Enchanted Journey

Plot

A domestically raised chipmunk, Glikko, befriends a carrier pigeon named Pippo (pee-poh), who tells Glikko of an enormous forest where chipmunks roam free. Enthralled by the story, Glikko leaves his home in the city and sister in search of the Vast North Forest. Along the way he meets up with another chipmunk named Nono, whom Glikko reluctantly allows to accompany him. On their journey they are faced with dangers such as predators (including foxes and hawks) and the winter climate.

Production and release

The Enchanted Journey is based on the book by Atsuo Saitō, originally published in 1970. The film was produced by Studio Korumi, and released in Japanese theaters on July 21, 1981. In the United States, an English-dubbed version with the voices of Jim Backus and Orson Welles aired on the HBO network (in July 1986), and on the Family Channel (in March 1996). This version was released on VHS by Hi-Tops Video several months after the HBO airing.