- Streamed on: Netflix
- Directed by: Noriyuki Abe (Chief)/Yasuto Nishikata
- Distributed by: Toei Animation
- Story by: Nakaba Suzuki
The film opens with the Seven Deadly Sins seeking rare ingredients for the celebration of the King’s birthday. Only, Meliodas fails to collect his ingredient the sky fish. He and the pig Hawk end up in the land in the sky. He’s mistaken for Sorada, the winged son of a warrior leader Zoria. The real Sorada, a celestial is mistaken for Meliodas by the Seven Deadly Sins. That doesn’t remain true for long as his wings give him away.
It is revealed that the seal that has trapped the Demon Clan for 3000 years is about to disappear. The great “Oshiro-sama” which is a pig-like deity that Hawk is mistaken for is the key to stopping them. Sorada declines the offer from the Seven Deadly Sins to help him find Oshiro-sama. He flies away and is attacked by a puppet of Gara of the Six Black Knights. She evaporates the spring preventing the Seven Deadly Sins and Sorada from returning to the Sky Temple through it.
The second black Knight revealed, Dahaka attacks the Sky Kingdom consuming the souls of many celestial soldiers. Meliodas faces off against him and effortless defeats him. However, Hawk is given all the credit for the victory. Somehow Master Zoria is still under the impression that Meliodas is his son, after being told he’s not several times. As the celestial’s begin their ceremony the demon clan is released. Personally, I think the character designs of the black knights are terrible.
Regardless, Meliodas faces off against the leader Bellion. While Hawk kinda fights Derocchio in a rather funny encounter. The rest of the Seven Deadly Sins arrive and split off to fight the Six Black Knights. Ban battles Pump, Merlin faces off against Derocchio, King and Gowther fight Atollah. The battles are where the movies is at it’s best. The animation during these action scenes are impressive. All the battles are well done and the main strength of this movie. The plot isn’t really complicated and largely just a set up for the battle between the Seven Deadly Sins and Six Black Knights. Basically if you seen any shonen anime movie, you would be able to predict this one.
Overall, The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky is a generic shonen anime movie. It won’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. A predictable story doesn’t undercut the phenomenal action sequences or humor. The film is fun and any fan of shonen anime or manga would enjoy it. The villains are forgettable, being reduced largely to cannon fodder. However, you could skip to the action portion and not miss too much.