Back to the Forest
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese anime
film, developed in 1989, released in Japan on 3 February 1989, and released in the United States on 19 June 1991. It was never shown in the cinema
, thus making it a TV film.
known as Placid Forest. They attempt to resist, and ultimately must declare war
on, some humans who live in a nearby village. The humans plot to cut down all the trees in Placid Forest so they can make money and become millionaire
s, but the animals know that they will lose their home if they do not act fast. The animals team up and carry out a systematic process of operations to guard their habitat.
Jacob, a black crow
wearing a yellow bandana
, is the leader of the animals and the first to sound the alarm to the other animals. He has excellent leadership, courage, and elocution. His biggest flaw, however, is his occasional appetite for food, especially cheese, which puts him in a rat trap
set by Marcus. He is voiced by Kimotsuki Kaneta in the Japanese version and by Myron Mensc in the English version.
Peter, an elf-like fairy
with a pink hat and green clothes, is a great ally to Jacob. He is appointed the chairman of the animals, second-in-command to Jacob. He sometimes plays hide-and-seek with his friend Penny, and he is skilled at looking at the big picture before making a decision. He can turn invisible at will, but when someone sneezes, he becomes visible, which almost gives him away to Marcus when he attempts to steal the humans' lunch. He is voiced by Nozawa Masako in the Japanese version and by Rebecca Forstadt
in the English version.
Penny, a mouse
with a red nose, is highly fearful. When she proceeds to gnaw the bridge leading from Placid Forest to the village with Billy and his team of rat
s, she almost falls in the river and runs away, thus earning her the label of coward from Billy. However, she finally plucks up her courage when she drops a pot on Marcus's cat
. This prompts Billy to call her "the first mouse to ever get a cat in the history of the rat's kingdom". She is voiced by Matsushima Minori in the Japanese version and by Deanna Morris in the English version.
Billy is the leader of the rats. He is initially very strict about fear, calling Penny a coward for failing to gnaw the bridge, but when Penny proves her courage by inadvertently dropping a pot on Marcus's cat, he becomes extremely appreciative of her. He is voiced by Eddie Frierson
in the English version.
Paul is the leader of the squirrel
s. He is very competitive against the rats. He offers to listen to every idea suggested, and he is a reliable ally to the animals. He is voiced by Doug Stone in the English version.
Mary, an owl
wearing a locket
, is obsessed with her appearance and beauty. At times she is arrogant, especially to Jacob, whom she sometimes teases, but in the long run, she is sweet and sympathetic. She is voiced by Masuyama Eiko in the Japanese version and by Lisa Paulette in the English version.
Carl is a green rabbit
. He participates in the forest plot alongside his grandfather, and he is obedient and loyal both to him and to Peter. He is voiced by Koyama Mami in the Japanese version and by Wendee Lee
in the English version. His grandfather is voiced by Richard Barnes
.
Jay, as his name suggests, is a blue jay
. He is easily excited and upset, which is his biggest flaw, and sometimes, he cannot tell how the other animals feel. He is voiced by Steve Apostolina in the English version.
Stanley is a hedgehog
. When he hears an idea or has a particular goal, he will hold onto it until it is done. His obsessive nature, however, can lead him to occasional temper tantrums. He is voiced by Don Warner in the English version.
Adam is a frog
. He is relatively calm, unlike Jay. When he hops, his speech is sometimes fragmented. He is voiced by Dave Mallow
in the English version.
Humans
Marcus is the leader of the villain
ous humans. His leadership and courage match those of Jacob, but unlike him, Marcus is arrogant and usually doesn't think about the consequences first. He is voiced by Cyn Branch. His wife, Bertha, is voiced by Lisa Paulette.
Timothy is a businessman. Like Marcus, he is intent on receiving money, and he will often ignore the consequences of his actions. He is voiced by Drew Thomas. His wife is voiced by Deanna Morris.
Nigel is a cook
. He has a gruff voice, which reflects his courage and toughness. He is voiced by Cliff Wells.
Michael is a tailor
. He is not as enthusiastic about cutting down the forest as the other men, but he likes having a large sum of money. He is voiced by Michael Sorich
. His wife, Joanna, is voiced by Penny Sweet.
Benjamin is a priest
. He is somewhat of a neutral party compared to the other men, as he is only concerned about his church at first. He is voiced by Leonard Pike.
Matthew is a shepherd
. He betrays his teammates, since he opposes cutting down the forest. This makes him a reliable ally to the animals, albeit a human. He is voiced by Mikey Godzilla.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film, developed in 1989, released in Japan on 3 February 1989, and released in the United States on 19 June 1991. It was never shown in the cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, thus making it a TV film.
Plot
Many animals inhabit a peaceful forestForest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
known as Placid Forest. They attempt to resist, and ultimately must declare war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
on, some humans who live in a nearby village. The humans plot to cut down all the trees in Placid Forest so they can make money and become millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
s, but the animals know that they will lose their home if they do not act fast. The animals team up and carry out a systematic process of operations to guard their habitat.
Characters
Non-humansJacob, a black crow
Crow
Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...
wearing a yellow bandana
Bandana
Bandana can refer to:*Another name for a kerchief*Bandana *Bandana *Bandana, Kentucky, a small town in the United States*Y Bandana, a Welsh alternative rock band.**Y Bandana , their self-titled debut album....
, is the leader of the animals and the first to sound the alarm to the other animals. He has excellent leadership, courage, and elocution. His biggest flaw, however, is his occasional appetite for food, especially cheese, which puts him in a rat trap
Rat trap
A rat trap is a trap designed to catch rats.Rats are suspicious of new objects and traps with only one entrance. If they see other rats have been trapped they may avoid the trap. Traps which do not address these issues are likely to catch only young, inexperienced rats, not the older ones.Spring...
set by Marcus. He is voiced by Kimotsuki Kaneta in the Japanese version and by Myron Mensc in the English version.
