Honorary Prince: Hols

Film: Little Norse Prince (English)
Taiyō no Ōji: Horusu no Daibōken (Japanese)
*English titles vary on the edition

Voice: Hisako Ôkata (Japanese)
*no official English dub as of September 2009

The Character

I know what you lot are thinking: if the original site and Facebook groups were influenced by Studio Ghibli, WHY have I started off this blog with a character that is a Honorary character? Well, I've been a bit sneaky because I have started that way but then again I haven't. This film was produced and released by Toei Animation in 1968 sixteen years before Studio Ghibli's first film Nausicaä. However, the film was directed by Isao Takahata who would become a huge part of Ghibli and it was animated by future greats such as Yōichi Kotabe and Hayao Miyazaki (Yes, the same Hayao Miyazaki who would become the backbone of Studio Ghibli, directing such classics as Princess Mononoke, the Oscar winning Spiriting Away and the Oscar-nominated Howl's Moving Castle). So when you look at it deeply, you will find that the film was created and animated by the geniuses who would eventually become Studio Ghibli.

When I first saw this film, I had no idea about who made it/directed it and not even the year it was released. My first preconceptions were that it was a small 1980s film created by Studio Ghibli and that it seemed too stereotypical for these geniuses. So imagine my shock when I found out that this film was released in 1968!!! When you learn that, only then can you understand the significance of the film.

Anyway, back to Hols. Looking at him, he is pretty much stereotypical. After all, he kills a monster pike, a feat that even adults much older than him cannot do. His first scene is when he tackles on wolves with only an axe to help him. He is technically the sole hero of the film and his presence brings (unintentional) negative impressions and positive impressions on the villagers he encounters. He has the sole task of destroying the demon. He is the 1960s Japanese anime version of Harry Potter (only he carries a sword instead of a wand). In a way, he could pass of as a Disney Prince.

However, in many other ways, he breaks all traditions. He is a very young man, possibly about 14 and is very adventurous. He is brave and stands up for his beliefs. He also has incredible strength and has a lot of love in his heart, especially towards the main female character, Hilda, although it is not implied whether he loves her as a friend or whether his feelings are deeper than that.

Even though his father dies early on in the film, he does not turn into an emo kid. Instead, he fulfils his father’s last wish to find the village where he was born. He is also one of the few voices of reason and is very persistent. I mean, he is killed and sent to the Endless Wood and the first thing he does when he returns back from the Wood is that he tries to reason with his killer to see good in their heart. You would have thought that being murdered by this person would have made Hols hate her forever. This means he sees the light in everyone (well almost everyone!).

It can be said that he is the prototype for Pazu, in terms of his bravery, love towards the heroine and his adventurous streak.

A prince in his own right and due to the fact that he was created by animators who would start Studio Ghibli, his is a true Studio Ghibli Prince although I guess he will always be the Prince Toei want to forget about!

The voice behind the character

As of today, there is only one official version, the original Japanese version (although the title has varied depending on the edition and country it is released. The subtitles has also given a variation on the characters' names, in particular Hols and Hilda). So, despite no English dub to compare it to, what can I say about Hisako Ôkata who voices Hols? Hmmm , I liked his voice as Hols. He is actually quite convincing and yes the guy does scream but only when the script calls for it. I would imagine Hols to be in his teens and Okata gives Hols a powerful voice for a teen.

I decided to look up on Okata and find out that he was in his late 20's when he was the voice of Hols. That is a shock! I seriously never expected that!