This anime is really one of my favourites, which can seem odd, especially if I add that I was 19 when I watched it. I am really pained when I see people saying that it is a show enjoyable only by kids. It tackles so crucial themes with such an ease and a simplicity that it is able to touch deeply anyone, kids and adults alike. There are of course goofy moments proving that this show was mainly meant for kids. The moral of the show, however, is so righteous (in my opinion) that it would be a shame if only kids were to enjoyit!
The animation is frankly amazing... for the first half. In fact, it was so amazing it blew my mind when I heard it was hand drawn animation. But then there was a huge decrease in the quality of the animation, around half the show, and it never came back to its previous standard. The OST is really a gorgeous one that deserves to be more recognized.
This show has however a massive weakness. It's got one of the worst English adaptation I've ever seen. Everything was messed up: the voicing was horrible, the dialogues were modified, some scenes were cut (sometimes thus hiding the sub-text), the music... oh my God! the music!! The Japanese people who made this show achieved to compose a sumptuous orchestral OST, which was replaced by HORRIBLE electronic sounds. I'm sure those who did that were thinking 'yeah, it'll sound more futuristic all right'! -_-
Seriously, I know it's hard to find, but watch the sub version!
For me, this show represents the pinnacle of my conception of fictional stories. For me, a story should be used to convey a moral, a message, an idea. And this one achieves it brilliantly, conveying an idea of mutual acceptance, of peace and of the virtues of non-violent resistance. It's an heartwarming show that I'm sure to remember!