This one works on you quietly, then leaves a bruise. It takes Oscar Wilde's story straight, no softening for the kids it was made for: a gilded statue who can see the whole city's misery from up on his column, and a swallow who keeps putting off Egypt for one more errand. The ruby from the sword hilt, the sapphire eyes handed away until the prince is blind, the gold leaf stripped off piece by piece so somebody eats. It's calm to the point of stillness, which is exactly why the ending lands, the swallow at his feet, the leaden heart that cracks anyway. It won the Ministry of Health and Welfare's child welfare culture prize for educational film, and you can feel that intent, but it never once talks down. Almost nobody has seen it, and the people who have don't shut up about it.

Shiawase no Ouji is a one-episode animated film based on a tale by Oscar Wilde. The adaptation was honored as the top educational film at the 17th edition of the child welfare culture awards given by Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare.