For $10 million, Isaiah Saxon creates a fantasy world more real and emotionally resonant than anything we’ve seen from the $300 million projects churned out every year. The Legend of Ochi is a fairytale, an adventure, and a love story between humans and the otherworldly idea of nature that’s strong in childhood and easily lost in adulthood. Legend of Ochi boasts a star-studded cast, with Willem Dafoe playing a bombastic father, Emily Watson a withholding mother, Finn Wolfhard an uncertain pseudo-son, and Helena Zengel anchoring the cast as Yuri, the young girl who feels more at home in the wildness of the woods.
I wish everyone who sees The Legend of Ochi, now that it’s received its wide release, could hear Saxon speak after the viewing. The sincerity and pure, earnest love that pours out of Saxon when he talks about making the film and the people who worked on it would convince even the loudest dissenters to admit that the baby Ochi is adorable. Though it’s obvious that every piece of The Legend of Ochi is a labor of love, it’s no hardship to enjoy the fruits of Saxon’s work; all that’s left is for us to sit back and be moved.
The Legend Of Ochi Will Draw You In With The Fantastical Setting & Keep You There With The Story

It’s The Look & Feel Of The Legend Of Ochi That First Set It Apart

Going into The Legend of Ochi, I had a suspicion I would love it. This genre, for me and many others, finds the heart and strikes true as a reminder of simpler, more magical times. The influences are obvious, with the iconic adventure stories of the ’80s mixed with some Eastern European influences and a few nods to How to Train Your Dragon. Within the harsh, somewhat forbidding landscape of the fictional island, The Legend of Ochi is warm and inviting, an aspirational world that feels old enough to breach the barrier separating us from a more fantastic reality.
Though the natural setting has a lot to do with the initial tone, the practical effects and puppetry of the baby Ochi are too impressive to miss. Even with the limited budget, Saxon knew he wanted the Ochi to be real, tangible parts of the environment. The difference between the CGI animals we’ve come to expect and the tender physicality of Yuri’s friend couldn’t be more stark. In a lesser movie, an adorable creature companion could turn into a crutch, but even when we’re sighing over the Ochi’s adorableness, it feels natural.
However, it’s not just visually that we’re sucked in. David Longstreth, a frequent collaborator with Saxon, composed the score, and what a score it is. This music is the wings that The Legend of Ochi floats on when it falters, carrying the story well beyond its initial boundaries and giving every moment the sanctity and breadth of a true legend. Music is an integral part of the narrative, as the Ochi language is a form of music itself, allowing the score and the language to work hand-in-hand.

While the wonder of The Legend of Ochi’s world never wears off, once you’re immersed in it, the deeper narrative comes through.

At just 95 minutes long, there isn’t any real reason not to see The Legend of Ochi​​​​​​. It might sound too serious, based on how I’ve described it, but the movie is undoubtedly funny. The script has the sense of humor of a self-aware kid who still laughs at the gross stuff but who is also coming to suspect that their parents are a little embarrassing. It sneaks in the moments of dramatic weight when we’re ready to accept them, as unashamedly sincere as its director during the denouement, but never losing sight of the joy that sustains the story.
While the wonder of The Legend of Ochi’s world never wears off, once you’re immersed in it, the deeper narrative comes through. Like many kids’ movies of its ilk, The Legend of Ochi touches upon divorce and the feelings of being misunderstood, or worse, unwanted by a parent. Yuri is a tough character, a bit feral, and attuned to the magic of the Ochi, even if their home isn’t hers. Like Saxon’s short film, Earth Crisis, The Legend of Ochi encourages humans to remember their origins. You can’t make a wild thing tame, but you can become a little wild yourself.
The Legend Of Ochi Never Talks Down To Audiences, Pushing Them To Engage With The Story

Saxon Asks Us To Rise To Meet The Legend Of Ochi

As seemingly uncontroversial as a sweet children’s movie might seem, The Legend of Ochi’s deliberate pace and sparse dialogue are a message in and of themselves. There’s practically no exposition, and a lot of the communication occurs through loaded glances and action, which is growing less common these days. The Legend of Ochi isn’t just a throwback in terms of style and narrative. It recalls a time when audiences had longer attention spans and were more willing to suspend their disbelief, and there’s no better reason to do so than to experience The Legend of Ochi.
While the script’s tightness is a virtue, it’s clear that there were some moments left on the cutting room floor that might have better fleshed out the characters’ emotional journeys. We get just the barest hints of the nuance and backstory of the relationship between Yuri and her eccentric parents and only a few scenes that convey the depth of Yuri’s grief. The final moments are still poignant and effective, but there’s more story inside The Legend of Ochi to be told. Additionally, a few of the characters, like Wolfhard’s, seemed completely extraneous.
However, if Saxon had to make sacrifices to get The Legend of Ochi made, then we can all forgive some of the messier emotional moments. Though it’s a children’s movie on paper, there’s something for everyone in the film. The adults in the room might even be reminded of the time when movies really were pure magic. Letting yourself be swept away by the magic of The Legend of Ochi is as natural as breathing, and you might be surprised how moved you are when the credits roll.