Now Playing in Cinemas Across the UK and Ireland.
Heidi Rescue of the Lynx continues a beloved story, capturing the same charm and warmth found in Johanna Spyri’s classic Swiss tale—while also welcoming a new generation of fans. I first discovered this story through the 1970s animated series Heidi, Girl of the Alps, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s earliest projects. His work on the screenplay and production art—centered on nature, kindness, and emotion—would shape many of his later cinematic works.
At the time, shows like Lupin the Third and The Rose of Versailles introduced me to European stories told through anime. But Heidi stood out. It had a quiet, heartfelt tone that stayed with me. Its characters and designs even helped inspire others, like Mei in My Neighbor Totoro. Over the years, Heidi has returned in a few new versions. Most of them stayed close to the original story.
Continue reading “Heidi Rescue of the Lynx and the Hayao Miyazaki Connection”
Available on TVOKIDS (Canada)
Spring is in the air, and there’s lots happening over at the National Film Board of Canada. Not only are they also celebrating Asian Heritage Month, but also recognising new talents in the medium of animation and storytelling. It’s great to see that there’s some Asian talent being recognised in this TheNFB’s Hothouse program.
Ainbo, Spirit of the Amazon, has done a world tour and the last place this film hasn’t properly visited is North America. This work isn’t listed for theatres (and streaming) yet, and that’s odd when considering its potential. Although developed for General audiences, hopefully other animation enthusiasts can get on board its message of saving forests far and wide.