The Black Cauldron
Release Date: 8th May 1986 - Australia
Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures
Silver Screen Partners II (in association with)
DistributionWalt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia
Genre: Animation/Family/
FantasyRating: PG
Runtime: 77 minutes
Budget: $44,000,000
Box Office Gross: $21,288,692 (USA)
Plot Summary
A young assistant pig keeper named Taran has often dreamed of becoming a great warrior but ends up protecting an oracular pig, Hen Wen, who knows the exact whereabouts of the fabled and mystical Black Cauldron. Unfortunately for Taran, he loses Hen Wen when the terrifying Horned King kidnaps her to search for the Cauldron. With the help of the brave Princess Eilonwy, an exaggerating minstrel named Fflewddur Fflam, and an annoying creature named Gurgi. They set out to find the Cauldron and stop the Horned King from unleashing its unspeakable power to createan army of deathless
soldiers. Will Taran learn
what it takes to be a true
hero and that some things
are more important than
glory?
Voice Cast
Grant Bardsley - Taran
Susan Sheridan - Princess Eilonwy
Nigel Hawthorne - Fflewddur Fflam
John Byner - Gurgi/Doli
John Hurt - The Horned King
Freddie Jones - Dallben
Arthur Malet - King Eidilleg
Lindsay Rich - Fairfolk
Brandon Call - Fairfolk
Gregory Levinson - Fairfolk
Eda Reiss Merin - Orddu
Adele Malis-Morey - Orwen
Billie Hayes - Orgoch
Phil Fondacaro - Creeper/
Henchman Adele Malis-Morey - Orwen
Billie Hayes - Orgoch
Phil Fondacaro - Creeper/
John Huston - Narrator
Peter Renaday - Henchman
James Almanazar - Henchman
Wayne Allwine - Henchman
Steve Hale - Henchman
Phil Nibbelink - Henchman
(Cameo)
Jack Laing - HenchmanCrew
Story/Directors - Ted Berman
and Richard Rich
Based on "The Chronicles of
Prydain" Novel Series - Lloyd
Alexander
Story/Producer - Joe Hale
Story/Storyboard Artist
(Uncredited) - Peter Young
Story/Character Designer/Title Designer: End Titles - David Jonas
Story/Character Designer - Al Wilson
Story - Vance Gerry, Roy Morita
and Art Stevens
Additional Dialogue - Rosemary Anne Sisson
Additional Dialogue - Rosemary Anne Sisson
and Roy Edward Disney
Additional Story Contributions -
Additional Story Contributions -
Tony Marino, Steve Hulett, Mel Shaw,
Burny Mattinson, John Musker, Ron Clements
and Doug Lefler
Executive Producer - Ron Miller
Concept Designer - Michael Peraza Jr.
Concept Designer - Michael Peraza Jr.
Conceptual Artist - Tim Burton (Uncredited)
Character Designers/Animators -
Andreas Deja and Phil Nibbelink
Character Designers - Michael G. Ploog
Character Designers - Michael G. Ploog
and Milt Kahl (Uncredited)
Animation Consultant - Eric Larson
Art Director (Uncredited)/Layout Artist -
Don Griffith
Color Stylist - Jim Coleman
Layout Stylist - Mike Hodgson
Production Manager - Don Hahn
Assistant Directors - Mark Hester,
Terry L. Noss, Randy Paton and
Tim O'Donnell (Uncredited)
Animation Camera Supervisor -
Peter Anderson
Picture and Sound Effects Editors -
Animation Camera Supervisor -
Peter Anderson
Picture and Sound Effects Editors -
Armetta Jackson-Hamlett, James Koford
and James Melton
Sound Effects Designer - Michael L. McDonough
Sound Supervisor - Robert Hathaway
Sound Effects - Wayne Allwine
and Paul Hozborn
Re-Recording Mixers - Nick Alphin,
Richard Portman and Frank Regula
Music - Elmer Bernstein
Music Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy
Review
As ambitious, dark and downright scary as THE BLACK CAULDRON is, I consider this animated feature imperfect and disappointing to fantasy fans. The film has many problems with the story and characters. It includes the main protagonist, Taran, who is arrogant and a bit of a fool. Princess Eilowny, sure, she's an interesting character, but we don't see her kingdom. On the positive side, I compliment the film for the dark atmosphere, the animation and the music score by Elmer Bernstein. I find Taran's companion Gurgi - who acts like Gollum from Lord of the Rings - is a character I sympathise with because people find him a nuisance. Gurgi is a poor and lonely creature who wants to have friends.
Review
As ambitious, dark and downright scary as THE BLACK CAULDRON is, I consider this animated feature imperfect and disappointing to fantasy fans. The film has many problems with the story and characters. It includes the main protagonist, Taran, who is arrogant and a bit of a fool. Princess Eilowny, sure, she's an interesting character, but we don't see her kingdom. On the positive side, I compliment the film for the dark atmosphere, the animation and the music score by Elmer Bernstein. I find Taran's companion Gurgi - who acts like Gollum from Lord of the Rings - is a character I sympathise with because people find him a nuisance. Gurgi is a poor and lonely creature who wants to have friends.
One more thing in THE BLACK CAULDRON we mustn't forget about is the antagonist, The Horned King, who is probably the scariest-looking Disney villain. John Hurt did a remarkable job of doing that eerie voice for the character, and no one has ever mentioned Hurt for portraying that menace.
THE BLACK CAULDRON does not quite meet the benchmark of other Disney classics. I would stick to the other cult-animated Disney films like Atlantis and Treasure Planet.
I believe that I watched this when I was a kid but barely remember it, probably for good reason though. From what I remember watching Atlantis years ago, I agree it was a good solid animated film, same for Treasure Planet. I am curious as to what the company has been doing in recent years.
ReplyDelete-James
You don't know anything yet but good choice, I can say that Atlantis and Treasure Planet are Disney's overlooked animated treasures that needed more love. As for The Black Cauldron it is clear that it was a unfortunate precursor to those two films.
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