Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - the 1982 animated film

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (Japanese original title 世界 名作 童話 ア ラ ジ ン と 魔法 の ラ ン プ, Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Arajin to mahō no rampu), is a Japanese animated (anime) film of the fantasy genre produced in 1982 by Toei Animation, based on the Middle Eastern folk tale of Aladdin's fairy tale. The film was released in Japan on March 13, 1982

History

The story revolves around Aladdin, a poor but intelligent boy who lives in an Arab town somewhere in the desert with his mother. Together with his band of friends, they steal from local merchants and market vendors to survive. One day he is approached by an evil wizard who offers to reward him with great riches, will accompany him to a cave somewhere in the desert, and retrieve a lamp from inside.

Aladdin manages to do so by entering the room of a thousand lights where the lamp is located. However, upon returning to the cave entrance, the wizard seals it after Aladdin refuses to hand over the lamp, having become suspicious of the wizard.

Trapped, Aladdin however uses a magical ring, provided by the wizard before venturing into the cave, and summons a genius who is able to free him from the cave. On the journey home through the desert, Aladdin encounters a mouse that he adopts as a pet.

Back home, Aladdin discovers that the lamp contains a more powerful genius who, at Aladdin's first wish, conjures up a succulent meal for him and his mother.

The next day, after Aladdin has sold the gold-plated dinnerware, he meets an attractive young girl, who soon discovers she is actually the Sultan's daughter; Princess Badral.

Badral is hiding from the son of the Grand Wazir, to whom her father has agreed to offer her his hand in marriage. The two spend time together in the city before Badral is finally found and escorted to the palace. However, Aladdin, having fallen in love with her, decides to marry Badral himself.

With the help of the Genes of the Lamp, Aladdin becomes a rich prince and asks the Sultan for his daughter's hand. Having already promised her to the son of the Great Wazir, the Sultan decrees that instead of whichever suit bring him the best dowry, he will marry Badral.

Aladdin easily wins, while the Grand Wazir and his son are arrested for using the stolen wealth to increase their dowry. Once married, Aladdin then uses the genie of the lamp to build a grand palace for him and Badral. One day, however, while Aladdin and his friends are hunting with the Sultan, the former wizard tricks Aladdin and Badral's mother into exchanging his lamp for a new one.

With the lamp in his possession, he wishes Aladdin's palace and everything in it be transported to his castle in Africa. Furious, the Sultan instructs Aladdin for three days to save his daughter, otherwise Aladdin's friends will be executed.

After losing his camel in the desert, Aladdin calls the Genius of the Ring he still possesses. However, he warns that he cannot undo the Genie of the Lamp's spell, but he can transport Aladdin to where the palace is. The effort to do so, however, causes the ring to crumble.

Once there, Aladdin is reunited with Badral. The two defeat the wizard and use the lamp to nullify his wish.

The film ends with Aladdin and Badral sealing the lamp in a closed box and releasing the key.

Credits

Regia Yoshikatsu Kasai
Author Akira Miyazaki
Based on Aladdin
Photography Toshiharu Takei
Curated by Yasuhiro Yoshikawa
Music by Katsuhiro Tsubono
Production Toei Animation
Data March 13, 1982 (Japan)
Duration 65 minutes
Country Japan