Buddha: The Great Departure
Synopsis
In the ancient Shakya Kingdom, King Suddhodhana learns that his wife, Maya, has a curious dream. A white elephant with six tusks enters her body—a sign that their future child, Siddhartha Gautama, is blessed. The wise prophet Master Asita sees the child and foretells that he will become "chakravartin," the ruler of the world. Meanwhile, young Chapra suffers the injustice of the rigid caste system. When Kosala army marches on Kapilavastu, Shakya's capital, Chapra plays a part in forcing them to retreat. But to escape the life of slavery and give his mother a better life, Chapra joins the Kosala army and swears to rise in the ranks. As the young Siddhartha grows, he is taught everything he needs to know to inherit the throne. However, Siddhartha has no interest in martial arts or running a kingdom. What he seeks are the truths of the world and the meaning of life itself. Although Kosala's ever-expanding power threatens Shakya, Siddhartha abandons the royal life and ventures into the world to find the enlightenment he desires. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience sentiment is mixed. Some viewers found the movie to be a beautifully crafted and insightful depiction of Siddhartha's early life, while others felt it missed the point and was too focused on violence and secondary characters. The story's simplification and lack of philosophical depth were also points of criticism.
Strengths
- Beautifully crafted anime with excellent visuals.
- Provides insight into the social, political, and cultural context of ancient India.
- Breathtaking and unique depiction of Siddhartha's early life.
Weaknesses
- Movie misses the point and fails to convey the suffering felt by Buddha.
- Rushed simplification of the story.
- Use of violence contradicts the primary purpose of the story.
- Story is confusing and focuses more on other characters than Buddha.
- Doesn't go into philosophical depths.