Sea Prince and the Fire Child Is the Most Magical Faery Movie You've Never Seen!

It's been a rough decade for faery princess media. With the exception of the upcoming Winx Club reboot, the hyperfeminine fae aesthetic has all but faded away into a lost relic of the 1980s and early '90s. Hidden in the depths of cinema history is a treasure trove of lost media that has been sealed away in the depths of old memories. Most studios don't have the motive or budget to reintroduce their old franchises to new audiences the way Disney does. One animated fantasy movie from the '80s that made a comeback a decade ago is The Last Unicorn, which premiered in 1982 with its tragic story, moving soundtrack, and beautifully dark imagery that came straight from the pages of Peter S. Beagle's novel. On the Eastern front, a tonally similar anime movie came out in 1981 that I only learned about recently.


Sea Prince and the Fire Child, also known as Legend of Sirius, is a visual and emotional spectacle of epic proportions from a time when creativity was celebrated in the media. It's a tragic faery love story that I wish I had seen when I wrote my book, Rebirth: A Faery's Tale, because the similarities are uncanny. It has some of the most gorgeous fantasy imagery I have ever seen and could give Fantasia a run for its money. The movie has a timeless feel to it that instantly pulls viewers back to the innocence of their childhood, but that doesn't mean the story is childish. In fact, it's quite mature and risqué considering that its subject matter and colorful characters would be classified as kiddy fare by many unenlightened viewers.

The movie tells the story of Sirius and Malta, two star-crossed lovers who are destined to rule over opposing factions of water and fire. The legendary prologue explains that these two groups were once allies who became enemies after an act of jealousy and greed. Sirius, the prince of the water kingdom, is destined to take the place of his father as the god of the seas, while Malta, the princess of the fire kingdom, is destined to become the new fire goddess. When these two magical entities meet, they fall in love instantly, threatening the lives of everyone in both kingdoms. Their love changes the tides of history, bringing out the best and worst of the magical beings residing in both their worlds.


The imagery in this movie is striking and unforgettable. Sirius's kingdom is filled with colorful talking crabs, fish, and eels that predate The Little Mermaid. Malta's world is an ethereal wonderland filled with glowing faeries whose bodies are formed of flames. They answer to a beautiful goddess who oversees their world as well and protects an enchanted holy flame that maintains the peace between them and the water kingdom. However, this world is far from peaceful. Many tragedies strike numerous characters throughout the film, including the ones that seem too cute to have anything bad happen to them. This deeply emotional storytelling makes this high fantasy setting feel more grounded in a dream-like reality.

If you're looking for a poignant and nostalgic blast from the past, this is the movie for you. Sea Prince and the Fire Child is a hidden gem of animated fantasy, offering a timeless and emotionally resonant tale of star-crossed lovers set against a backdrop of magical wonder and tragedy. With its stunning imagery and mature themes, this 1981 anime classic is a must-see for fans of fantasy and romance. It is currently available to watch on YouTube in both English and the original Japanese. Are you a fan of this movie? Do you know of any other hidden gems from this era? Let me know in the comments!
I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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