Ringing Bell (1978)

[bunniefuu]

[static crackling]

[stars whooshing]

[wind howling]

[gentle music]

♪ Chirin, come, come and play ♪

♪ And chase all the clouds away ♪

♪ Little one, on the run ♪

♪ How far will you roam ♪

♪ Chirin, come, come and play ♪

♪ Let your dreams carry you away ♪

♪ Hear the bell you love so well ♪

♪ That brings you back home ♪

♪ Run and play in the snow ♪

♪ For now it's all about to go ♪

♪ Seasons pass, you will see ♪

♪ And life's not all that free ♪

♪ Chirin, where are you now ♪

♪ I hear that old familiar sound ♪

♪ Chirin, ring, ring your bell ♪

♪ Let me know all is well ♪

[eerie music]

[bell ringing]

- [Narrator] When we are young,

we don't know a lot of things.

[Chirin groaning]

But the small amount of knowledge

we do possess makes us happy.

Knowing our home, our friends,

how to get places and
maybe how to get back.

The world is a strange new place,

a great puzzle.

Sights and smells and
sounds are its pieces.

We see things we know nothing about,

things that surprise us
and sometimes sadden us.

But as we explore and grow,
the time comes when we learn.

We learn about the
world and we grow older.

[Chirin groaning]

[bright music]

[Chirin giggling]

[birds chirping]

- [Chirin] Here I come, hi everybody!

I'm coming through. [giggling]

Hey, I'm flying! [groaning]

[birds chirping]

[sheep baaing]

[Chirin gasping]
[mud gurgling]

[mud scraping]

[Chirin groaning]

[mole squeaking]

[sheep baaing]

[Chirin chirping]

[gentle music]

- [Narrator] Our young
friend's name is Chirin.

He has more energy than
all the other lambs

in the pasture put together.

He wears a ringing bell around his neck.

And although Chirin likes the sound,

it is there to help his mother
find him if he gets lost.

Or falls when he doesn't
watch where he's going.

[bright music]
[Chirin groaning]

- [gasps] Mama!

- [Mother] Hm, hello Chirin.

- Did you see my somersault?

- It was very good.

[both sighing]

Chirin, listen to me.

I don't want you playing
outside the fence.

- Oh, why not?

- [Mother] Chirin, the world
can be a dangerous place.

If we stay behind the fence we'll be safe.

You see that mountain?

- [Chirin] Uh-huh.

- [Mother] That's where
the Wolf King lives.

And his favorite food is baby lamb.

- Oh, yuck!

- Yuck?

- What would he want to eat lamb for?

Clover tastes much better.

And if he ever comes
around, I'll tell him that.

- You'll do no such thing.

I don't want you ever to go near him.

- [Chirin] Well, he doesn't scare me, mm.

- [Rabbit] Boo!

[Chirin gasps]

I love clover.

- Are you listening?

- [Rabbit] Yum, yum.

- [Chirin] Huh?

- I don't ever want you
going outside that fence.

- [Rabbit] I love it,
I love it, I love it.

- Oh. [gasping]

- [Rabbit] Come on, let's play!

- [Chirin] Hey, wait up!

- [Mother] Chirin?

[Chirin giggling]

Chirin!

- [Rabbit] I knew it!

Come on, hurry.

- Wait!
- Over here!

[both giggling]

Hurry!

- [Chirin] Wow, look at that.

- Ah, Chirin.

[gentle music]

♪ Chirin, come, follow me ♪

♪ A whole world I will let you see ♪

♪ Seasons come, one and all ♪

♪ Summer, spring, winter, fall ♪

♪ Chirin come, come and play ♪

♪ Let your dreams carry you away ♪

♪ Hear the bell you love so well ♪

♪ That brings you back home ♪

- Chirin, Chirin, Chirin?

Where are you, Chirin!

Chirin!

Chirin?

Chirin!

Where are you, Chirin?

Have you by chance seen my son?

- Nope, sorry.

- [Mother] He was wearing
a bell around his neck.

- [Bats] Haven't seen him.

- [Mother] He was playing here today.

[owl groaning]

Where are you, Chirin. [moaning]

[bell chiming]

[Chirin yawning]

[Mother gasping]

- [Chirin] How'd it get dark so soon?

