The Last Unicorn
1982 Directed by Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Synopsis
There's Magic in Believing!
From a riddle-speaking butterfly, a unicorn learns that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a now middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard.
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I've been off work sick today and have really been craving some good comfort films to just chill out and watch. I obviously turned to The Last Unicorn, one of my favourite films ever!
I used to go stay round my dad's house every weekend, and I specifically remember that the only VHS he had for me was a copy of You've Been Framed (which cut to Commando half way through) and The Last Unicorn (the collection expanded to the whole first series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when my little brother was born, and a copy of The Pokemon Movie in Flemish by the time my dad had moved to Belgium). God knows where he got The Last Unicorn…
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Part of the 1982 Project
Film L of March Movie MadnessThe second film from Rank/Bass from 1982 is by far the best one, The Last Unicorn is based on the classic novel by Peter S. Beagle. Set in the the time of Robin Hood, this pleasing animated fable tells of the adventures of a beautiful white unicorn who enters a forest in search of others of its kind.
There is a definite anime vibe going on and it's very different from the usual animated stuff from the 80s. This is almost adult in story telling, it's not condescending to its audience and although there a few songs sprinkled about the film , it doesn't ruin the mood.
This is a very decent 80s animated film and has been severely over looked. -
The last unicorn prances around like a My Little Pony, swishes her mane around, turns human (but not really), falls in love, sings some songs tunelessly (oh dear Mia Farrow), will they make her change back into a unicorn so that they're all gone forever?
I'm being generous and giving it 5/10 because it's possible that this wasn't really aimed at me, it missed widely. -
The Last Unicorn is an animated fantasy film by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin. Jr based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle who also happened to write the script, it was animated by Topcraft, the studio hired by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata to work on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the core animators went on to join Studio Ghibli when Topcraft went bankrupt.
A unicorn learns that she is the last of her kind and begins a quest to discover what has become of the other unicorns, a butterfly tells her that a demon called the red bull has driven them to the ends of the earth.
On her quest, the unicorn meets some humans, an… -
wow christopher lee dubbed himself in german.
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Even seen with the forgiving eye of childhood nostalgia this is still a wonderful, beautifully crafted movie, full of magic.
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The Last Unicorn is an animated fantasy film by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin. Jr based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle who also happened to write the script, it was animated by Topcraft, the studio hired by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata to work on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the core animators went on to join Studio Ghibli when Topcraft went bankrupt.
A unicorn learns that she is the last of her kind and begins a quest to discover what has become of the other unicorns, a butterfly tells her that a demon called the red bull has driven them to the ends of the earth.
On her quest, the unicorn meets some humans, an… -
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wow christopher lee dubbed himself in german.
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whatever. don't judge me. this film is a masterpiece.
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[compair to the book] Yep, it looks like an early 80's animated movie. It is hard to tell what the intended audience of this movie was. Clearly it is animated and for kids, but what would kids have to latch onto? The unicorn and Smendrick aren't set out to be heros. Lir could be a hero, but doesn't really have that much to do in the movie. I just don't see what kids would get out of the movie.
It is pretty faithful to the book in that everything on screen comes from the book. The difference in tone is all due to omission. The movie is no where near as melancholy.
Alan Arkin seems like he was sleep walking through his performance.
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The movie of my childhood. It's still as cute as I remember it.
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Part of the 1982 Project
Film L of March Movie MadnessThe second film from Rank/Bass from 1982 is by far the best one, The Last Unicorn is based on the classic novel by Peter S. Beagle. Set in the the time of Robin Hood, this pleasing animated fable tells of the adventures of a beautiful white unicorn who enters a forest in search of others of its kind.
There is a definite anime vibe going on and it's very different from the usual animated stuff from the 80s. This is almost adult in story telling, it's not condescending to its audience and although there a few songs sprinkled about the film , it doesn't ruin the mood.
This is a very decent 80s animated film and has been severely over looked. -
I just love this movie. Some say it is utterly cliche and I can still not understand it.
Every character has its depth far bojond the screentime of this movie. And the idea of an immortal being in an mortal body and what it does to it is fascinating to me.
See it, it is wonderful. -
Very touching musical anime with a memorable soundtrack. Wonderful story that is dark and ethereal. An evocative movie that draws you into its fantasy world. Lots of big name voices, some of them singing. Which is a mixed experience, but defiantely worth hearing.