Japanese animated movies which were released in Italy first to theaters
This is a list of the Japanese animated movies which were realeased to theaters before being available as home video or being broadcast on TV. This does not include a) movies which were screened in thaters after home video or TV release; b) movies made in Italy by editing episodes of TV series and/or other feature films; c) movies screened only in festivals without a regular distribution to theaters.
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- DirectorDaisaku ShirakawaTaiji YabushitaOsamu TezukaStarsKiyoshi KomiyamaNoriko ShindôHideo KinoshitaAn arrogant monkey is forced to go on a journey where he learns about gluttony, greed, love and humility.Screened in the 1961 Venice Festival. Probably the first Japanese animated movie to be released to theaters in Italy.
- DirectorKimio YabukiStarsSusumu IshikawaToshiko FujitaRumi SakakibaraWhile being on the run for saving a mouse, the famous Puss in Boots, Pero, helps a young peasant boy win the heart of a lovely princess, while trying to rescue her from an evil wizard.
- DirectorIsao TakahataStarsMikijirô HiraEtsuko IchiharaEijirô TônoA boy with a mythical sword wants to protect a Norse village from an evil ice wizard and his minions, who destroyed his family's village. However, the villagers don't fully trust him and a mysterious girl with a dark secret befriends him.The Italian title for theatrical release was "La grande avventura del piccolo principe Valiant". Though, Prince Valiant had nothing to do with the story.
- DirectorKimio YabukiStarsTadao TakashimaRyôichi TamagawaYoshiko FujitaAnimated cartoon for children, based on various stories by Hans Christian Andersen.Released to theaters in 1968.
- DirectorYûgo SerikawaTaiji YabushitaStarsYoshiko SakumaJô MizukiKin'ya KitaôjiZushio and his sister Anju are kidnapped and sold to a cruel slave-master. Will they ever be reunited with their mother again?Released to theaters in 1975.
- DirectorHiroshi IkedaStarsMinori MatsushimaFusako AmachiAsao KoikeA group of kids compete with a team of bumbling pirates to find buried treasure.
- DirectorYoshio KurodaTaiji YabushitaStarsHideo KinoshitaTetsuko KuroyanagiKyôko SatomiA young sailor named Sinbad and his sidekick Ali find a map to a fabulous treasure and stow away aboard a ship in an effort to get to where the treasure is buried. They eventually convince the ship's captain to change course and help them find the treasure. Along the way they come up against a wicked Vizier, a giant bird, vicious whirlpools and other obstacles.
- DirectorTomoharu KatsumataStarsYasushi SuzukiKiyoshi KomiyamaKurumi KobatoPero is back in Go Go Town, a fearful place in the Wild West that desperately awaits for a sheriff to come. In this town of no law and order, Pero and a boy named Jimmy try to help Annie, daughter of a saloon owner who has just been killed.
- DirectorTomoharu KatsumataTim ReidStarsFumie KashiyamaMariko MiyagiTarô ShigakiA mermaid falls in love with a human prince, which leads to tragedy.Released to theaters in 1979.
- DirectorOsamu KasaiStarsHiroya IshimaruChiyoko KawashimaKeiichi OgataWhen the Vegan empire dispatches a new general to oversee the takeover of Earth, he quickly manages to capture Koji Kabuto and, learning of Great Mazinger through interrogation, quickly commandeers it from a museum where it was kept as a symbol of peace. It is now up to Duke Fleed aboard Grendizer to stop humanity's former defender from becoming its destroyer.Released to theaters in 1978 as part of "Mazinga contro gli UFO Robot". Re-released on December 2nd, 2014 during the Super Robots Night Part II.
- DirectorHiroshi ShidaraStarsOsami NabeJunpei TakiguchiChikao ÔtsukaPuss 'N Boots must travel around the world in 80 days, all while getting into adventures wherever he goes.
- DirectorTomoharu KatsumataKôichi TsunodaStarsHiroya IshimaruRyôichi TanakaMinori MatsushimaThe heroes of the series Mazinger Z and Devilman fighting against the evil Demon Clan.Released to theaters in 1978 as part of "Mazinga contro gli UFO Robot". Re-released on November 24th, 2014 during the Super Robots Night Part I.