[Chirin moaning]

Mama!

You found me.

- There you are.

What have you been doing,
staying out past dark?

You had me worried half to death.

Sometimes you really disappoint me.

And after I just warned
you about the Wolf King.

- [Chirin] Sorry.

[Mother sobbing]

[gentle music]

- [Mother] It's all right, Chirin,

you're still my favorite little boy.

♪ Too, la, loo ♪

- [Chirin] I'm sorry,
Mama, I was playing so hard

with the little rabbit.

And then we ate some clover

and before I knew it, I was asleep.

- [Mother] I know Chirin, I know.

- [Chirin] I won't ever do it again, Mama.

- [Mother] Oh, my Chirin.

♪ There will be time enough to grow ♪

♪ In autumn you'll feel rain ♪

♪ In winter you'll see snow ♪

♪ Sleep, little Chirin, and
have your peaceful dreams ♪

♪ And as you grow older, you'll
see nature's golden leaves ♪

♪ Clouds roll by ♪

♪ Daylight brings another peaceful day ♪

♪ Oo, la, loo ♪

- Mm, boy, this is good.

- [Lamb] Yeah, but I think I'm full.

- Yep, me too.

Look, at me, I climbed a mountain.

[wind howling]

- [Narrator] The months
passed as did the brightness

of summer into the darker tones of autumn.

[crickets chirping]

[Chirin snoring]
[wind howling]

[Mama sighing]

[dog barking]

[sheep gasping]

- [Sheep] What is it!

- [Sheep] Oh, no!

- [Sheep] What is it?

[door banging]
[wind howling]

[sheep gasping]

- [Sheep] Oh, the wolf!

- [Sheep] The wolf, run!

- [Sheep] Oh no, run!

[dramatic music]
[sheep yelling]

[wolf growling]

- Chirin!

No!

[lightning sizzling]

[crickets chirping]

[bell ringing]

[Chirin moaning]

[Chirin sighing]

[Chirin yawning]

- I knew he wouldn't like lamb.

I'm glad the wolf's gone, 'cause
I want to go back to sleep.

Don't you, Mama?

Huh?

Mama?

[dramatic music]

What's wrong, Mama?

Huh?

Why won't you get up?

Did the wolf hurt you, Mama?

I learned my lesson, I'll
stay away from the wolf.

Mama, what's wrong, what's wrong?

[somber music]
[Chirin crying]

Mama, you can't be
dead, you just can't be.

Mama, Mama!

Get up!

Don't leave me, Mama.

Mama, come back.

Mama!

[Chirin sobbing]

It's not fair.

[dramatic music]

[Chirin whimpering]

- [Narrator] Chirin couldn't understand

what his mother had done to deserve dying

at the hands of the Wolf King.

What did any of the
sheep do for that matter?

But the wolf still came
and the sheep still died,

helpless at the fangs of their enemy.

Nature had been unfair to
Chirin and to his mother.

[somber gentle music]

- Where's he going?
- What's he doing?

- [Sheep] What's he doing?

- No!

[dramatic music]

[crickets chirping]

[ominous music]

[Chirin groaning]

[bell ringing]

Hey you!

Wolf!

Hey, wolf!

[dramatic music]

[Chirin groaning]

[Chirin whimpering]

I'm going to k*ll you!

You k*lled my mother, I'm
gonna k*ll you! [groaning]

I mean it! [groaning]

I hate you!

[dramatic music]

[Chirin groaning]

Wolf, you k*lled my mother,
you k*lled her! [yelling]

[rocks clattering]
[dramatic music]

[Chirin moaning]

[wolf slurping]

Wolf, all right, I've
decided to be your friend,

just to learn to be strong

just as if I were a real wolf like you!

I'm sick of being a sheep.

All we ever do is stand
in corners and shake.

I want to learn to be a
scary wolf just like you are.

You like the idea of me becoming

your apprentice, don't you? [gasping]

[bell ringing]

[Chirin whimpering]
[wind howling]

[Chirin groaning]

[wolf growling]

[jowls blathering]

Wolf, I'd be a really great apprentice,

why don't you let me try?

I'm not going to leave you
alone until you say yes,

so why don't you just wake up and listen!

Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!

- [Wolf] Pipe down, pipsqueak.

