Pocahontas

This article is for the animated film from Jetlag Productions, for the Disney film, see Pocahontas (1995 film)

Pocahontas
Directed by	Toshiyuki Hiruma Takashi
Produced by	Mark Taylor
Written by	Jack Olesker (based on a true story)
Music by	Andrew Dimitroff
Distributed by	GoodTimes Home Video Goodtimes Entertainment
Release date(s)	October 19, 1994 (USA) August 6, 2002 (DVD release) (USA)
Running time	45 minutes
Country	Japan United States
Language	English

Pocahontas is a 45-minute direct-to-video animated film produced by Jetlag Productions. It was distributed by GoodTimes Home Video and originally released on October 19, 1994^[1]. The film was produced by Mark Taylor and directed by Toshiyuki Hiruma. Writer Jack Olesker adapted the script from the true story about the young Indian princess named Pocahontas. The film was re-released on DVD on August 6, 2002^[1] by Goodtimes Entertainment as part of their extensive "Collectible Classics" line that included the works of other animation companies such as Golden Films and Blye Migicovsky Productions. Another similar direct-to-video animated film with the same name was previously released on June 1, 1994.^[2]

Plot summary

Pocahontas is the daughter of the Indian chief Powhatan; one day, she is out playing in the woods near the shore when she spots a strange ship filled with white men. When they notice her, she runs away in alarm and tells her father and her people all about the new arrivals. Powhatan's tribe begins to worry; they have terrible memories of the last time the "pale faces" arrived in their land. Some of the younger men suggest attacking the white men and sending them back to where they came from, but Powhatan feels that these new men should not have to pay for the mistakes or cruelty of others in the past. He suggests everyone stay away from them, and to not harm them in any way, but to continue living their lives within their lands until they know what the settlers are up to. Eventually, the young Pocahontas befriends the captain Smith, and the two become fast friends. Captain Smith is a friendly man and desires peace, but neither he nor Pocahontas can prevent a growing hatred between the two groups. Some of the Indians, feeling that Powhatan has grown weak, decide to abandon the tribe and start their own, with new laws. The ones that remain allow themselves to be taught many things by the white men, including new sports and useful everyday things. As winter begins to approach, the two groups face difficult problems; the Indians believe that the white men are purposely hunting all of their animals and that they may soon be left to starve, while the white men fear they may not survive unless they're invited to spend the winter safely in this new land, rather than sail back to England. The wisdom and good heart of young Pocahontas becomes the key to the collaboration between the two different groups of people in order to survive those difficult times.

Songs

As a common rule in Jetlag Productions' films, Pocahontas featured a total of three original songs:

• "Land of Pocahontas": The new world is described as "an unsullied land across the sea" in this first opening and closing song.
• "Enemy or Friend": The Indian tribe struggles to understand the true purpose and intention of the white men.
• "Princess of Peace": Pocahontas' life is described in this closing song and referred to as the "princess of peace".

References

External links

• Pocahontas at the Internet Movie Database
• Pocahontas at Allmovie
• Pocahontas at the Big Cartoon Database