- DirectorMasayuki AkehiStarsAkira KamiyaYumi NakataniToku NishioReleased to theaters in 1978 as part of "Mazinga contro gli UFO Robot". Re-released on December 2nd, 2014 during the Super Robots Night Part II.
- DirectorYûji EndôNobutaka NishizawaStarsEiko MasuyamaYasuko MiyazakiKaneko IwasakiA young girl must spend six years making sweatshirts out of poison ivy in order to save her six brothers which have been turned into swans by an evil sorceress.Released to theaters in 1979.
- DirectorNobutaka NishizawaStarsHiroya IshimaruRyôichi TanakaKazuko SawadaA mysterious prophet appears warning about the resurgence of the evil Dark General and his mycene army. Will the combined strength of Koji Kabuto and Mazinger be enough to defeat this new invincible threat?Released to theaters in 1979 as part of "Gli UFO Robot contro gli invasori spaziali". Re-released on November 24th, 2014 during the Super Robots Night Part I.
- DirectorMasayuki AkehiStarsHiroya IshimaruAkira KamiyaMinori MatsushimaWhen a mysterious gigantic monster, called Dragosaur, appears from the depth of the oceans and threatens the world, a team of super-robots from Japan is activated and sent out to defeat it: Grendizer, The Great Mazinger and Getter G.Released to theaters in 1979 as part of "Gli UFO Robot contro gli invasori spaziali". Re-released on December 2nd, 2014 during the Super Robots Night Part II.
- DirectorSôji YoshikawaYasuo ÔtsukaStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiWhile attempting to win the affections of a beautiful rival, a master thief risks death to learn the secret intentions of a wealthy and seemingly immortal, but certainly ruthless, recluse.Released to theaters in 1979. Re-released for three days, from June 24th to 26th, 2024, after re-dubbing.
- DirectorYûgo SerikawaStarsHiroyuki ÔtaJudy OnggArihiro FujimuraNine people from different countries are turned into super-powered cyborgs.
- DirectorYûgo SerikawaStarsYoshiko AsaiMasao MishimaHaruko MabuchiJapanese animation adaptation of a 19th century French novel: A boy is given up by his foster parents to a traveling performer.Released to theaters in 1979.
- DirectorKatsuhiro ÔtomoStarsMitsuo IwataNozomu SasakiMami KoyamaA secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.First released in 1992; re-released to theaters for one day on May 29th, 2013 (25th anniversary), after VHS and DVD release ad TV broadcast. Re-released for one day on April 18th, 2018, after re-dubbing. Re-released for two days froma March 14th to 15th, 2023 (35th anniversary).
- DirectorMasami HataMasanori HataWilliam T. HurtzStarsGabriel DamonMickey RooneyRene AuberjonoisEach night, young Nemo goes to Slumberland and has adventures and befriends the king of Slumberland, Morpheus. But one night Nemo discovers Nightmare Land, and the evil nightmare king, throwing Slumberland and Nemo himself into danger.Released to theaters in 1992, after re-release in the US.
- DirectorKunihiko YuyamaStarsVeronica TaylorRachael LillisEric StuartScientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.Released to theaters on April 30th, 2000, after the arrival of the animated series on TV.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsYôji MatsudaYuriko IshidaYûko TanakaOn a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.Released to theaters on May 19th, 2000, after the Ghibli-Buena Vista agreement. Re-released on May 8th, 2014, after re-dubbing.
- DirectorKunihiko YuyamaStarsVeronica TaylorRica MatsumotoIkue ÔtaniAsh Ketchum must gather the three spheres of fire, ice and lightning in order to restore balance to the Orange Islands.Released to theaters on December 22nd, 2000.
- DirectorBob BuchholzMamoru HosodaJeff NimoyStarsLara Jill MillerJoshua SethBob PapenbrookThroughout three different stories, Kari Kamiya and her friends take on explosive adventures involving digital creatures.Released to theaters on March 16th, 2001, after the arrival of the animated series on TV.