As near as I can tell, Unico was helpless to determine his own fate, beyond the small details, anyway. He was carried away much to his dismay; this seems to suggest an external locus of control. I believe this is consistent with Buddhism, which, to me, teaches that we should not form attachments, lest they be broken, & we be saddened.
While there were humorous parts in the films, their endings were sad. I would not think they would be popular in Western nations.



