A Tree of Palme
by Takashi Nakamura
List Price:
Our Price: $7.99
You Save: $21.99 (73%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.24 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Akiko Hiramatsu, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Kappei Yamaguchi, Megumi Toyoguchi, Yurika HinoDirector: Takashi Nakamura
Brand: ADV Films
Cinematographer: Takashi Atsuhata
Writer: Takashi Nakamura
Editor: Shuichi Kakesu
Producer: John Ledford
Producer: Mark Williams
Producer: Taro Maki
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled)
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 130 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-08
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: ADV Films
DVD Reviews of A Tree of Palme
DVD Review: A strange mix of sci fi and fantasy quest
Summary: 3 Stars
A fable of a Pinocchio sort of a reborn as a sci fi animation
with some very good art. The gas bag type of plants that float in the air and the clouds are all done very well.
Here we have children of the street being hunted
and uniting against their oppressors.
The bad guys are chasing the puppet and his girl friend
because they want the egg built into him.
I enjoyed the film, but at times it was hard to follow in translation.
DVD Review: I ONLY WANT TO BE "HUMAN"...TO BE "ALIVE"
Summary: 4 Stars
A journey of soul seeking for a robot with dreams of becoming human.
This is a film created, directed and written by Takashi Nakamura. Known for his work as animation director for Katsuhiro Otomo's "Aklra", key frame animator for "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" and "Macross: Do You Remember Love?"
The work of Takashi Nakamura is well known in the Japanese anime industry and his work on "A Tree of Palme" is definitely a highlight in his career.
Originally planned as a television series, "A Tree of Palme" took seven years to plan and three and a half years to produce.
With many animation going digital, this film was created almost entirely of cel animation.
The background art in this film was created by art director Mutsuo Koseki, known for his works on films such as "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" and "Grave of the Fireflies", "A Tree of Palme" is a film that will be known for its production values.
As for the storyline, Nakamura's goal was to do something different from what was out there in Japanese animation and to make a film that would be about a state of soul that each of us have and depending on the viewer, will have their own interpretation of their feelings of the film.
Needless to say that despite the film looking very childlike, this film is anything but.
The storyline encompasses a planet with three regions. The World above called Touto, the world of land called Arcana and the world below called Tamas.
People believe that Touto is a place where Gods live. Arcana is the land where most people who work in factory towns reside. Tamas is a region where tribes live in and in Tamas is a giant Kooloop tree called Soma which ingested the memories of ancience civilizations.
The storyline of "A Tree of Palme" revolves around a robot named Palme who was created from the sacred Kuroop tree.
One day, a mysterious woman gives Palme the egg of Touto that gives him life and puts him on a crusade to become human.
Joining him in his crusade are a group of misfits that through his journey will also be doing some soul-searching along with Palme.
Althought very Pinocchio-like, the storyline of "A Tree of Palme" is not as happy as one would think.
There are mercenaries who would kill to get the egg of Touto and needless to say, this film has its share of violence.
The animation of this filme is definitely top notch. Although cel animation is not used during this digital age, Nakamura takes us to the pinnacle of cel animation. Also, a distinct, unique style of how the characters are created definitely stays within his goal of making this animated film different from others.
The audio is presented in Digital 5.1 in English and Japanese and I can tell you that both audio tracks are excellent and the English dub is very well done and well-acted.
The DVD comes with special features such as a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of "Tree of Palme", character, mechanical and prop design sketches, artwork, 5 key sequence animatics, the Japanese promos and trailers and an informative trailer.
"A Tree of Palme" is a film where people will have different feelings about and different interpretations.
For me, it was a film that showed us the pain in the lives of Palme's friends who had parents that were not really there for them and if they were, their parents were abusive towards them.
As for Palme, like Pinochio, he wants to be human. He has felt love but he will do what it takes to become human.
And this is where the distinction between Palme and Pinocchio ends as the cute and gullible Palme becomes a robot that will do what it takes to become human and that anything becomes quite violent and surprising.
This is truly a film that is different and unique and also a film that probably requires more than one viewing to really understand things.
Nakamura really did want people to watch and think about this film and this film did just that.
With beautiful animation, beautiful acting and a unique storyline, I highly recommend this animated film.
DVD Review: not all it's cracked up to be
Summary: 2 Stars
Ok, i'll make this short and sweet. If you like twisted tales then you'll love it! I mean really bizarre, strange music, so-so drawn anime characters, and truly strange and twisted. I bought this because i hunt down good anime movies. I have bought all of Hayao Miyazaki's films and love nearly all of them. I also own Princess mononoke, X, Final Fantasy: advent children, inuyasha movies, naruto movies, tekkon kinkreet, vamire hunter D... etc etc. I would recommend any of these to anyone. Still... there's no way i would recommend "A tree of Palme", because i really didn't think it was good. You need to have an aquired taste for it and it's not for everyone.
I just wanted to put it out there that the movie, even with it's appealing cover, is not as good as you would think. If anything try out the movie "Origin's". It has a very unique flavor and in my opinion is a lot better than the this movie. It's just so damn strange i felt like i was watching a Rob Zombie anime or something. Well i hope you get what i mean. lol
..ok, that about sums this up.
DVD Review: Akiko Hiramatsu has got nothing on Hayao Miyazaki
Summary: 3 Stars
The animation was good, the imagery was good, although not totally original, however the movie is too long, boring, confusing, and over the top dramatic. So many characters in this that has nothing to contribute with the plot elements that either come from nowhere or go nowhere this movie really wasn't one of them at all, it would have been better as a short series. This is a Pinocchio rip off.