What's a runt like you bothering me for?

- I want you to teach me
how to be a scary wolf!

- [Wolf] Do me a favor, go back
to your meadow and get fat.

And in a couple of months
I'll have you for dinner.

- But I want to be like you!

Look, how does this sound?

If things don't work out, feel
free to go ahead and eat me.

No hard feelings.

[Wolf growling]

Oh, you think I'm just fooling
around, but I'm serious, hm!

- [Wolf] Pest.

- All right, go ahead and be that way.

You'll see, I'm gonna show you
how much I want to be a wolf.

[dramatic music]

[Chirin growling]

[Chirin groaning]

Ah ha!

[buffalo growling]

[Chirin groaning]

[Chirin roaring]

Watch it, I'm a wolf, I'm
gonna eat you! [roars]

You'd better start running in terror.

[buffalo laughing]

I'm gonna eat you up so you
just better start running, hm!

[buffalo huffing]

[Chirin groaning]

[kick thuds]
[Chirin yelling]

[Chirin thuds]

Maybe I should start
with something smaller.

[skunk laughing]

You'll do fine, wise guy!

[bright music]

[Chirin groans]

[Chirin whimpering]
[prairie dogs giggling]

Huh?

Beat it!

That's right.

[quirky music]
[Chirin gasps]

[Chirin screaming]

[body thuds]

[mud clicking]

[prairie dog humming]
Hey!

Hey, what's going on?

Hey, let me out of here!

[Chirin screaming]

[prairie dogs laughing]

[gentle music]

[Chirin moaning]

[Chirin slurping]

[water splashing]

[Chirin moaning]

Huh, I tried.

[ominous music]

Hey, wait, where ya goin'?

Wait for me!

[moaning] Hold on, Wolf!

Don't go!

Come back!

Wait!

[upbeat music]
[bear growling]

[wolf growling]
[bear growling]

[claw whooshing]

[bear growling]

[body thudding]

[bear sighing]

[bear gasping]

[beat whimpering]

[upbeat music]

[wolf growls]

[body thudding]

[dramatic music]

- [Wolf] Well, pipsqueak,

now that you've seen what
it's like to be a wolf,

go back to your meadow where you belong.

- No, I'm never going back

to that stupid meadow in a million years.

I'm going to keep following you

until you agree to teach
be to be like a wolf!

Wait! [groaning]

Wait, wait for me!

[dramatic music]

[Chirin groaning]
[rocks thudding]

[Chirin sighing]

Wait!

[water whooshing]

Wait!

[Chirin groaning]

Oh, I really hate you!

Whoa! [screaming]

Help!

Help!

[ominous music]

[water whooshing]

- [Wolf] [huffs] So much for dinner.

[crickets chirping]

[Chirin gasping]

[bell ringing]

- I'll follow you wherever you go,

I'm never going to give up. [groans]

Because, because I don't
care how long it takes me.

I'm going to become a wolf. [moaning]

[wind howling]

[gentle music]

- [Narrator] And Chirin did not give up.

He followed the wolf,

though it meant day after
day of constant travel.

Sometimes he saw things that
reminded him of his home.

But he went on,

through the forest,

through the meadows.

[bird squawking]

[Chirin gasping]

[dramatic music]

[Chirin gasping]

[ominous music]

[Chirin gasping]

- [gasps] No!

Stop, no! [groaning]

[snake whimpering]
[Chiron gasping]

[Chirin moaning]

They're broken, all of them,
I smashed her eggs. [sobbing]

Why did it happen, why?

Why do the weak have to die?

It isn't fair!

[Chirin sniffling]

- [Wolf] In order for some
to live, others must die.

That is the law of nature.

From the moment of birth--
- It's not fair.

- [Wolf] Life is one endless struggle

and only the strong can survive.

- But then, what can I do?

I don't have fangs like a
wolf, so how can I even fight?

I can't do anything to protect myself.

Not a thing!

- [Wolf] Why do you want to become a wolf?

- I couldn't stand it.

They all just sat there in the pasture,

too scared to go past the fence,
too scared to do anything.

I don't want to be k*lled, I
want to be strong. [sobbing]

- [Wolf] Good, cry and let the anger out.

It's the only way that
you're going to grow fangs?

