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{{short description|Japanese animated film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{About|an animated film with the English title of '''Once Upon a Time'''|other uses of that term|Once Upon a Time (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Windaria (film poster).jpg
| director       = [[Kunihiko Yuyama]]
| producer       = Toshihiro Nagao
| writer         = Keisuke Fujikawa
| based_on       = {{Based on|''Windaria''|Keisuke Fujikawa}}
| music          = [[Ryuji Sasai]]<br>[[Satoshi Kadokura]]
| released       = {{Film date|1986|07|19|df=y}}
| studio         = Idol<br />Kaname Productions<br />[[Gallop (studio)|Studio Gallop]]
| distributor    = 
| country        = Japan
| language       = Japanese
| runtime        = 101 minutes
}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Windaria'''''|ウインダリア|Uindaria|}}, also called '''''Legend of Fabulous Battle Windaria''''' and '''''Once Upon a Time''''', is a Japanese [[anime|animated]] film produced by Kaname Productions and Idol. The film was directed by [[Kunihiko Yuyama]], and written by Keisuke Fujikawa. It was released theatrically in Japan on July 19, 1986.

==Plot==
The mountainous kingdom of Paro and the coastal city-state of Itha had been at peace for over a century. They would have remained that way but for the ambitions of Paro's power-hungry king. Paro invaded Itha, despite the love between Jill, Paro's prince, and Ahanas, Itha's princess.  Caught between duty and emotion, the star-crossed lovers were forced to fight a war to its bitter conclusion. Meanwhile, Isu was a simple farmer from the neutral village of Saki, but he saved Itha from being destroyed by a spy from Paro, and found himself hungering for wealth and glory that the Ithan monarchy couldn't provide. Agents from Paro made him an offer to fulfill his wishes, and he left his wife Marin behind in what would turn into a battlefield between the two kingdoms.

==Voice cast==
{| class="wikitable sortable "
|-
! colspan="2" | Japanese
! colspan="2" | English
|-
!Character name
!Voice actor
!Character name
!Dubbing actor
|-
|Izu (イズー)
|[[Tōru Furuya]]
|Allen
|[[Kerrigan Mahan]] (young)<br />[[Russell Johnson]] (old)
|-
|Marin (マーリン)
|Waka Kanda
|Marie
|[[Mari Devon|Jane Alan]]
|-
|Jiru (ジル)
|[[Kazuhiko Inoue]]
|Roland
|Bruce Nielsen
|-
|Anasu (アーナス)
|[[Naoko Matsui]]
|Veronica
|[[Barbara Goodson]]
|-
|Ginevia (ギネビア)
|Sho Saito
|Lunarian Queen
|[[Catherine Battistone]]
|-
|Haroru (ハロール)
|[[Kan Tokumaru]]
|Lunarian Chancellor
|[[Michael Forest]]
|-
|Piralu (クピラール)
|[[Ichirō Nagai]]
|Caleb
|[[Jeff Winkless]] (first half)<br/>[[Bill Capizzi]] (second half)
|-
|Ransuro (ランスロ)
|[[Hidekatsu Shibata]]
|King Drako
|[[Michael McConnohie]]
|-
|Kundori (クンドリー)
|[[Rihoko Yoshida]]
|Shadowland Queen
|[[Melodee Spevack]]
|-
|Kairu (カイル)
|[[Norio Wakamoto]]
|Lord Legato
|Abe Lasser
|-
|Sharemu (シャレム)
|Yumi Kinoshita
|Celina
|[[Iona Morris]]
|-
|Druid (ドルイド)
|[[Gara Takashima]]
|Juliet
|[[Wendee Lee]] (first half)<br/>[[Melodee Spevack]] (second half)
|-
|Toreru (トレル)
|[[Kazuki Yao]]
|Bren
|
|}

