children's anime with extreme, grim intensity

[Loki1983 · 9/10 · 25 January 2002]

Watching this several times as a child was quite the experience 15 years ago, and now that I've found it again it still has a film experience like few others. If risky, it's a great display of morals and life lessons recommended for family viewing with young kids. While it still holds up as an adult, I was fortunate to have learned from it many times over years ago. Trying to find it today is hard enough . . . but believe me it is well worth it no matter what the age. Anime fans especially will find this a great entry to Masami Hata's filmography. With impressive art work and unique designs, "Chirin No Suzu" represents a worthwhile experience. While some of the lyrical songs are not so hot when recorded in English, the musical score is nevertheless captivating. But even the voice acting is far better than much released today. Unfortunately is went out of print in the mid-1980s from RCA Columbia Home Video, and has not received any new format release to my knowledge, at least in the US. Look hard for it and you will be quite satisfied! It's an artful, intense, enjoyable, and important landmark in Japanese animation.

MAN, this is depressing.

[codydennison · 6/10 · 25 February 2017]

I don't mean that in a bad way. This movie's actually good. It's not the kind of movie you'd expect it to be, kind of like Disney. Instead, it's...pretty dark. Be warned: here there be spoilers.

So Chirin is a little lamb who loves to play, but his mother ends up being killed by an old wolf. He runs away to kill the wolf only to decide to be his apprentice so he won't be a useless sheep any longer. Instead of the usual route of Bambi, Littlefoot, and Simba (who lost a parent and went through tragedy but became characters) Chirin doesn't let go of the negative emotion and becomes a hate-filled demonic ram with misshapen horns. One night, Chirin heads to his old home to kill some sheep only to see a mother protecting her lamb and realize that he can't do it. He fights the wolf and kills him, but the other sheep refuse to take him in because they see him as a monster. Alone and full of despair, Chirin returns to the mountains, where the final scene in the movie has him crying out to the wolf in the harsh winter night.

Like I said, it's good. There's not a whole lot of characters, but that suits this movie's mood well. And it's also a cautionary tale of what happens if you take revenge. There's only one problem I have with the movie. How does Chirin easily accept the wolf as his father figure when he had wanted to kill him to avenge his mother? I get that his time with the wolf made him slightly affectionate with him, but why the sudden change? Other than that, I like this movie. So on a scale from one to ten, I'd give it a 6, and I'd recommend it.

A children's classic...

[ebl114 · 10/10 · 7 November 2003]

in a not so conventional sense of the word.

This movie was one of my favorites as a young child, and I just recently remembered it, and thought to look it up. While many of the details are no longer clear in my mind, the overall feeling that the movie gave me has stuck with me over the years.

If parents feel that their children can handle mature and sometimes violent themes, then I highly recommend this movie. It taught me a lot about life and death, and brought forth in me a lot of emotion. To this day, it remains one of my favorite films.

Great Movie, but Wait Until You're More Mature.

[mrmcnerdothenerdlord · 7/10 · 22 July 2021]

This is a great film that isn't necessarily inappropriate, but the story it tells isn't one that your child will enjoy. Really, the best age to watch it is around 15 yrs, albeit that is for more sensitive and compassionate children. The lowest would probably be about 13.

Spoiler Warning This was a fantastic movie. The protagonist becomes a villain and his nemesis/surrogate father was the only character with a sense of honor. On one hand the Wolf killed the lamb's mother and he went to take vengeance. On the other hand, the wolf was doing what he needed to survive but raised the lamb anyway, and the lamb became a very brutal murderer of other animals including the guardian dogs of his old flock.

In three years, Chirin turned into a fearsome beast.

[ravsten428 · 10/10 · 19 July 2011]

This movie is simply amazing! I can't even begin to describe the many emotions you feel while watching it.

