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The Legend of Hei is a film adaptation of a 40-episode Flash-animated series called The Legend of Luo Xiaohei, but the latter is not required viewing for the former. Both the series and the film were created by Chinese artist MTJJ, who brings a beautiful and unique visual flair to both. MTJJ also wrote the script for the film, which received some localization from Kris Knigge of Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. The film’s distribution was handled by the well-known anime production company Aniplex. When adapted to English, the studio also brought in some strong voice talent, including Kaiji Tang (Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen) and Aleks Le (Zenitsu in Demon Slayer). Fans of subs will feel right at home with the original Chinese version, and fans of dubs will find the English version perfectly serviceable.
The Legend of Hei is about a young spirit whose beautiful forest home is destroyed by human deforestation. Hei takes the form of a kitten and hides in plain sight for years until he is discovered by a fellow spirit named Stormend. After years of solitude, Hei immediately falls in love with his new home and his new friends, but it doesn’t last long. A string of unexplained attacks has left other spirits in a state of terror. Hei is among his new friends for only a day before a mysterious human with incredible power appears and battles the spirits to a standstill single-handedly. This stranger, the taciturn warrior Infinity, takes Hei with him as he leaves on a long and winding journey across idyllic islands and metropolitan cities to get Hei somewhere safe. Along the way, Hei is forced to question who is right and who is wrong, and decide the fate of mankind and his fellow spirits alike.
The film has drawn a ton of comparisons to the work of Studio Ghibli, and it’s a fair one to make. While the environmental messaging isn’t nearly as complex as something like Princess Mononoke, it feels aimed at a younger audience. The plot is a little all over the place, regularly drawing in characters the audience hasn’t met yet and introducing them with an expedient flourish. The direct storyline, however, is very simple and easy to follow, despite its twists and shifting motives. The characters are all immediately identifiable, even those who don’t get more than a couple of minutes on-screen, and the main cast are immensely likable. There’s a ton of well-executed character comedy between Infinity and Hei. Their long journey makes up the bulk of the film’s runtime, but it’s a beautifully executed travel comedy with a few thrilling asides into the supernatural.
Despite its excellent presentation, the charming journey of a child and his enigmatic caretaker isn’t the biggest draw of this film. The real draw is the myriad of unique and brilliant fight scenes. There are a ton of animated action films and fight-centric anime series out there crafting excellent 2-D combat, but it is no overstatement to declare The Legend of Hei one of the best in the genre. Every attack, counter, exchange, and conflict flows with a level of artistry that is beyond belief. Most of the exposure that the film has gotten in North America comes from a handful of gifs that have emerged on social media, but they barely scratch the surface. Almost every major character wields a simple superpower, and the creativity on display, especially from gifts that everyone has seen elsewhere, is staggering.
It’s compelling, unpredictable, flowing, and dynamic, but it also conveys an incredible amount of character in brief fight scenes. Fans of shonen anime or superhero movies owe it to themselves to see what MTJJ does with a handful of characters and a few simple powers.
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