Watch Napping Princess

In the fantasy world of "Napping Princess," Kokone Morikawa is a high school student living in Okayama with her father, Momotaro Morikawa, who is a skilled mechanic. Kokone is an forgetful girl, who often falls asleep and dreams about a magical world where ancient machines run and where she is a princess. She has been living with her grandfather Oji-san, who is a retired inventor, and she treasures the magical Heart, an amulet her father gave her.

One day, her father is arrested by the police on suspicion of stealing technology from Yatsuda Automobile. Kokone is baffled, and when she discovers that the secret behind the accusations is linked to her family's past, she becomes determined to uncover the truth. Her quest for the truth is accompanied by a quest for emotional closure, as she tries to come to terms with her mother's death and the rift it caused between her father and grandfather.

As she embarks on this journey, Kokone learns that her dream world is far more than just fantasy. Her dreams are connected to a lost civilization whose technology could change the world. Kokone discovers that her family is the only key to unlocking the secrets of this advanced technology. With the help of her friends and her eldery grandfather, Kokone sets out to find a lost tablet that holds the key to this ancient civilization's technology.

As the journey progresses, Kokone realizes that she possesses a unique ability to control both the real world and the dream world. This ability enables her to integrate the past and present to uncover the truth about her family's history and ultimately save her father from false accusations.

"Napping Princess" is a surreal and thrilling journey through the realm of dreams and technology. The film successfully blends elements of science fiction and fantasy, making it visually stunning and engaging. The story offers an intriguing mix of mystery, action, and drama, with a charming cast of characters whose stories interweave beautifully.

The animation is brilliant, and the attention to detail in the dream sequences is breathtaking. The ancient machines and monsters that Kokone encounters in her dreams are creatively designed, and the use of different animation styles to differentiate between past and present is a nice touch.

The voice cast is incredibly talented, with Mitsuki Takahata shining as the lead character, Kokone. Shinnosuke Mitsushima also delivers a strong performance as Kokone’s father, and Jamison Boaz provides the voice for a mysterious American soldier whose appearance is pivotal to the narrative.

The film's soundtrack, composed by Yoko Shimomura, is impressive, with a mix of orchestral and electronic tracks that complement the action and emotional scenes perfectly. The opening theme song, “Daydream Believer,” performed by Japanese rock band, Alexandros, is catchy and sets the tone for the film.

Overall, "Napping Princess" is a delightful animated film that ticks all the right boxes for an engaging and rewarding story. The high-level animation, the unique blend of genres, the relatable characters, and the stunning soundtrack all make for a film that is both captivating and memorable. It’s a must-watch for not just anime enthusiasts but for those who appreciate an effective and emotional story that offers a unique perspective on time, technology, and dreams.

Napping Princess is a 2017 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 69.