Kin no Tori is an animated adaptation of a classic fairy tale that was clearly meant to air for years on end via public-access TV, to the delight of children everywhere. Its visual inventiveness and zest for life shine through every colorful character design and gorgeous piece of scenery; much of it recalls the pastoral worlds that early Miyazaki was so fond of, such as on Future Boy Conan, Heidi, and Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro. The atmosphere of a playful, dreamlike fantasy is absolutely fulfilled. Beyond its visual delights, it's a simple story by design, told without much fuss and leading to an excitingclimax. Aside from a comically over-the-top and somewhat outdated musical number by the main villain (which is very funny nonetheless), I found myself thoroughly enjoying Kin no Tori.