- [gasps] What's that, grow fangs?

- [Wolf] Yes, life deals
out few things besides pain,

but from that pain you'll
grow sharp, strong fangs,

though they may not be
the kind you can see.

- Then I can do it, wow!

If I grow fangs, nothing can stop me

from begin as strong as you are!

[dramatic music]

- [Wolf] Then I will teach you

how to live the life of a wolf.

Life won't be easy, pipsqueak.

- Uh huh.

- [Wolf] For the world I live in is a hell

where death is always close by.

You'll need stamina, determination
and the will to survive.

- I don't care how much it takes.

This is what I want to do.

I know I can!

You'll see, I'll become
stronger than a wolf.

Someday I'll beat even you!

- [Wolf] [growls] We'll see.

- [Chirin] I will!

Someday I will defeat you, you, you, you.

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

- [Narrator] And so it came to pass.

Chirin became pupil and
the wolf was teacher.

[dramatic music]

[Chirin groaning]

[head thudding]
[Chirin groaning]

[tree cracking]

[Chirin groaning]

[Chirin groaning]

[Chirin yelling]

[Chirin groaning]

[Chirin moaning]
[gentle music]

[dramatic music]

- [Wolf] Knocking over
trees is one thing, Chirin.

But remember, I am a moving target.

- [Narrator] The wolf was right.

Chirin's task was not easy.

In order to be strong like the wolf,

he had to fight every day.

He learned every tactic,
every means possible to win,

because in the end, that
was all that mattered.

And when Chirin learned that,

he'd taken the first
step in becoming a wolf.

[Chirin groaning]

A day never passed that
Chirin didn't suffer

from the pain of his lessons.

At times he thought he was going to die.

[Chirin moaning]
[bell ringing]

But he didn't.

[Chirin groaning]
[dramatic music]

♪ Are you ready, here I come now ♪

♪ Look out world, I'm the one ♪

♪ Standing tall like a tree ♪

♪ There's a new spirit born inside of me ♪

♪ I'll be fearless, I'll be strong ♪

♪ I know life is hard and long ♪

♪ Don't give up or you'll lose ♪

♪ It's the strong life that I choose. ♪

♪ We will travel, wolf and ram ♪

♪ And we'll ravage all the land ♪

♪ Getting strong now, won't be long now ♪

♪ Til I'm the strongest one of all ♪

♪ I am Chirin, I am Chirin ♪

♪ I am Chirin ♪

[eerie music]

[dramatic music]

[wind howling]
[upbeat music]

[electricity crackling]

[bright music]

[rocks crashing]

[wind howling]

- [Narrator] Two years have now passed.

Chirin has changed from a determined lamb

into a fearsome beast.

- [Chirin] So then, Wolf, I
am no longer a weakling sheep.

Instead of fangs, I have
horns which are just as sharp.

My hooves are harder than the rock

and it has become my nature to
fight without fear of death.

- [Wolf] I am proud of you, Chirin.

You are a fine warrior, even
I could not turn you aside.

- [Chirin] I owe it all to you.

My goal was to overcome you.

The only thing I wanted was strength

so I could strike down the
enemy who had k*lled my mother.

You can't imagine the times I looked

for the chance to k*ll you.

But somehow I could never find one.

I could never make myself do it.

Living on this mountain
has changed the way

I think about life and about you.

For now I think of you as a father.

And if the world you live in is a hell

then I'm willing to live there with you.

Look out there, the forest,
the mountains and plains.

It's there for us, all of it.

[dramatic music]

[gentle music]

- [Narrator] And so Chirin
and the wolf became a team

with a reputation for
ruthless k*lling known

throughout the land.

They were unstoppable, charging their prey

with insane recklessness.

[lightning cracking]

[rain drumming]

- [Wolf] The place of
your birth, your home.

- [Chirin] Home, hm, home.

The only home I have are the
plains where I hunt my prey.

- [Wolf] Tonight we'll make the attack.

Will you be able to go through with it?

- [Chirin] Of course I will.

- [Wolf] A number of German
shepherds protect the barn.

They'll try to stop us from getting in.

You'll have to k*ll all of them.

Then we'll go in and k*ll the sheep.

[lightning cracking]

We must change direction, go now.

