Ringing Bell (チリンの鈴) is a 1978 Japanese anime adventure-drama film adaptation of the storybook of the same name written by Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman. It is most notable by fans and critics as a family film which makes a sharp, sudden turn into a dark and violent story that criticizes and reflects upon the theme of revenge and war. Ringing Bell was produced by Sanrio and originally shown as a double feature alongside the US/Sanrio co-production The Mouse and his Child. It is Sanrio's first anime film to have a dark plot, only two films they co-produced with Sunrise, The Ideon: A Contact and The Ideon: Be Invoked – both of which serve as the conclusion to Yoshiyuki Tomino's Space Runaway Ideon, follow suit. Like the above-mentioned Ideon films, it is among Sanrio's first works to be aimed at young adult audience members in and outside Japan.

Synopsis

A young lamb named Chirin lives a carefree life with his flock on a farm. He is adventurous and prone to getting lost, so he wears a bell around his neck so his mother can always find him. She warns him he must never venture beyond the farm's fence, or else he might be killed by the wolf that lives in the nearby mountains. Soon after, the wolf sneaks into the barn at night and kills the sheep, including Chirin's mother, just when she protected Chirin. Seeking revenge, Chirin leaves the farm and pursues the wolf up the mountain. However, he quickly realizes he cannot fight him, and instead asks the wolf to train him to become strong. The wolf agrees, despite knowing Chirin intends to kill him one day. Over the course of this training, Chirin grows into a powerful, sure-footed, and fearless ram with deadly horns. Three years later, Chirin has transformed into a ruthless killer and thrown away his quest for vengeance; having come to view his mentor as a father figure. Together, the dominate the lands; killing anyone who dares to oppose them. One day, the wolf takes him down to the farm Chirin once came from; but does not accept it as his home anymore. After dealing with the guard dogs, the wolf orders Chirin to kill the sheep himself; however, being is reminded of his mother when he sees a lamb resembling his child self among them, Chirin refuses. The two fight, and Chirin fatally wounds the wolf with his horns. Despite his mortal injury, the wolf happily confesses to Chirin that he is proud of his student's maturation, declaring that Chirin, like himself, is now a lone wolf. Despite saving them, Chirin is rejected by his terrified flock and is forced to return to the mountains; now alone. After hallucinating the wolf's return, Chirin laments that he has nowhere left to go, and no one else to love (or would love him), crying out in sorrow for the wolf to come back. Chirin is never seen again, but the faint ringing of his bell can still be heard on stormy nights, much like the howls of the lone wolves before him.

Cast

Reception and legacy

Though the film is not as well-known outside Japan, Western critics such as Justin Sevakis of Anime News Network praised the dark storyline and artwork, and noted that it delivered a "sort of quick punch-to-the-face of the innocent." Sevakis also commented that "there is almost nothing uplifting about Ringing Bell and yet it maintains its sense of adorable while simultaneously destroying our concepts of the beauty of nature." Paul Lê reviewed the film for Bloody Disgusting, dubbing it "Nightmare Fuel for All Ages" in the review's title. Lê wrote, "Ringing Bell is a brutal watch at any age, especially today when cultural attitudes and standards regarding children’s media have shifted," and concluded, "The [film's] goal here is not too clear, and adults will have a hard time breaking everything down for younger viewers." The film is available both on DVD and Crunchyroll.