Unico in the Island of Magic (1983) User Reviews

Unicorn with the help of a little girl faces off with an Evil Puppet. Yeah, that's about it.

[ladymulti · 9/10 · 7 October 2007]

This stands not as in-depth as my review of the other Unico movie; probably because, despite how great this movie is, it has a creepy Puppet as the villain.

Being based on a manga but as an original story, this is a dark fantasy that is for those who like dark fantasy. The problem being, finding a copy of the movie.

Karuku's plans to make the world his own playground as punishment to humans who remind him of those who abandoned him. Who would have ever guessed that sadness could brew such evil; and who would have ever guessed that the key to victory is love? It's up to Unico, as usual, to save the day.

As for me: I love the Spynx cub most of all in this movie. I think it was my love of cats, which is possibly why I liked the movie with Katie/Chao in it better (the Fantastic Adventures of Unico).

Still if you like old animation and dark fantasy, if you get a chance to watch the movie, give this old anime a chance (unless evil puppets scare you).

I love this movie

[theresa9597 · 12 March 2004]

My mom gave me a lot of the video tapes she recorded for me when I was very little. I still have this rare gem (on the same tape as Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer). I also have the first Unico movie. Seeing it as an adult gives you a different perspective of it. I loved it as a child and now I watch it with my kids. If you are reading this I hope you can find it. It is a very dark movie. I also think it had a great storyline. Kuruku is positively evil. He really scared me when I was little. I also love Mel (where can I get some of those earphones?) and the little sphinx thing. If you can find this movie and you like animation, treat yourself.

Very good

[Brandon-17 · 10/10 · 19 November 1998]

Excellent film about a cute little unicorn named Unico who has special powers. The second in the Unico seris. Can be a little confusing if you havn't seen the first one. It is a heart-warming tale about the cruelty of humuns and the joy of friendship. Personally I think everyone should see it, even though it may be hard to find since it has been discontinued.

Great animated movie!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 6 June 2004]

Unico: To The Magic Island or Unico: In The Island Of Magic is a very unusual animated film! Its funny and has a very dark theme to it. The music is good and fits the film. The animation is very good and is similar like the animation seen in Voltron: Defender of the Universe. The color of the cartoon is really beautiful. It has some great effects when it comes to the storms, rain, and all of the magic scenes. The English voices are cool. I thought that the voice and the look of Kuruku was really fitting. This is a very hard to find movie because its out of print and if you find this tape any where on the web, at a video store, or at some type of sale buy it immediately especially if it ha sit original case! This really is a great animated film! If you like animated features and want to see one with a dark nature and store then Unico: In The Island Of Magic is the one to watch!

Cutest anime I have ever seen!!

[ellenoid · 10/10 · 27 March 2017]

This is by far the most adorable anime I have ever seen. The first time I saw it, I was about eight years old. My little sister and I were mesmerized - from the cutsey animation to the haunting music to the dark, unusual, and fast-moving storyline.

I should also mention the fact that this film has the creepiest villain I have ever seen in a cartoon - a wooden marionette who flies around in a bubble and transports himself by beams of light. His facial contortions and voice are indescribably eerie and it's fun to be freaked out by him.

Unico and the Sphinx have the cutest little animated faces you've every seen, and the way they bound around on screen is irresistibly adorable.

Now, even though this film does contains "cutesy" qualities that will captivate the little girls and the little girls at heart, it also has a dark theme that will appeal to a more mature and masculine audience as well. Evil Lord Kuruku has turned all of the humans in the world into "living puppets" and it's up to Unico and his little friend Cheri to restore humanity.

The music is hauntingly lovely and unmistakably memorable. Straight A, right there.

Although I loved this as a child, I still find it equally entertaining as an adult and have watched it many times over the years.

I think this whimsical story will appeal to the young as well as the older anime lovers alike. I just had to write a review because I love sharing this film with people who have not yet discovered it!

This movie is now available on DVD and can be purchased from Ebay or Amazon, so if you are an anime lover, I'd recommend picking up a copy. It would be a very difficult movie to dislike.

Excellent, you may have seen it.

[xrugratx · 20 June 2002]

I first saw this movie when it was aired on the Disney Channel back in about 1986. I think many other people may have watched it also, but forgot about it. The evil Lord Kuruku takes a boy Toby on as his magic apprentice (very popular kids movie manuever, see also The Care Bears Movie). Kuruku eventually turns the whole village into living puppets and it is up to little Unico and Toby's sister to help save everyone. This is an excellent movie, but very rare. If you ever do come across it, watch it. It may not be enjoyed by anyone who is not a fan of out of the ordinary animation, but even so it runs for a lot of money on e-bay. There have been many references to deep underlying themes in the movie, such as Unico representing Christ, or some other themes. Well, its really good, I got tattoos of the characters.

Great Animation, a classic

[migcoyula · 3 May 2006]

I saw this film when I was about 8 years old. SOme of the images are still imprinted in my head. The film is all a fantasy should be: A glorious, beautiful, surreal and sometimes dark and terrifying fairy tale.

This deserves to be released on DVD along with it's prequel as they are truly fantastic gems. I don't know if the film would hold up to an adult audience, but it surely made my mind fly at the time.

The animation is vintage Tezuka, with the cute puppy-eyed main characters, colorful villains all with a few extra frames of animation (compared to his 1960s TV series, the animation is a step up in quality) All this topped with a imaginative story and haunting score, gives birth to a classic.

Good, if not perfect

[eightx10 · 6 August 2000]

(This is a review of the English Language version)

To start off with, I love this movie despite a few flaws I will discuss later. The animation, though not really slick, is visually interesting. It has some admirably serious themes (which I will not reveal because it would be a spoiler) and actually has some effective humorous element. (Most Japanese movies' humor does not translate well.)

My problems with it? Well, the title character Unico is very insipid and cutesy. I realize that this is a children's movie, but the furriness of Unico somehow doesn't fit the darker nature of the film. Oh, well, he is not really the central character.

I would heartily recommend this one, particularly to fans of Japanese animation.