Toei Animation is bringing out another of their films for a new release on DVD with Ali Baba to 40-hiki no Touzoku, which is now set for a June 14th, 2017 release. The DVD is priced at 2,700 yen and will have the original Japanese language track with the film set at 2.35:1 framing. Extras include an art gallery.
The film was originally released in 1971 and was directed by Hiroshi Shidara based on the script by Morihisa Yamamoto.
The Japanese cast includes Chikao Ohtsuka as Alibaba, Kousei Tomita as Spirit of the Lamp, Goro Naya as Goro, Isamu Tanonaka as Police Chief, Junpei Takiguchi as Kajiru, Kenji Utsumi as Dora and Nobuyo Oyama as Huck.
Plot Concept: A boy who is the descendant of the leader of the thieves who met a grisly fate in the 1001 Nights bands together with 38 cats and a mouse to get back his rightful treasure from Ali Baba XXXIII, the descendant of Ali Baba who now rules the kingdom with an iron fist. This is a reversal of the good guy/bad guy roles in the original story! This film is one of the most rollicking and action-packed films made by Toei, and is in an outrageously cartoonish style breaking with the Toei mold. It has a spectacular lineup of animators including Yasuji Mori, Akira Daikubara, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe and Reiko Okuyama. The original story about Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves itself is recounted at one point in the film in an unexpected and interesting way using shadow-puppets.
[Source: Ali Baba to 40-hiki no Touzoku]
