Not quite a treasure, but a pleasant watch

Golden Films' output has mostly been very solid. There is the odd disappointment like Tarzan of the Apes, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jungle King and Anastasia. But there are also ones that I love such as Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, The Night Before Christmas and The Three Musketeers. The Emperor's Treasure is one of the solid ones. There are some things that I wasn't so crazy about. The theme song is very 80s, which didn't fit the story setting, and not very memorable. The dialogue did seem stilted at times, Omo's felt out of place sometimes and Kori's threat to Imaru when kidnapped was one of the cheesiest ways of trying to put your authority over somebody else. And Omo was annoying even for an intentionally goofy sidekick. The animation is decent though with a subtle ethereal quality to it, and the background music meshes well with the adventure genre and doesn't fall into the trap of being too overbearing or saccharine. The story is engaging with a heartwarming ending, and the love, rescue mission, adventure and spiritual elements it had were coherently incorporated with not too much emphasis on one or the other. Thomas is a likable protagonist, and Cori is beautiful and headstrong. Imaru is a villain that we've seen many times before, but he is convincing and in the climax quite threatening. The voice acting is not stellar, but apart from Omo it was decent. To conclude, pleasant though not one of my favourites from Golden Films. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

The Emperor's Treasure

Photos2

Top Cast3

User reviews1

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed