stardrop

The prequel to the web series. Follows Xiao Hei as a wandering child who is adopted by a band of elfens who resent humans as much as he does. They have made their home in a forest when a human attacks them and takes Xiao Hei hostage adrift at sea. 

The story is a familiar environmentalism story that loses points for triteness and fails to confront real problems presented by the antagonists. It is still as charming and sweet as the original storytelling, and the animation is a step above. It's a necessary watch for fans of the original, and it details Xiao Hei's "origin story."

I would recommend watching the web series first. The mystery of Xiao Hei's power is what adds to the fun of the series, and with how disappointingly it ends, this movie satisfies the void the series leaves us with.