Christopher Columbus (1991): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1991, Christopher Columbus is an animation film directed by Fumio Kurokawa.

What it’s about. The young Christopher, against his father’s will, wants to become a sailor and he succeeds to do his first experiences aboard John’s boat, a good man and a great sailor. One night, during a journey back from the isle of Chios, the ship collides with a rock before the storm sets in. Unfortunately, in order to save the ship and the lives of the crew, John must sacrifice his own life. Columbus sets sail as the chief sailor on a cargo vessel en route from Genoa to Lisbon transporting precious loads of contents. Having passed the Straits of Gibraltar, the fleet then encounters pirates off the coast of Saint Vincent’s Cape. The Genoese crew tries to escape from the pirates, but to no avail; they are soundly defeated, and their ship is sunk. Shipwrecked, Columbus finds himself at the mercy of the waves...

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

If you liked it. Fans of Christopher Columbus tend to enjoy Spirited Away, Your Name., Grave of the Fireflies and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.