Peter, an elf-like fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
with a pink hat and green clothes, is a great ally to Jacob. He is appointed the chairman of the animals, second-in-command to Jacob. He sometimes plays hide-and-seek with his friend Penny, and he is skilled at looking at the big picture before making a decision. He can turn invisible at will, but when someone sneezes, he becomes visible, which almost gives him away to Marcus when he attempts to steal the humans' lunch. He is voiced by Nozawa Masako in the Japanese version and by Rebecca Forstadt
Rebecca Forstadt
Rebecca Lynn Olkowski , better known by her maiden name, Rebecca Forstadt, is an American voice actor who is best known for playing anime girls with sweet voices. She is also known as Reba West and Becky Olkowski.After studying theater at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California, Ms...
in the English version.
Penny, a mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
with a red nose, is highly fearful. When she proceeds to gnaw the bridge leading from Placid Forest to the village with Billy and his team of rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s, she almost falls in the river and runs away, thus earning her the label of coward from Billy. However, she finally plucks up her courage when she drops a pot on Marcus's cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
. This prompts Billy to call her "the first mouse to ever get a cat in the history of the rat's kingdom". She is voiced by Matsushima Minori in the Japanese version and by Deanna Morris in the English version.
Billy is the leader of the rats. He is initially very strict about fear, calling Penny a coward for failing to gnaw the bridge, but when Penny proves her courage by inadvertently dropping a pot on Marcus's cat, he becomes extremely appreciative of her. He is voiced by Eddie Frierson
Eddie Frierson
Edward Davies "Eddie" Frierson is an American voice actor and stage actor who is also known as Christy Mathewson, Ted Richards, and Eric Frierson Edward Davies "Eddie" Frierson (born November 22, 1959) is an American voice actor and stage actor who is also known as Christy Mathewson, Ted Richards,...
in the English version.
Paul is the leader of the squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s. He is very competitive against the rats. He offers to listen to every idea suggested, and he is a reliable ally to the animals. He is voiced by Doug Stone in the English version.
Mary, an owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
wearing a locket
Locket
A locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a curl of hair. Lockets are usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine's Day and occasions such as Christenings, weddings and, most noticeably during the Victorian Age,...
, is obsessed with her appearance and beauty. At times she is arrogant, especially to Jacob, whom she sometimes teases, but in the long run, she is sweet and sympathetic. She is voiced by Masuyama Eiko in the Japanese version and by Lisa Paulette in the English version.
Carl is a green rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
. He participates in the forest plot alongside his grandfather, and he is obedient and loyal both to him and to Peter. He is voiced by Koyama Mami in the Japanese version and by Wendee Lee
Wendee Lee
Wendee Lee is an American voice actress. While she has done voice work for many video games as well as several episodes in the Power Rangers franchise, she is particularly prolific in the dubbing of anime. As of April 2009, with 223 credits to her name, she has more credits in this medium than any...
in the English version. His grandfather is voiced by Richard Barnes
Richard Barnes
Richard Barnes may refer to:*Richard Barnes , London politician*Richard Barnes , British musician*Richard Barnes , Bishop of Durham...
.
Jay, as his name suggests, is a blue jay
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in...
. He is easily excited and upset, which is his biggest flaw, and sometimes, he cannot tell how the other animals feel. He is voiced by Steve Apostolina in the English version.
Stanley is a hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
. When he hears an idea or has a particular goal, he will hold onto it until it is done. His obsessive nature, however, can lead him to occasional temper tantrums. He is voiced by Don Warner in the English version.
Adam is a frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. He is relatively calm, unlike Jay. When he hops, his speech is sometimes fragmented. He is voiced by Dave Mallow
Dave Mallow
Dave Mallow is an American voice actor. One of his known aliases is Colin Phillips.-Life and career:Mallow was born in Park Ridge, Illinois. His father worked in radio and television and was a thirty year on-air veteran at Chicago's WGN. He attained a BFA in Theater Arts from Drake University in...
in the English version.
Humans
Marcus is the leader of the villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
ous humans. His leadership and courage match those of Jacob, but unlike him, Marcus is arrogant and usually doesn't think about the consequences first. He is voiced by Cyn Branch. His wife, Bertha, is voiced by Lisa Paulette.
Timothy is a businessman. Like Marcus, he is intent on receiving money, and he will often ignore the consequences of his actions. He is voiced by Drew Thomas. His wife is voiced by Deanna Morris.
Nigel is a cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
. He has a gruff voice, which reflects his courage and toughness. He is voiced by Cliff Wells.
Michael is a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
. He is not as enthusiastic about cutting down the forest as the other men, but he likes having a large sum of money. He is voiced by Michael Sorich
Michael Sorich
Michael John Sorich is an American voice actor who is also a screen actor, writer, director and voice director.- Biography :...
. His wife, Joanna, is voiced by Penny Sweet.
Benjamin is a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He is somewhat of a neutral party compared to the other men, as he is only concerned about his church at first. He is voiced by Leonard Pike.
Matthew is a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
. He betrays his teammates, since he opposes cutting down the forest. This makes him a reliable ally to the animals, albeit a human. He is voiced by Mikey Godzilla.
External links
- http://www.crystalacids.com/database/title/1450/back-to-the-forest/
- http://www.nippon-animation.co.jp/work/nodokamorino_daisakusen.html