Ringing Bell

Ringing Bell
Cover art from the VHS release of the fllm
チリンの鈴 (Chirin no Suzu)
Genre	Drama, fantasy, action
Manga
Written by	Takashi Yanase
Published by	Froebel-Kan
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	1978
Anime film
Directed by	Masami Hata
Studio	Sanrio
Released	March 11, 1978 (Japan) April 8, 1983 (US)
Runtime	47 minutes

March 11, 1978 (Japan)

Ringing Bell (チリンの鈴, Chirin no Suzu^?, lit. Chirin's Bell) is the 1978 Japanese/American anime film adaption of the storybook of the same name written by Takashi Yanase. It is most notable by fans and critics as a G-rated children's film which makes a sharp-sudden turn into a dark and violent (stylized and bloodless) story that criticises and reflects upon the theme of revenge. It is also recognized as one of the only Japanese shock films directed towards children.

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 other films produced by the company, The Ideon: A Contact and The Ideon: Be Invoked also follow suit.

A baby lamb named Chirin is devastated when his mother is killed by a wolf who raids the farm in the night. Seeking revenge, he must become like the very thing he wishes to destroy, and he must venture far beyond the safety his home and childhood into the wilderness to seek the fearsome Wolf King.

Ringing Bell starts off as a children's film, but quickly merges into a darkly-toned story of the laws of nature and revenge. It has also been viewed in the past as a cautionary tale about venturing away from home, non-conformity and revenge.

Chirin is a lamb who lives in the meadows with his mother. He wears a bell around his neck so he can be found in case he falls into the valley. Chirin's mother warns him not to go too far as he could get eaten by a wolf, but the lamb doesn't completely understand. One wolf who lives in the mountains named Uou attacks the meadows in the night, killing all of the sheep except Chirin, who was protected by his mother. The following morning, Chirin, now apparently ridden with survivors guilt, climbs the mountains to confront Uou and asks the wolf to make him his apprentice because he wants to be a strong wolf just like him. Uou is touched by this and agrees to train Chirin on a daily basis.