==Production==
''Windaria'' is based on a novel of the same name, authored by Keisuke Fujikawa, the film's screenwriter.<ref name="explosion">{{cite book | author=Drazen, Patrick | date=January 1, 2002 | title=[[Anime Explosion! The What? Why? & Wow! Of Japanese Animation]] | publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]] | pages=223–9 | isbn=978-1-880656-72-3}}</ref><ref name="dvdtalk">{{cite web | author=Houston, Don | date=April 1, 2004 | title=Once Upon A Time | url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10136/once-upon-a-time/ | publisher=[[DVD Talk]] | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> Fujikawa's resume includes the live-action ''[[Ultraman (1966 TV series)|Ultraman]]'' and the animated series ''[[Space Battleship Yamato]]'', ''[[Grendizer]]'', and ''[[Cat's Eye (manga)|Cat's Eye]]''.<ref name="explosion"/> The film was produced by animation companies Kaname Productions and Idol and directed by [[Kunihiko Yuyama]], who previously worked on ''[[Magical Princess Minky Momo]]'' and ''[[GoShogun]]''.<ref name="explosion"/><ref name="directory">{{cite book |author1=Ledoux, Trish |author2=Ranney, Doug |author3=Patten, Fred   |name-list-style=amp | date=February 1, 1997 | title=The Complete Anime Guide: Japanese Animation Film Directory & Resource Guide | publisher=Tiger Mountain Press | page=170 | isbn=978-0-9649542-5-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=August 1, 2008 | title=Ask John: Which Women Have Made an Impact on Anime Production? | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/08/01/ask-john-which-women-have-made-an-impact-on-anime-production/ | publisher=[[AnimeNation]] | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> [[Gallop (studio)|Studio Gallop]] was responsible for its photography and Studio Cosmos contributed the backgrounds. [[Mutsumi Inomata]] acted as both character designer and animation director.<ref name="animemovieguide">{{cite book | author-link=Helen McCarthy | last=McCarthy | first=Helen | date=July 1997 | title=The Anime! Movie Guide | publisher=[[The Overlook Press]] | isbn=978-0-87951-781-6 |page=44}}</ref> The film's instrumental musical score was composed by Satoshi Kadokura. The vocal theme {{nihongo|"''Yakusoku''"|約束||lit. "Promise"}} was written by [[Kazuhiko Katō]] and performed by [[J-pop]] singer [[Akino Arai]].<ref>{{cite news | date=October 17, 2009 | title='Do You Remember Love?' Composer Kazuhiko Katoh Found Hanged (Updated) | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-17/do-you-remember-love-composer-kazuhiko-kato-found-hanged | work=[[Anime News Network]] | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> The ending theme {{nihongo|"''Utsukushii Hoshi''"|美しい星||lit. "Beautiful Planet"}} was written and performed by Arai.<ref>{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=February 23, 2007 | title=Ask John: What are the Most Impressive Anime Songs? | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/02/23/ask-john-what-are-the-most-impressive-anime-songs/| publisher=[[AnimeNation]] | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> Arai stated that she did not discuss the composition of the tracks with the director as she would have later in her career.<ref name="beautifulstar">{{cite web | author=Ayou | date=March 25, 2008 | title=Akino Arai Press Conference | url=http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-4196-akino-arai-press-conference.html | publisher=Jame-World | access-date=April 6, 2012}}</ref>

