The Last Unicorn

In the annals of animated films, Disney pioneered animation art early on that is still unmatched. Nonetheless, even now the “Disney” word is eponymous with family animation. I consider the 40’s and 50’s as the golden age of animation; it was a period in which Disney churned out about nine animation films, starting with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” (1937), “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), “Dumbo” (1941), “Bambi” (1942), and others, ending with “Sleeping Beauty” (1959). But something happened after this period, and the amount of energy and creativity seen during Disney’s heyday subsequently vanished. Probably, it was a strategic shift by studios to bring animation movies to homes through TV.

The era of the late 70’s and 80’s was dominated by Japanese animation, popularly known as anime. “The Last Unicorn” (1982) arrived when anime was hugely popular, and Hollywood’s heart and money was not wholly invested in the animation genre. Not that “The Last Unicorn” broke any box-office records, but it reminded us what a good story, lovable characters, and great voice performances can achieve -- something that clearly had belonged to Disney. The film’s fan following might pale in comparison to Ralph Bakshi’s animated film “The Lord of Rings” (1978), but with its universally resonant themes, “The Last Unicorn” has developed into an undervalued treasure. As it stands, “The Last Unicorn” is one of the best animated movies of the 80’s.

Based on the book by Peter S. Beagle, “The Last Unicorn” tells a tale of a Unicorn (voiced by Mia Farrow), who one day learns she might be the last unicorn alive in the jungle. Determined to find out what became of other unicorns, she embarks on a dangerous journey to trace the others. Along the way, she meets a butterfly (Robert Klein), who drops a hint on the possible location of the other unicorns. The butterfly tells her that a fiendish creature named Red Bull, living at the far end of the jungle, has grouped all the unicorns. Meanwhile, seeing the Unicorn’s magical sight, a wicked witch, Mommy Fortuna (Angela Lansbury), captures the Unicorn. Soon, a magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) in the witch’s troupe rescues the Unicorn and both set their course through the jungle again. During their passage through the jungle, they cross paths with a group of bandits, and they are soon joined by another accomplice. Finally, all three reach King Haggard’s (Christopher Lee) castle, which secretly houses the Red Bull. In the castle, the Unicorn meets a charming prince, Lír ( Jeff Bridges), and they both fall in love. With time running out, the Unicorn begins the final leg of her quest to save the remaining unicorns.

“The Last Unicorn” succeeds mainly because of its deep script and great voice performances from all the stars involved. In addition, the film is embedded with thought-provoking messages that a young audience can relate to. The movie opens up with the hunters on their hunting trip. But seeing the sight of the mystical exuberance pouring out from the jungle, the hunters decide not to go for the kill. The shot signifies it is best not to disturb the ecological balance. After all, just like the humans, the jungle creatures have the right to live in harmony. Even amidst all the evil threats lurking about, the delicate environmental balance is maintained throughout the course of the Unicorn’s quest. As the film progresses, we see references to several epochal themes like friendship, determination, love, respect, and sacrifice, that are laid out to us through several interactions with the characters and their circumstances.

The Unicorn’s character is intelligent and her steadiness exhibited in her pursuit to locate the other unicorns, things that hold our attention. The Unicorn is a goal-oriented character who never deviates from her final goal, in spite of the dangers that lie ahead. We cheer for her, and we ride with her emotional highs and lows. The Unicorn teaches us that the obstacles in our path can be conquered with motivation and determination. Her selfless character further shines in the final act, when she has the option to live as a human soul. But she is quick to realize that she can’t be selfish, and she continues her noble quest. It’s the ultimate sacrifice she makes, thereby enabling her to rescue the remaining unicorns. The other characters in the film shine, too. Schmendrick acts as a true companion for the Unicorn. Throughout their journey, Schmendrick unconditionally supports her by being a compassionate friend and a good listener. Under the evil witch, Schmendrick could have become a wicked magician, but he clearly understood the boundaries of his magical powers. He never misuses his powers and is always willing to lend a helping hand, even if it means risking his own life. Like the Unicorn, Schmendrick lives his life with a never-say-die attitude. Prince Lir is another empathetic human being, who never forces the Unicorn, even at the expense of his father’s displeasure. He acts as a true soul mate for the Unicorn, who genuinely cares and understands her.

