Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

A boy, the descendant of a thief leader who met a grim end in the "1001 Nights," teams up with 38 cats and a mouse to reclaim his stolen treasure from Ali Baba XXXIII-the tyrannical ruler of the kingdom and a descendant of the original Ali Baba. This flips the hero-villain roles of the classic tale, a twist fitting for a film involving Hayao Miyazaki. Packed with action and energy, the movie breaks from Toei’s usual style with its bold, exaggerated cartoonish flair. It features animation by legends like Yasuji Mori, Akira Daikubara, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe, and Reiko Okuyama. At one point, the original "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" tale is retold in a clever and unexpected shadow-puppet sequence. Made to celebrate Toei’s 20th anniversary, the film stands as one of the studio’s most lively and fast-paced works.