MOVIE TITLE:     Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World

This Japanese fantasy adventure opens in theaters in the USA and Japan on June 6, 2025.

RATING:     PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 59 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

The introspective movie, based on an original story by Ryuho Okawa, who also serves as Executive Produce, was produced by Japan’s IRH Productions.  

The story is about Ryusuke, a junior high school student living in Tokyo. During his summer vacation, he visits Tokushima and reunites with his teenage cousin, Tomomi. Ryusuke and Tomomi go on an outing to the Anabuki River where they get swept away by the rushing current. As they sink to the bottom of the river, a dragon appears, rescues them, and takes them to a mysterious old man. The old man tells Ryusuke and Tomomi that they are already dead, but that he can send them back to life if they explore the spirit world and find their mission in life. Although perplexed with the situation, Ryusuke and Tomomi decide to begin their journey to the spirit world. First, they arrive in a gloomy town that looks like it’s from 1960’s. Soon after, they are assailed by terrible things one after another. They see fear-ridden rogues killing one another and doctors mutilating patients. People get killed and rise again. Ryusuke and Tomomi realize that they are in hell. But their journey doesn’t end there. The adventure beyond this world continues into Shambhala and beyond. Will they be able to find their mission and come back to life?

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Some Japanese is spoken and sung with subtitles. Otherwise, everything is spoken in English.
• Some profanity
• Some weapons are used (guns, bombs, chainsaw)
• Violence with bloody deaths
• Cigar smoking
• Destruction of property
• Talk of hell, prostitution, suicide, marital affairs, drugs

THEMES:

• Japan
• The purpose of your life
• Helping others
• The afterlife
• Courage
• Good vs evil
• Sacrifice
• Suffering
• Life and death
• Talk about your body and soul
• Spiritual awakening
• Missionary work

THINGS I LIKED:

• The English dubbed version of the film which I watched includes voice actors Zach Aguilar, Ren Holly Liu, Rick Zieff, Brook Chalmers, Wendee Lee and Valerie Arem.
• We get to learn about some of the geography of Japan, as well as its famous mountains. It’s fun to see the beautiful country and culture. I had the great pleasure of visiting Japan several years ago. The people and country are AMAZING.
• The artwork and storytelling style feel very true-to-form Japanese.
• The film’s strongest asset is its ambitious thematic depth. Directed by Imakake and based on an original story by Ryuho Okawa, Dragon Heart weaves spiritual ideology into a fantastical adventure, exploring questions of purpose, morality, and transcendence. The coming-of-age arc for Ryusuke and Tomomi is compelling, as their trials in the spirit world foster maturity and self-awareness. Visually, the early segments—particularly the violent town and surreal hospital scenes—are striking, with vivid depictions of a nightmarish hell that captivate the audience.
• The lyrics in the songs are thought-provoking. So are all of the themes.
• I love the name of the film studio: Happy Science. That being said, the studio has a reputation for being controversial.
• If you’re Christian, you might appreciate the themes of repentance, God, faith, spirituality, and life after death.
• Viewers will learn some things about Buddhist and Hindu beliefs, how to pray, that our souls and bodies are connected but separate, and that our thoughts determine whether we go to heaven or hell. While it doesn’t rival the greatest anime films, it offers a unique experience that sparks reflection on life’s purpose and human resilience.
• There is a stark contrast between good/evil and heaven/hell that viewers will appreciate. Our choices truly determine the quality of our lives.
• I reecommend it for those who enjoy introspective anime like Spirited Away or The Mystical Laws, with the caveat that its religious undertones require an open mind.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• It’s uncertain exactly who this movie is for.  There is too much violence and blood for it to be for children. Perhaps, the target audience is intended to be teens and 20-year-olds who are in the thick of deciding how they will choose to live their lives as they struggle with their own beliefs and values.
• The film feels like a giant commercial for religious beliefs. The narrative can feel heavy-handed in its spiritual messaging, reflecting the Happy Science Organization’s controversial religious underpinnings. Some viewers may find the film’s ideological leanings, which blend Hindu beliefs with the group’s teachings, overly didactic or inaccessible.
• The pacing falters in the latter half, as the story’s focus on metaphysical exploration sometimes overshadows character development and plot resolution.
• Some of the violent scenes are very bloody and evil.
• Some of the themes and images are pretty heavy and dark for young children.
• Most kids will be confused about what’s happening most of the time.
• One of the problems is that the audience won’t want to spend this much time in such scary, evil, weird places. Viewers need an occasional break in order to catch their breath. There needs to be some kind of balance in order to not fatigue. We spend about an hour with extremely vile people until we finally see some much-needed goodness emerge.
• The film is simply too long to say what it wants to say.
• There isn’t really any humor.

FUNNY LINES:

•  None

INTERESTING LINES:

• “The courage to leap into the unknown is one of the privileges of being young.” – Ameno Hiwashino Mikoto (Rick Zieff)
• “Your life is a precious gift, a gift from God.” – Sachiyo  (Julie Ann Taylor)
• “Even if you lose your body, you will still continue to exist.” – Sachiyo  (Julie Ann Taylor)
• “When we die, it’s not the end of our lives.” – Sachiyo (Julie Ann Taylor)
• “The essence of human beings isn’t in their flesh but in their souls.” – Ameno Hiwashino Mikoto (Rick Zieff)
• “Hell is created by the thoughts in people’s minds.  Those people you saw were living in the hell of their own making.” – Ameno Hiwashino Mikoto (Rick Zieff)
• “Help awaken as many people as possible to the truth.” – Ameo Hiwashino Mikoto  (Rick Zieff)

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•  The Boy and the Heron: https://moviereviewmom.com/the-boy-and-the-heron-movie-review/
•  Before the Sunset: https://moviereviewmom.com/before-the-sunset-movie-review/

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