Every time I watch this I never feel like I am watching an animated movie. This film is so powerful and gripping! The movie is about a young lamb who's mother is killed by a wolf. Chirin is devastated and goes out seeking the wolf; hell bent on getting revenge.

This film is dark and may not be for everyone. I must say that this is one of my favorite films and it is very touching while being sad at the same time.

Supposedly this film was made based to be a cautionary tale about Japanese children being sent off to war and never coming back. Thus the mother sheep telling Chirin never to leave beyond the farm gate. Leaving the farm only meant death.

One of the best anime films I have ever seen

[joebrian55 · 10/10 · 31 July 2012]

As I mentioned in my review of "Tottoi", there are few non- Ghibli anime films I know of that actually have useful messages, a memorable story and whatnot rather than mecha battles and fanservice.

Fortunately, this obscure Sanrio production is one of these "serious" anime films I know of. Though it is quite violent for a children's movie, it does what it was made to do and compels the viewer(s) to keep watching for its nigh unto 50 minute running time.

While a viewing of this movie by any children you know or have may require you to watch it with them, this movie teaches them many a useful topic:

The death of a loved one, the laws of nature, revenge, violence etc.

Thanks to its flawless storytelling and clear-as-a-bell lesson teaching (no pun intended), we learn that the Wolf King does not kill because he loves to, he does it because he follows the laws of nature, which one realizes when he says "In order for some to live, others must die."

And one must remember the ending, where one of the final lessons is that revenge is not the right way to solve problems.

So if you ever want to show this to your kids, watch it with them and have a discussion afterwards about the film's messages. Not only can they understand the important topics of nature and the life cycle this way, but it can help them develop critical thinking.

NOTE: The Wolf King says "Hell" in one scene to describe life, so you might want to tell your children (unless they already know) that it is not an appropriate word for them to use.

Emotionally odd movie

[macandcheesekidneys · 5/10 · 14 February 2021]

I came into this movie not expecting much. After all, the poster looked disney esc enough that it wouldn't have too many surprises, twists, or mature themes. I was wrong. For better or worse I suppose.

The main issue I have with this film is it's lack of over all purpose. What was Chirin's goal really? First it was, trying to avenge my mother, to wanting to become stronger. From the same dang wolf that killed his mother? Like, what???

I've been told by someone who's also watched this movie that the message could be "try not to be succumbed to power" or something, something revenge. But Chirin was never full of hateful revenge or any long desire to murder. He doesn't kill the sheep at the end, he doesn't kill the wolf for no reason, and he doesn't go on a bloody rampage. So why and how could it be about revenge if Chirin never sought out revenge. I could see, maybe, the message being "don't just follow blindly by your peers." Which is something Chirin constantly seems to idiotically do throughout the movie.

Some scenes. With the dead birds or the dead mother, for example. Are the few things I think the film had going for it. But they were still lined with dumb ideas. Like when the wolf told Chirin that "some must die so others can survive." Yet, that same wolf goes and murders a ton of animals. Despite already having killed enough for food. So why the actual hell does the wolf have to say that? Maybe the snake, if he wasn't already murdered by Chirin, could have said that. It would make way more sense. Considering the snake was probably only killing the bird to survive.

So yeah, this movie is definitely for maturer audiences. And while it's not amazing, it's not horrible. And can still be enjoyed if you ignore the constant negatives.

Disney-like animation but unDisney-like content

[maximkong · 18 November 2012]

This is a classic cartoon that anyone should avoid 'judging a book by its cover'. It looks exactly like any other cheesy Disney cartoons...but it is TOTALLY the opposite.

This 40-minute clip is one huge character development influenced by the choices in life made by a sheer little lamb, and the consequences that followed. There are other anime with equally dark/depressing themes, but this is probably one of the first few that I noticed that made it very obvious & convincing part in the latter. The unfairytale-like ending -- definitely something you won't expect from a cartoon like this -- is one such powerful testimony. Aside from the first 8 minute, the rest of the movie is very dark but true to anything anyone has to face in reality. If i have kids, I will definitely include this cartoon at the top of the 'cartoons for kids' list. Cartoons should not be meant to give kids false impression of life but instead prepare them for the real moral lessons. This anime absolutely nailed it.

