zyrcona I've seen both the original Japanese version of this film with subtitles and the English dub with David Hemmings and Kay Lenz, and I would recommend the English version solely for these voice talents and the wittiness of the script. The background sounds and music are the same on both, good in the case of the Tschaikovsky music and the gloomy echoing in Rothbart's abode, not so good in the case of silly squelching sounds when squirrels jump.The film draws its inspiration from the story in the ballet Swan Lake and is somewhat limited by this, although it adds the requisite happy ending (at least so far as the goodies are concerned) instead of the ambiguous or downright tragic ending usually seen in the ballet performances. Siegfried and Odette's characters and design are bland and generic, with Odette malingering in her captor's jail waiting to be rescued and not showing much inventiveness in finding a solution to her situation, and Siegfried abandoning his responsibilities as the leader of his kingdom because of the way he feels about her, but the characters of antagonists von Rothbart and his daughter Odile steal the show.Rothbart and Odile can both shapeshift into owls. In human form, Rothbart can probably best be described as a 'metrosexual ogre' -- a green-skinned, burly figure with antenna-like eyebrows and medieval- fantasy-boy hair/beard and cloak. Odette is pale and slight with blue hair and dominatrix-style gloves and corset. The English dub manages to inject a surprising amount of camaraderie and humour between them that isn't present in the original Japanese. Odile teases Rothbart and winds him up and he tells her to shut up, but there's a feeling underneath it that they care about each other and enjoy being partners in evildoing. At the end they both meet their demise and Rothbart dies calling out to Odile to help him. These characters came across as having more of a real father-daughter relationship that was far more relatable to than the stiff romance between the protagonists.Unmemorable and slightly annoying are two squirrel characters that seem to have been incorporated to make what is essentially a mature and somewhat dark premise more child friendly. They perform only a single relevant act to the plot when they unlock Odette's prison, allowing her to escape to Siegfried's ball. I tend to skip through these scenes when watching the film, and I think it would honestly have worked better had they not been included, and it would have bettered Odette's rather weak character had the scriptwriters come up with a more proactive way for her to escape.The animation does show its age, although the backgrounds and some of the character designs make up for it. This is an old school anime, and if you liked the more moderate Japanese style of animation before it got all cutesy and exaggerated and disturbingly sexualised, this one is for you. It probably will not have a great deal of appeal to modern children, but adults will probably get a chuckle out of the Rothbart/Odile scenes while rolling their eyes at the squirrels.

TheLittleSongbird I grew up loving the immortal, timeless story of "Swan Lake" and I still love it to this day. I also adore the ballet by Tchaikovsky, that is just as magical and as enchanting as the story it is based upon. Then there are two movie versions that I saw, one was the 1994 film "The Swan Princess" by Richard Rich, while charming and a childhood favourite it isn't the Swan Lake that I love. Then there is this 1981 anime, which follows the story more closely while putting its own spin on it. The result is a beautiful, captivating and heartfelt film, that while it has its minor fault is definitely better than "Swan Princess".I really do need to mention the beautiful artwork of "Swan Lake". This film, like Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (also based upon the fairytale and another one of Tchaikovsky's ballets) does have a gorgeous stylised look, with convincing character features, breathtaking background art and lavish colours. There are stunning images of Odette in swan and human form and the haunting images of Rothbart's castle. In regards to the lip-synching, it was good in most parts but there were other parts where it was sloppy. While Odette's monologue about where she came from and how she came to meet Rothbart was beautifully written and sad, the lip synching was a lot of the time behind the speaking so it was a little distracting.Tchaikovsky's music as always is absolutely outstanding, I heartily concur with the reviewer who said that it is the heart and soul of the film,for me it is by far the best asset of the film, and the main reason why I wanted to see it. Of course it is quite melancholy, but it is also enchanting, charming and haunting. So many standouts, including the adorable Dance of the Baby Swans, the heart-rending finale and the beautiful and haunting Pas De Deux(here done as Siegfried following Odette in a very effective scene). But I would also like to give special mention to the music accompanying the scene where Siegfried meets Odette for the first time in swan form, it is so gorgeous and really adds to the atmosphere.I have already said how good the story is, and I also thought the dialogue was not at all bad. I particularly loved Odile calling Siegfried "a dreamboat on wheels", and Rothbart's dialogue in the climax is delicious. It avoided being clichéd which was gratifying, as much as I like "Swan Princess" some of the dialogue is clichéd there.I also love the characters, and the voice acting was strong. The Media Home Video dubbing is indeed awful, but the one I am more familiar with and much prefer is the Samuel Goldwyn Co. one. This is more superior, because it suits the dark, enchanting and sombre tone of the film better. Christopher Atkins is appealing as Siegfried, and portrays him as handsome, headstrong and somewhat naive. Odette isn't the feisty and vivacious woman she is in "Swan Princess", instead she is beautiful and pure yet fragile and delicate. Pam Dawber brought some vulnerability into Odette, and it worked wonders. Kay Lenz is brilliant as Odile, who is possibly my favourite character, because she is so cool and seductive. And David Hemmings positively relishes the role of Rothbart; instead of the really sinister and imposing villain he is in the ballet or the threatening yet humorous one he is in "Swan Princess" he is a bit of both here. His climax scene see him at his most frightening, and his scenes with Odile, which accentuates his flaws as awkward and reluctant to hurt Odette because he does genuinely love her border on hysterical. Then there are the squirrels Hans and Margherita, who are both engaging and don't interrupt the flow of the story too much.In conclusion, this is a brilliant anime, that I recommend strongly. If you love anime or if you love the music of Tchaikovsky, I promise you are in for a treat! 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

embla_03 I saw this anime in 1992 in Swedish when I was 8 years old. Now I am 20 and I bought this on ebay last year (2003) and I really enjoyed watching it again. Now I am watching it in English but that is OK because I understand the language. One day i decided to buy this anime film but it was difficult to find in Sweden so I checked on ebay and there it was so I bid on it and finally I had won the item. I was very pleased about it because now I was going to see Swan Lake again for the first time since 1992.The film was released from Japan in 1982 but I was not born at that time, only 2 years later I was born and had no clue about this film until 1992 when I was 8.Swan Lake is about Prince Siegfried and a mysterious Swan who is reallu an enchanted princess called Odette. Odette is hold captive by an evil wizard called Rothbard and his daughter Odile. Siegfried and Odette falls in love but Rothbart has asked Odette to be his wife but she refuses because there is only one man in her heart, Siegfried. So one day there is a ball at Siegfrieds castle and he vows Odette to be his wife. Although there is one problem, Odile and Rothbart knows about this and Odette is locked up in the tower. But two squirrels helps her to escape, Hans and Margarita. Siegfried discovers he has been fooled and follows Odette to the castle. There he and Rothbart fight and finally Rothbart and Odile are defeated with true love. And Odette and Siegfried live happily ever after.

MrsGabrielDamon I have found the denfenition of a guilty pleasure. And Swan Lake is it. I got this movie when I was little. And I hadn't watched it in ten years when I was bored out of my mind one day, found it and watched it. I was very suprised. I love this movie. The score is beautiful and amazing as always, and it compelled me to purchase the album. The amimation may be a little shotty, but none the less I love the movie.