===Soundtrack===
{{Track listing
| headline        = {{nihongo|''Windaria Musical Chapter''|ウィンダリア 音楽篇}}
| total_length    = 42:37
| title1          = {{nihongo|''Uindaria no Tēma''|ウインダリアのテーマ||Theme of Windaria}}
| music1          = Satoshi Kadokura
| length1         = 3:30
| title2          = {{nihongo|''Ipa Kawa no Hanran''|イパ川の氾濫||Overflow of the Ipa River}}
| music2          = Kadokura
| length2         = 4:49
| title3          = {{nihongo|''Mayoi no Mori''|迷いの森||Forest of Illusion}}
| music3          = Kadokura
| length3         = 1:03
| title4          = {{nihongo|''Yakusoku''|約束||Promise}}
| lyrics4         = Masumi Kawamura
| music4          = [[Kazuhiko Katō]]
| length4         = 4:39
| title5          = {{nihongo|''Hobē Ni Mise Rarete''|ホバーに魅せられて||Fascinated by a Hover}}
| music5          = Kadokura
| length5         = 1:38
| title6          = {{nihongo|''Doruido no Tēma''|ドルイドのテーマ||Theme of Druid}}
| music6          = Kadokura
| length6         = 2:41
| title7          = {{nihongo|''Kanashi Mino Mārin''|哀しみのマーリン||Marin In Sorrow}}
| music7          = Kadokura
| length7         = 2:07
| title8          = {{nihongo|''Isa no Machi ~ Ginebia no Ketsui''|イサの町~ギネビアの決意||The Town of Isa ~ Guinevere's Determination}}
| music8          = Kadokura
| length8         = 2:28
| title9          = {{nihongo|''Kougeki''|攻撃||Attack}}
| music9          = Kadokura
| length9         = 1:41
| title10         = {{nihongo|''Ai no Rekuiemu''|愛のレクイエム||Requiem for Love}}
| music10         = Kadokura
| length10        = 3:44
| title11         = {{nihongo|''Taihai no Pātei ~ Sharemu no Satsui''|頽廃のパーティ~シャレムの殺意||Party of Decadance ~ Shalem's Murderous Intent}}
| music11         = Kadokura
| length11        = 3:34
| title12         = {{nihongo|''Haruka Naru Ieji''|遥かなる家路||His Far Away Home}}
| music12         = Kadokura
| length12        = 1:33
| title13         = {{nihongo|"''Kaze Nosasayaki''"|風のささやき||Whisper of Wind}}
| music13         = Kadokura
| length13        = 4:17
| title14         = {{nihongo|''Utsukushii Hoshi''|美しい星||Beautiful Star}}
| lyrics14        = [[Akino Arai]]
| music14         = Arai
| length14        = 4:53
}}

==Release and marketing==
''Windaria'' was released theatrically in Japan on July 19, 1986.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Newtype]] | publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] | script-title=ja:ウインダリア |trans-title=Windaria | page=Back cover | date=August 1986 | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal=[[Video Watchdog]] | author=[[Tim Lucas|Lucas, Tim]] and Donna | year=1996 | issue=31–36 | page=26}}</ref><ref name="essays">{{cite book| author=Patten, Fred | date=September 1, 2004 | title=Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews | publisher=Stone Bridge Press | pages=47–8 | isbn=978-1-880656-92-1}}</ref> In 1987, [[Harmony Gold USA|Harmony Gold]] licensed ''Windaria'' for release in the United States, trimming the film from its original 101-minute running time to 95 minutes.<ref name="animemovieguide"/>  The English-language version was [[Editing of anime in American distribution|edited]] in order to better market the film to younger audiences.<ref name="dvdtalk"/><ref name="alcapone">{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=August 16, 2002 | title=Ask John: Is Carl Macek the Al Capone of Anime? | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181021/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/08/16/ask-john-is-carl-macek-the-al-capone-of-anime/ | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/08/16/ask-john-is-carl-macek-the-al-capone-of-anime/| archive-date=3 March 2016| publisher=AnimeNation | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Lent, John A. | date=August 1, 2001 | title=Animation in Asia and the Pacific | publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] | page=[https://archive.org/details/animationinasiap00john/page/75 75] | isbn=978-0-253-34035-1 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/animationinasiap00john/page/75 }}</ref> According to director [[Carl Macek]], Harmony Gold was given no scripts or translations of the property and they thus had little insight into the plot details.<ref>{{cite podcast| url =http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14| title=ANNCast: Macek Training| website=Anime News Network| host=Bertschy, Zac and Sevakis, Justin| date=January 15, 2010| accessdate=June 20, 2011}}</ref> The English version included a new script, an altered plot with a happy ending, scenes switched around, violent and adult-oriented scenes removed, the entire cast given Anglicized names, and added narration provided by [[Russell Johnson]] (of ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'' fame).<ref name="dvdtalk"/><ref name="alcapone"/><ref name="annrev">{{cite news | author=Sevakis, Justin | date=July 17, 2008 | title=Buried Treasure: Windaria | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/buried-treasure/2008-07-17/windaria | work=Anime News Network | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref>