A very beautiful and intense movie, no matter what age.

[bloody_vampiru_dracul · 10/10 · 19 May 2002]

*** Spoilers*

My dad had taped this movie for me when I was 3. By age 5, I had watched it over 400 times. I just watched it and watched it. And I still do today! It has a grim storyline, a lamb's mother is killed by a wolf--a very emotional scene--and wants to become a wolf, like him. After years of training, the lamb is made into a really REALLY evil looking thing. He and the wolf travel to his old barn, but he cannot kill the lambs, no matter how much he wishes to. He ends up killing the wolf, but is no longer seen as a lamb by his former friends, and can't return to his previous way of life.

The art is beautiful, the songs are..well, okay, and the voice acting is better than some things today.

All in all, you just *have* to see this movie, it is a great masterpiece. Although, it's very hard to find today.

How Great It Was.

[ashleyswiger-15946 · 10/10 · 9 August 2023]

Well.. I Gotta Say.. It Was Kinda Dark To Be Honest.. But The Thing Is, I Watched The Film On YouTube.. I Only Knew Two Sentences On A Book With The Same Name Of The Film..

"With Chirin's Bell, One Can Remember Those Gentle Eyelashes And Smile.."

"With Chirin's Bell, One Can Remember The Loneliness And Sadness In The World.."

Like.. Why Did The Wolf Kill Chirin's Mother In The First Place? And How Did He Find Where The Sheep Are?

Well.. The Film Had A Sad Ending To Be Honest.. I Cried My Eyes Out At The Film And The Ending...

Well... It Was Time To Say Goodbye To The Little Lamb Anyway...

An must see Japanese animation masterpiece

[pickeringmark-17687 · 10/10 · 10 January 2021]

A story about life and death and the lessons from it as well which also can cause devastating consequences.

Something for everyone.

[jessiebigler · 10/10 · 10 April 2024]

I first watched this movie as a young child and several more times over the last 40 years. Every time, the message/lesson changes.

When you're a young child, the message is to listen to your mother, stay close and be safe.

When you're a teen, it's a cautionary tale of letting your emotions control you and how revenge doesn't solve anything.

As an adult, it's more about the harsh reality of the world, an acknowledgement that nature can be cruel, unfair, and random. "Someone has to die so someone else can live," sums it up well. Life relies on death.

Overall, it is a fantastic film that is great for all ages.

Outstanding but not generally for children

[non_sportcardandy · 10 September 2013]

Purchased this film many years ago maybe on Beta.It's been misplaced so I haven't seen it for quite awhile.My children had watched it before I ever did.Since they use to sing a song from it I was really expecting some kind of cute movie,no way.It was really surprising how dark and serious this film was.The filming didn't meet up to the animation standards of other films but it gripped the viewers attention.There are no laughs in this film.My children didn't watch it with me as it had already made them cry.As adults they still talk about how sad it was.Anyone that let's their child view this movie takes a chance on upsetting them.

A shocker

[randileegraves · 9/10 · 12 September 2023]

I remember my sister and I renting this movie at the video store, doing our usual. Our parents let us pick out our own movies and I seen a cute little sheep so I got it. It started out with this fun friendly cute sheep as the main character that you adore while watching him. Then the movie takes a dark unexpected turn that I wasn't expecting even though we were addicted to scary movies, that's not what I rented and was expecting that day. It got very dark without a happy ending. My sister and I were crying so hard and my mom came in the living room and we told her what happened. She was so mad she said she was going to the video store and complain😅. I still remember this and told my daughter but I won't let her watch it. It's really good but it's only something an adult will understand. Decades later I'm just finding out it's an sanrio film great animation. Pretty deep!