Momotaro's Sky Adventure: A Weirdly Relaxing Aerial Trip

Is this thing worth your time?

If you have an interest in animation history or just like stuff that feels like it fell out of a dream from the 1930s, sure. You’ll probably enjoy it if you don't mind a complete lack of scientific logic regarding whale-back gas stations.

People who need a tight, realistic plot will absolutely hate it. Honestly, it’s not for the impatient.

The Trip of a Lifetime

So, Momotaro decides the best way to deal with a bird problem is to hop in a plane and fly 10,000 kilometers. That is a long way to go just to poke at an eagle. 🦅

The logistics are pure fantasy, but who cares? They stop on a giant tortoise shell for gas. Then they find a whale that just happens to be a floating fuel station. It’s the kind of logic you only get in old cartoons where geography is just a suggestion.

Observations from the Cockpit

• The dog, monkey, and pheasant sidekicks are basically just there for moral support. They don't do much, but they look cute.
• The air combat scene is surprisingly lively for how old this thing is. It’s got that jittery, handmade energy you don't see anymore.
• I kept waiting for someone to mention how the fuel actually gets onto the whale, but the movie just refuses to engage with that. Probably for the best.

It’s a far cry from the more complex narratives you see in The Story of the Monkey King. That one feels like a grand epic, while this is more like a brisk, sunny afternoon doodle.

There’s a weird, detached feeling to the whole thing. It’s like watching someone’s fever dream play out in black and white. ☁️

Final Thoughts

The movie gets way more interesting once the eagle shows up. Before that, it’s mostly just airplane noises and scenery.

Sometimes you just want to watch a guy in a plane fight a bird. You know? It doesn't need to be The Dawn Patrol to be entertaining. It just needs to keep moving, and this one certainly doesn't sit still for long.