''Windaria'' was first distributed in Japan to [[home video]] by [[Victor Entertainment]]. The eventual [[laserdisc]] release contained a trailer, a pilot film (in which characters are colored differently than the final version), and a second audio track.<ref name="oldskool">{{cite web | author=Jenkins, Ralph | year=2001 | title=Old Skool Anime: Windaria & Birth | url=http://www.mania.com/old-skool-anime-windaria-birth_article_84143.html | publisher=Mania.com | access-date=June 18, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135204/http://www.mania.com/old-skool-anime-windaria-birth_article_84143.html | archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> Victor released ''Windaria'' on [[DVD]] in Japan on December 16, 2000.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:ウインダリア  |trans-title=Windaria | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005HQ1R/| language=Japanese | access-date=June 18, 2011|title=Winderia DVD }}</ref> This release forgoes the laserdisc extras but includes a director interview on the insert.<ref name="oldskool"/> [[Atlus]] reissued the film on DVD on March 25, 2005.<ref>{{cite web | title=ウインダリア DVD  |trans-title=Windaria DVD | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721221409/http://www.atlus.co.jp/dvd/windaria/ | url=http://www.atlus.co.jp/dvd/windaria/ | archive-date=July 21, 2006 | publisher=[[Atlus]] | language=Japanese | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> [[Streamline Pictures]] released the English version, titled ''Windaria'', on North American [[VHS]] between 1992 and 1993.<ref name="directory"/><ref>{{cite news | author=Hartl, John | date=May 17, 1992 | title=Here comes summer and so is a raft of children's videos | url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920517/1492313/here-comes-summer-and-so-are-a-raft-of-childrens-videos | newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] | access-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref> A laserdisc version was planned by [[Image Entertainment]] yet never distributed.<ref name="oldskool"/> [[A.D. Vision#ADV Films|ADV Films]] re-released the English version, as ''Once Upon a Time'', on DVD on March 23, 2004.<ref>{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=December 23, 2003 | title=AD Vision Announces New DVD Titles | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2003/12/23/ad-vision-announces-new-dvd-titles/ | publisher=AnimeNation | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> The uncut Japanese version has never been officially released in this region.<ref name="annrev"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=January 9, 2009 | title=Ask John Editorial: What Anime Features Haven't Been Licensed? | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/01/06/ask-john-editorial-what-anime-features-havent-been-licensed/ | publisher=AnimeNation | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref>

