Yeu woo bi (2007)

Director:

Seong-kang Lee

Release Date:

25 January 2007 (South Korea)

Genre:

Animation | Fantasy

Plot Keywords:

Fox | Teacher Student Relationship | Transformation | Manhwa | School

Cast

Deok-Hwan Ryu	...	Hwang Geum-ee
Ye-jin Son	...	Yobi

Also Known As:

Cobby the Fox (International: English title) (working title)
Cubby the Fox (International: English title) (working title)
Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox (International: English title)

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

South Korea:All

Company:

CJ Entertainment

Trivia:

Inspired by the Korean horror legend "Gumiho," about a fox's attempt to steal the soul of a young man. "Yeu Woo Bi" transfers this story to a contemporary setting, makes the fox the protagonist rather than the antagonist and sympathizes with her.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#40.4)" (2008)

The parts far out weigh the whole in one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Beautifully animated (Actually its one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen on DVD) about Yobi, a five tailed fox, some aliens who've crashed in her forest, a school for troubled children, Mr Shadow, a bear, love, the ability to steal souls and a few things I'm missing.

Overly busy film is better in parts than as a whole. Its almost as if the filmmakers (including the director who did the stunning-in the truest sense-My Beautiful Girl Mari) had too many things they wanted to do but only had 85 minutes to do it in. The story as a whole (which boils down to Yobi falling in love with a human) just doesn't work. Mostly it's because there are so many side trips that distract from the "main" story and the side trips are more interesting then the main thrust of the story. I kept wanting it to go in directions other then where it was going because the plot line didn't have a natural progression to that point (actually it felt like a dog, or fox, being taken out for a drag instead of a walk).

This isn't to say its a bad film its not. Its actually pretty good but there are small moments, The girl looking in the mirror, the bear (in almost every scene he's in- though when he's first seen sitting by the lake is particularly touching), the little girl and her teddy bear (or lack there of) and others, that are of such incredible power and such absolute revealing truth that the central plot line feels so completely artificial compared to them. (I want so much to tell you about all of these little wonders but I can't bring myself to spoil them.) There is real magic in the moments that it makes the rest of the film seem weak.

If you are willing to take the good with the bad, if you want to see some stunning animation and experience moments of true magic, and are willing to work with a film to get to them I recommend this film. You'll like the movie and love the moments...(actually the moments and the films beautiful look are what make the movie worth seeing) I am in awe of the moments And gosh darn it that bear is some of the best character animation I've ever seen-and it mostly requires nothing but him sitting there doing nothing.

6.5 out of 10 (with parts that are much higher)