Yuki (1981): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1981, Yuki is an adventure, family and animation film directed by Tadashi Imai, running about 86 minutes.

What it’s about. Up in Heaven, Yuki’s grandparents decide that, having turned thirteen years old, she must go down to Earth to a village that is torn by bandits and intervene to save its people. However if she does not succeed within one year she will become as insubstantial as the wind. Down in the village, Yuki is befriended by a group of orphans whose parents have all been killed by the bandits and who now subsist by begging. Yuki amazes them by taming the wild horse Blizzard. She is instrumental in getting the orphans and farmers to stand up to first the warring bandits and then Goemon, the greedy lord that owns the region. But Yuki must face her greatest challenge yet when the displeased Demon God that lives in the volcano emerges to destroy those who live beneath.

Who’s in it. Yuki stars Chie Ushihara as Yuki (voice), Akiji Kobayashi as Jinjii (voice), Kazuko Sugiyama as Hana (voice) and Hōsei Komatsu as Oyakata (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Yuki has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Yuki page.

If you liked it. Fans of Yuki tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception, Interstellar and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.