A generous amount of ''Windaria''-related merchandise has been marketed in Japan since the film's 1986 debut. Fujikawa's ''Douwa Meita Senshi Windaria'' ''[[bunkobon]]'' was published by [[Kadokawa Shoten]] during March 1986.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:ウィンダリア 童話めいた戦史 |trans-title=Windaria Fairy Tale War | url=http://bookshelf.co.jp/product_info.php/products_id/32776 | publisher=Book Shelf | language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref> Shortly after the premiere of ''Windaria'', several official guide books were released, one (''Settei: Windaria'') containing Idol's sketches, storyboards, and promotional materials. A special ''[[omake]]'' was published on August 25, 1986, as part of Kadokawa's "Mediamix Special" imprint.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:マニア館入荷情報 「内山まもる ウルトラマンメビウス外伝」ほかムック本入荷しました  |trans-title=Stock Information Stock Mania "Ultraman Mebius Gaiden protect Uchiyama" mook other books in stock | url=http://www.mandarake.co.jp/information/2010/12/16/21nkn08/index.html | publisher=Mandrake | language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref> Inomata's 1988 [[art book]] ''Gatsu no Koe Hoshi no Yume'' contains some of her illustrations from the film.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:月の声星の夢 いのまたむつみ画集  |trans-title=Dream in a Voice, Star in a Moon: Mutsumi Inomata Collections of Paintings | url=http://dogabooks.ocnk.net/phone/product/3319 | publisher=Doga Books | language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=[[Mutsumi Inomata|Inomata, Mutsumi]] | date=November 1988 | script-title=ja:月の声星の夢 いのまたむつみ画集 |trans-title=Dream in a Voice, Star in a Moon: Mutsumi Inomata Collections of Paintings | publisher=[[Fujimi Shobo]] | language=Japanese | pages=25–57 | isbn=978-4-8291-9101-9}}</ref> Arai's album ''[[Natsukashii Mirai]]'', containing both the film's opening and ending themes, was released by Victor on October 21, 1986.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:懐かしい未来 |trans-title=Future Nostalgia | url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Discography/A000278/VDR-1284.html | publisher=[[JVC]] | language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref> Arai later re-recorded "''Utsukushii Hoshi''" for her 2005 album ''[[Sora no Uta]]'' due to her dissatisfaction with the first version of the song.<ref name="beautifulstar"/> The film's original soundtrack was released by Victor on both LP and CD on July 21, 1986, and CD was reprinted on March 24, 1994.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:ウィンダリア 音楽篇  |trans-title=Windaria Musical Chapter | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000007637/ | language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref> It was reissued on June 23, 1999 alongside the soundtrack to ''[[Birth (anime)|Birth]]'', another anime by Kaname.<ref name="oldskool"/><ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:ウインダリア/バース |trans-title=Windaria/Birth | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005GXQA/| language=Japanese | access-date=June 19, 2011}}</ref> Finally, a 2008 [[Nintendo DS]] [[video game]] based on the film was developed by [[Compile Heart]] under the name {{nihongo|''Dungeon of Windaria''|ダンジョン オブ ウインダリア}} and released in Japan.<ref>{{cite web | date=March 11, 2008 | title=『ダンジョン オブ ウインダリア』人気アニメがダンジョンRPGに |trans-title=Dungeon of Windaria: A popular animation is in a dungeon RPG | url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1213942_1407.html | publisher=[[Famitsu]] | language=Japanese | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Spencer | date=March 11, 2008 | title=Dungeon of Windaria's loose link to the source material | url=https://www.siliconera.com/dungeons-of-windaria%e2%80%99s-loose-link-to-the-source-material/ | publisher=Siliconera | access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref>

==Reception==
Critical reception for the original Japanese version of ''Windaria'' has been favorable. Ralph Jenkins of ''Mania.com'' called the film "the quintessential anime [[tragedy]]". The reviewer elaborated: "The overriding theme of this grim allegory is that a promise—especially between lovers—is something so sacred that it thrives even beyond death, and taking it for granted can beget devastating consequences". Jenkins noted both Inomata's character designs and the film's musical score to be memorable.<ref name="oldskool"/>

==See also==
*''[[Ugetsu Monogatari|The House in the Reeds]]'', a story by [[Ueda Akinari]] with similar plotline
*''[[Castle in the Sky]]'', another 1986 anime film with a large tree central to the story.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Anime News Network|film|2606}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0092218|title=Windaria}}
*[http://www.compileheart.com/windaria/ Official ''Dungeon of Windaria'' website] {{in lang|ja}}

[[Category:1986 anime films]]
[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:Action anime and manga]]
[[Category:Drama anime and manga]]
[[Category:Fantasy anime and manga]]
[[Category:Films based on Japanese novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kunihiko Yuyama]]
[[Category:Japanese animated films]]
[[Category:ADV Films]]