DVD Review: Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon

Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon is an animated feature film about a group of friends who work to help Wally after he uses a new invention to add some daring to his personality and accidentally exchanges bodies with a caterpillar. That mishap leads the group on an adventure involving a strange tribe and an ancient legend.

The film opens with a bit of narration making fun of opening with a bit of narration: “Once upon a time, there was a handsome narrator. He opened a movie by telling the story of a jungle tribe, happy and carefree and generally idiotic.” So right away I am on board with this movie. The narrator speaks of a prophecy of tragedy for the tribe, the shaman’s intern adding that the tribe will be saved by a golden dragon. It’s a cute and rather funny way of opening the film.

We are then introduced to Wally and his friends, who are playing video games. Wally is a nervous, unadventurous, talkative soul, particularly when compared with Krash and the others. When another friend needs to use the computer, Krash protests that he still has another life left. Krash is told: “But you’re wrong. You only have one life, and you shouldn’t waste it playing video games.” That’s a good message for kids these days (and for adults, come to think of it). So the friends go outside, looking for real adventure. Wally stays behind, lamenting his lack of bravery. So when Dokko demonstrates a new invention that will transfer one person’s skills and talents to another, Wally sees his chance to become braver.

So later Wally sneaks into the flying contraption where the device is stored (the next day Dokko is scheduled to show the device to other scientists), but something goes wrong and he finds himself now in the body of a caterpillar, while the mind of the caterpillar clearly occupies Wally’s own body. Switching back proves no easy task, especially as when he wakes, he finds they’re airborne. After parachuting to safety, the group has to find Wally’s body and find their way out of the strange jungle, and they need to do it before the caterpillar begins turning into a butterfly. Complicating things is a nearby tribe that believes Wally’s body is the Golden Dragon come to save them.

This is a fast-paced movie with bright, appealing colors. Children should enjoy it, and there are enough little jokes and references to please adult viewers. The movie contains references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Muppet Show, The Tempest, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and even Franklin D. Roosevelt. There are plenty of silly lines, such as “This place is a lot darker at night for some reason” and “That pineapple is trying to steal Wally” and (probably my favorite) “Sound the alarm – do we have an alarm? – Build an alarm!” Yes, it’s a cute film. By the way, the narrator is only used at the very beginning.

Special Features

The DVD includes character profiles and the movie’s trailer.

Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon was directed by Denis Chebnov, and is scheduled to be released on DVD on March 7, 2017 through Shout! Factory. The film is presented in English.