If you want to watch a anime movie with good animation watch these: (Akira, Voices of a Distant Star, Spirit Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Steamboy, The Place Promised in our Early Days, Metropolis), and more.
DVD Review: A gem of a film, a eternally misunderstood masterpiece.
Summary: 5 Stars
A tree of palme is a beutiful animated film loosely based upon the ever iconic Pinnochio. That is not to say this is a retelling of that story, it is a film based on the CONCEPT of Pinnochio rather than the NARRATIVE, those who were angered or confused by the fact that the filom has little to nothing to do with the fairy tale are just missing the point.
A Tree of Palme is the story about one puppets (Palmes') quest to become human. And as a side note to ANYONE claiming that this is not his(Palme's) original intent, his pseudo father says upon reactivating him that he called the Fairy Xian and chased the giant fish because he was searching for a purpose, all he wants to be is human, he merely does not relize that it is the very longing to be human that makes him human.
The film is lovingly crafted and full of wierd alien landscapes designed soley to evoke wonder and curiosity.
It is also a tragic film, full of hardship and horrible hapenstance, one can not help but shed a figuritive tear at the horrors Palme and his friends both face and become.
It is constantly criticized for not having a "Cohesive narritive" or being "over developed but under realized" the naysayers that claim this are mistaken and again, are missing the point.
A tree of Palme is a allegory as well as a fairy tale. Not Everything is supposed to make absolute sense. Why doesn't anybody criticize Miyazaki (the director of the animated films Spirited Away,Howl's Moving Castle, and Princess Mononokee) for the same reasons? His works are just as (if not more surreal)than A tree of Palme yet are never criticized as such.
The film is logical from a child's point of view, a kind of strange if these things exist, than this must happen, mentality that has been all but lost in an age of modern cinema awash in cliches and tired retreads of aging concepts, the film expects you to interpret the meaning of itself, it doesn't spoon feed you plot or reasoning, it assumes you have a mind and can sort those dillemas out for yourself.
Again, A Tree of Palme is a enchanting film that never really got the publicity or appreciation it deserved. Buy and Own this film, it is a genunine classic in an age of pretenders.
Description of A Tree of Palme
A dark Pinocchio tale with a science/fantasy robotic twist! Palme, a puppet, is created to care for the dying wife of his master. After her death, Palme ceases to function until a mysterious woman, who is being followed, appears asking for help in delivering a precious package. This is Palme's first step in his long and incredible journey to becoming a real boy.The feature Tree of Palme (2001) was reportedly a pet project of writer-director Takashi Nakamura, who has worked with both Katsuhiro Otomo and Hayao Miyazaki. The plot borrows liberally from Pinocchio, Robot Carnival, Akira et al. Palme, a puppet created by a scientist to aid his wife, has hung mutely from a tree since her death. But he reawakens when he receives the mysterious Egg of Touto from a woman, who tells him to take it to Tama. En route, Palme meets a band of street urchins and Popo, a mistreated girl. As they search for the way to Tama, the story loses what little coherence it ever offered. Characters appear, disappear, and change sides for no reason, and at 136 minutes, the film is a half-hour too long. Tree of Palme offers some striking visuals, but it's the cinematic equivalent of a trackless swamp. (Unrated, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon
General DVDs
- Genres > Action & Adventure
- Animation > General
- Anime & Manga > General
- By Studio > ADV Films
- Art House & International > By Country > Japan > Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Drama > General
- Love & Romance
- Kids & Family > Adventure
- Science Fiction & Fantasy > General
- Fantasy > Fantasy Adventures
- Animation
- Robots & Androids
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Full-Screen Edition)Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Quantum-of-Solace-Blu-ray-B001PPLIFU-X.jpg)
Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray]MGM HOME VIDEO (UNDER FOX); Release date: 2009-03-24; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Lost: The Complete Fifth SeasonRelease date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $36.99
Price in other shops:
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-10-20; DVD
Best price: $12.25
Price in other shops:
Terminator Salvation (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-01; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/G-I-Joe-The-Rise-of-Cobra-Two-Disc-Edition-Digital-Copy-Blu-ray-B002NXSRX4-X.jpg)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $18.90
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Two-Disc Limited Special Edition + Digital Copy)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo-Digital-Copy-BD-Live-Blu-ray-B000ZELISO-X.jpg)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray]Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-17; DVD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Treasures From American Film Archives - Encore EditionImage Entertainment; Release date: 2005-05-10; DVD
Best price: $51.99
Price in other shops:
Spirit of Wonder: The MovieRelease date: 2003-09-16; DVD
Best price: $7.88
Price in other shops:
Noein: To Your Other Self - The Complete Series, Vol. 1-5Release date: 2008-01-22; DVD
Best price: $19.83
Price in other shops:
The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeBandai; Release date: 2008-11-18; DVD
Best price: $17.78
Price in other shops:
Perfect BlueRelease date: 2000-05-02; DVD
Best price: $8.73
Price in other shops:
PaprikaSony; Release date: 2007-11-27; DVD
Best price: $12.97
Price in other shops:
The Triplets of BellevilleSony; Release date: 2004-05-04; DVD
Best price: $7.44
Price in other shops:
Origin - Spirits of the Past: The MovieFunimation; Release date: 2007-02-20; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Millennium ActressPARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2003-10-28; DVD
Best price: $6.13
Price in other shops:
My Beautiful Girl MariADV Films; Release date: 2005-07-05; DVD
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops: