We continue our series of reviews chronicling all of the (non-Studio Ghibli) animated films distributed by GKIDS Films — some of the most original and breathtakingly beautiful animated films from around the world — and how they hold up for a young American audience.

The entire retrospective is found here, and this time we’ve got…

Napping Princess (2017): Kenji Kamiyama, director

What’s it about?

It’s a few days before the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, but high school senior Kokone Morikawa lives in rural Okayama Prefecture and can only dream of going to college in the capital city. Kokone’s mother died when she was young, and she lives with her father who is a mechanic with mysterious talents and the ability to add autonomous driving to nearly any vehicle. Which is more than coincidental since he’s soon kidnapped for stealing that technology from one of Japan’s top automakers (who has been trying to perfect autonomous driving to be a centerpiece of the Olympics opening ceremonies).

Kokone, though, is prone to falling asleep… a lot. And when she’s asleep, she enters a fantasy world called Heartland that has more than a few parallels to the real world. In Heartland, everyone works at a giant car factory, but Ancien the Princess is the king’s daughter – and a sorceress with the ability to bring things to life. But soon, the pirate Peach (which makes sense once you know that Kokone’s father’s name is Momotaro) is taken by the king, and the kingdom finds itself at war with the giant lava monster Colossus.

What are the cultures at play? And how about the languages?

This is a Japanese movie from the director of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of the East. The Blu-ray has both the original Japanese audio as well as an English dub. I always prefer the original language, but the English soundtrack here is perfectly fine.

The “real world” segments of the film take place at several locations around Japan. Kokone is from Okayama Prefecture, and the city and its landscape were re-created almost exactly (there’s a special feature that compares video of the city to scenes in the movie, and they’re nearly identical). The action also moves to Osaka and Tokyo. Nevertheless, you don’t need to have an in-depth understanding of Japanese culture to follow along (though you might miss some allusions or symbolism, such as the Momotaro/Peach connection mentioned above, but none are critical to the plot).

Will my kids like it?

This is tricky. The film switches back and forth between the “real world” and the Heartland “dream world.” Kids will naturally be drawn to the fantastic elements of the dream world: the young Princess Ancien; her talking teddy bear, Joy; the rampaging Colossus; and the giant robots sent to fight the monster.

The real world segments, though, are more of a “slice of life” story about Kokone and her family. Even when she’s on the run, escaping kidnappers and trying to save her father, the story is considerably slower, quieter, and more introspective. The alternating forms of storytelling might be jarring (or confusing) for some kids who just want one or the other.

Will I like it?

Again, the juxtaposition of the dream world and real world can be jarring and confusing. You might find yourself wondering how the two connect, if magic is really real, and what’s happening. Many of the loose threads do get tied up by the end, but I still found myself with at least one huge unanswered question when the credits rolled. If you’re open to (or willing to overlook) some complicated storytelling and nebulous explanations, then there’s a lot to like here.

If you watch much Japanese animation, you’re aware that many characters are presented as… extremes. Kokone and her friend Morio, however, are down to earth and presented as if they were real people. Which is refreshing.

The film is also gorgeously animated. The colors are incredibly vibrant, the lighting and shadows are remarkable, the character designs (on the Colossus and various robots and vehicles, even if one bears a striking resemblance to Baymax) are unique, and the two worlds feel suitably different. The scenes set in Okayama will very likely have you checking out airfare to the region in summer.

The music in the movie might sound familiar to some astute gamers. The score was composed by Yoko Shimomura, who worked for many years at Capcom and Square. She composed the music for a lot of video games, including the entire Kingdom Hearts series. But the score here is by turns soaring and intimate, and it truly turns this magical story into something… magical.

Is there anything objectionable for young kids?

Not particularly. The movie is pretty well grounded in the “family friendly” category.

How can I see it?

GKIDS and Shout Factory recently released a Blu-ray edition of the film, which has a small selection of special features (all in Japanese with English subtitles), including an interview with director Kenji Kamiyama, a few group interviews with the Japanese cast, a comparison of Okayama scenery (the real city vs the city in the film), the theatrical trailer, and some TV spots. It’s also available from all the usual outlets (including Amazon) and for streaming from Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.

Final word?

Give Napping Princess a shot. I enjoyed both stories being told here, though personally, I wish the film would have chosen one or the other. I appreciate the attempt to tell competing – yet connected – stories through Kokone’s dream sequences, but the effect often leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. But the combination of indescribably beautiful animation and music more than make up for any failings the plot might have. In the end, Napping Princess is a beautiful, personal story. And the world needs more of those.