[dramatic music]

[lightning cracking]

[wolf growling]

[dogs barking]

[Chirin groans]

[dog squeals]

[sheep whimpering]
[lightning cracking]

[dogs groaning]
[dramatic music]

[Chirin groaning]
[dogs barking]

[body thuds]
[sheep whimpering]

[wheel clattering]
[sheep whimpering]

[wind howling]

[sheep gasping]
- Oh no!

- [Sheep] Hide!

[Chirin growling]

- Mama!

[Chirin gasps]

Mama, Mama!

- Oh no, my baby, oh no! [whimpering]

[gentle music]

[Chirin gasping]

- [Chirin] No.

I can't, I can't. [gasping]

- [Wolf] Where do you think
you're going, pipsqueak?

- [Chirin] I can't do it.

- [Wolf] I knew you
wouldn't be able to do it.

This is the last thing I'll teach you.

k*lling sheep is something
no weakling can do.

- [Chirin] No!

No, you're not going in there!

No!

[bell ringing]

No, you can't go! [groans]

- [Wolf] Are you out of
your mind, pipsqueak?

[Chirin groaning]

- [Chirin] I am a ram! [groaning]

You're the wolf that k*lled my mother!

[lightning cracking]
[dramatic music]

[wolf gasping]

[somber music]

- [Wolf] You have learned well.

To turn out like this is
the fate of every wolf.

I always knew it would be like this.

That I would die in some field

at the hands of someone stronger.

But I'm glad that the one who
did it was you, little Chirin.

[dramatic music]

- [Chirin] No, no, no, I
didn't want it this way, Wolf.

No, no, no.

[eerie music]

- [Sheep] Oh my.

- [Lamb] Who are you?

Are you a wolf, huh?

[eerie music]

- [Chirin] But wait.

- [Sheep] Quick, shut the door.

- Hurry.
- Let them in.

- Please, let's hurry.
[sheep chattering]

[somber music]

- [Narrator] Chirin tried
to tell the frightened sheep

that he had once lived
with them in the meadow.

But nobody believed him.

The creature they saw before
them was not one of their kind.

Chirin was neither wolf nor sheep.

He was an animal which
caused only fear and terror.

He wouldn't find a home again

with the sheep of his childhood.

And without the wolf, Chirin
realized he had no home at all.

[somber music]

[crickets chirping]

- [Wolf] It won't be easy, pipsqueak.

The world I live in is a hell

where death is always close by.

You'll need stamina, determination
and the will to survive.

- [Chirin] I don't care
home much it takes.

This is what I want to do.

I know I can!

You'll see!

I'll become stronger than a wolf,

someday I'll defeat even you!

I will, someday I will beat you!

[bell ringing]
[Chirin gasping]

Wolf?

Wolf?

Wolf!

[bell ringing]

[gentle music]

Wolf, you accepted me.

You taught me how to live like you did.

Forgive me.

I wasn't able to become a wolf

and because of that I was
the one to cause your death.

But I'm still alive, where do I go now?

Wolf!

Wolf, wolf, wolf!

[bell ringing]
[gentle music]

[wind howling]

- [Narrator] The snow fell
for days without letting up,

covering the ground with
a smooth white blanket.

Whatever happened on that mountain,

whatever happened in the
meadow was covered up

without a trace to remind
those who had witnessed it.

And later, some claimed to have
remembered Chirin as a lamb.

Others said he was a
spirit from the mountain.

But they were too wrapped up

with their own lives to
worry about it for long.

And one night, during a terrible blizzard,

the gentle sound of a bell was heard.

But the sheep in the meadow
never saw Chirin again.

[gentle music]

♪ Chirin, come, come and play ♪

♪ And chase all the clouds away ♪

♪ Little one, on the run ♪

♪ How far will you roam ♪

♪ Chirin, come, come and play ♪

♪ Let your dreams carry you away ♪

♪ Hear the bell you love so well ♪

♪ That brings you back home ♪

♪ Run and play in the snow ♪

♪ For now that's all
the life you'll know ♪

♪ Seasons pass, you will see ♪

♪ That life's not all that free ♪

♪ Chirin, where are you now ♪

♪ I hear that old familiar sound ♪

♪ Chirin, ring, ring your bell ♪

♪ Let me know all is well ♪