While the film’s production design fails to impress by today’s animation standards, it nevertheless, conforms to the design seen in 80’s animated movies. The filmmakers use handmade painted palettes wrapped around the camera to create the jungle and its surroundings. Considering the immense scope of the project and the tight budget, the animators were able to build the Unicorn’s world that is vibrant, magical, and colorful. What’s more, “The Last Unicorn” overcomes the limitations exposed in the animation department by providing us with fantastic voice performances all round. More so, the perfection achieved in the voice performances adds a fairy-tale texture to the film. The warm, congenial voice of Mia Farrow does a remarkable job of conveying the story through the Unicorn. Alan Arkin’s magician voice brims with innocence, inquisitiveness, and utmost warmth, and it only strengthens the Schmendrick’s character. Christopher Lee’s evil voice brings to life King Haggard’s menacing character. Indeed, “The Last Unicorn” is a film where the combined voice performances create a stronger component that the actual animation.

Video:

“The Last Unicorn” leaps onto Blu-ray with an MPEG-4 AVC codec, presented in an original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The earlier Lionsgate DVD release was produced from a poor quality master. I am not sure if Lionsgate used the same master, but the film looks really good in its new 1080p transfer. Right off the bat, a nice layer of grain is evident throughout; it is not intrusive to the viewing experience and only makes this transfer filmic. Colors are deep and vibrant and surely make the movie’s imagery striking. The scenery is bold, with deep blues, reds, and greens. The colorful jungle comes to life in high definition. The animation looks sharper, with prominent drawing patterns. Finally, the print is clear of any abnormalities like dust, specs, or dirt. Don’t expect this transfer to look as sharp as most Disney titles, but it is, nonetheless, a splendid-looking transfer in its own right.

Audio:

Lionsgate has included a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, which utilizes the rear channels in the songs, providing us with an arena-like experience. The dialogue is consistently clear and sharp. The action sequences pack in a punch, and that triggers a nice balanced bass. Overall, this is an atmospheric-sounding audio track, and it works well with the overall theme of the movie.

Extras:

“The Last Unicorn” arrives as a two-disc set, the first disc a Blu-ray edition of the movie, and the second disc a DVD version.

Then, we get an audio commentary track with writer Peter S. Beagle and publisher Connor Cochram. The duo discuss the origin of the unicorn’s story and how the book was adapted for the screen. They also discuss some of their favorite scenes and lines and how the action sequences were staged.

Next is a short featurette, “Immortal characters,”  in which the filmmakers provide their thoughts on the movie’s theme and why the story of unicorn still touches people. They further discuss the relevance of the unicorn in the mystical world. We also get details on how each painting was handmade and the effort animators put into creating detailed storyboards. This is a very insightful segment.

Up next, writer Peter S. Beagle talks about the tale of the unicorn in “The Tail of the Last Unicorn.” He also discusses how this idea came about.

Following this, we get three galleries: a 2010 The Last Unicorn Gallery, the Schmendrick’s Magical gallery, and a trailer gallery.

We also get a bonus feature on Peter S. Beagle and his works. It’s an audio-driven extra that provides a brief overview of each of Beagle’s book. We also get an original theatrical trailer for the film.

Parting Thoughts:                                                           

“The Last Unicorn” may not compare to the old Disney animated titles, but it is a solid movie that has cemented its own place over the years. The film deals with universal themes like friendship, companionship, love, sacrifice, respect, and dedication. Young children can draw inspiration from the Unicorn’s character and her story. It’s an enchanting tale with memorable characters, and the adventure is packed with peril, fun, and action. Above all, the film features very strong voice performances that add another layer of depth to the world of the unicorns. Indeed, “The Last Unicorn” is a wholesome family entertainment that everyone can enjoy. Highly recommended.