Peplum Paradise Part 5: Animated Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards.
This is a list of historical (set pre-1800) or historical-fantasy animated films from 1949 until the present day.
The list is alphabetical using the most common English titles (where applicable), so the IMDb titles may appear to be all over the place alphabetically.
This list is certainly far from complete and a work in progress, so I would welcome any suggestions of titles I may have omitted.
I will be updating the list regularly with new and expanded reviews and any new titles that I may discover.
Latest updates:
Review: Fire And Ice (1983)
Review: Frozen (2013)
Review: The Croods (2013)
Review: The Road To El Dorado (2000)
Review: Asterix And Cleopatra (1968)
This list is a companion piece to my other lists:
Peplum Paradise Part 1: Italian Historical and Fantasy films 1949-1969 (http://www.imdb.com/list/9zpI-Wdt6pU/)
Peplum Paradise Part 2: Italian Historical and Fantasy films from 1970 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/ZRRuOUh_u_o/)
Peplum Paradise Part 3: International Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/R3yu3z-zETE/)
Peplum Paradise Part 4: Asian Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/EzDXbxNzBXI/)
The list is alphabetical using the most common English titles (where applicable), so the IMDb titles may appear to be all over the place alphabetically.
This list is certainly far from complete and a work in progress, so I would welcome any suggestions of titles I may have omitted.
I will be updating the list regularly with new and expanded reviews and any new titles that I may discover.
Latest updates:
Review: Fire And Ice (1983)
Review: Frozen (2013)
Review: The Croods (2013)
Review: The Road To El Dorado (2000)
Review: Asterix And Cleopatra (1968)
This list is a companion piece to my other lists:
Peplum Paradise Part 1: Italian Historical and Fantasy films 1949-1969 (http://www.imdb.com/list/9zpI-Wdt6pU/)
Peplum Paradise Part 2: Italian Historical and Fantasy films from 1970 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/ZRRuOUh_u_o/)
Peplum Paradise Part 3: International Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/R3yu3z-zETE/)
Peplum Paradise Part 4: Asian Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/EzDXbxNzBXI/)
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- DirectorYoshio KurodaTaiji YabushitaStarsHideo KinoshitaTetsuko KuroyanagiKyôko SatomiA young sailor named Sinbad and his sidekick Ali find a map to a fabulous treasure and stow away aboard a ship in an effort to get to where the treasure is buried. They eventually convince the ship's captain to change course and help them find the treasure. Along the way they come up against a wicked Vizier, a giant bird, vicious whirlpools and other obstacles.ADVENTURES OF SINBAD
- DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerStarsScott WeingerRobin WilliamsLinda LarkinA kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.Strangely similar in feel to 50’s Hollywood peplums like Son Of Sinbad, this is bright, colourful and fast-paced. Characters are largely likeable and amusing, and, amazingly for a classic-style Disney feature, not too sickly sweet – though we won’t mention the abysmal songs (Prince Ali aside) or the soppy love stuff. Surprisingly psychedelic, which is always a good thing in fantasy-based peplums. Robin Williams’ Genie can be irritating and seems to belong in another movie, but does grow on you after the initial assault.
- DirectorTad StonesStarsScott WeingerRobin WilliamsJohn Rhys-DaviesThe King of Thieves disrupts Aladdin and Jasmine's long-anticipated wedding, looking for an oracle that will lead him to an even bigger treasure. His true identity causes trouble for Aladdin.
- DirectorDaehong KimStarsMark Adair-RiosBen BakerChris CoppolaInspired by his mentor Aristotle, young Alexander wishes to become a hero like the legendary Achilles. When his father, King Philip, is killed by the wicked Emperor Darius, the young king assembles an army and sets out for revenge. Come join Alexander the Great on a journey full of epic battles where he learns that the value of forgiveness is more powerful than revenge.
- DirectorRené GoscinnyAlbert UderzoStarsRoger CarelJacques MorelMicheline DaxOrdered by Cleopatra to build a palace in Alexandria within three months as part of a bet with Julius Caesar, architect Edifis enlists the help of Asterix, Obelix and Getafix.This, the second film in the Asterix series, is a delightful little piece of animation. The style of animation is basic but effective and surprisingly well done, a big step up from it’s predecessor. The plot, which was re-used in the 2002 live action feature, has spoiled brat Queen Cleopatra ordering that a palace is to be built in 3 days. Architect Edifice decides the only available option is to call on his friends the Gauls and enlist their help and magic potion, in building the palace and in defeating rival architect Artifice. It’s fast moving with a couple of humorous tuneful songs thrown in, with the only gripe being that some of the voices in the English dub are rather unclear. The humour is of a level that both adults and children can enjoy, and it’s a mystery why when this film is so good it took 8 years before the next animated feature in the series appeared.
- DirectorPhilippe GrimondGeorge RoubicekDavid N. WeissStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadeHenri LabussièreWhen Getafix becomes an amnesiac lunatic after being struck by Obelix's menhir, Asterix tries to cure him, all while his fellow villagers are being conned by a phony soothsayer Prolix.
- DirectorStefan FjeldmarkJesper MøllerJoanna WizmurStarsRoger CarelLorànt DeutschSara ForestierWhile tutoring Vitalstatistix's rebellious nephew Justforkix, Asterix and Obelix must rescue him from Vikings who wish to learn the meaning of fear to become invincible.
- DirectorGerhard HahnStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadeHenri LabussièreSent out to prevent Getafix from being thrown off the edge of the Earth by Lucullus, Asterix and Obelix find themselves in America, encounter a Native tribe and greedy Medicine Man cheater.
- DirectorPino Van LamsweerdeStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadeGraham BushnellAsterix, his first-cousin-once-removed Anticlimax and Obelix travel to Britain with a barrel of Getafix's magic potion that will allow Anticlimax's village to repel the invading Romans.
- DirectorRay GoossensStarsRoger CarelJacques MorelPierre TornadeAsterix, the most cunning warrior of a Gaulish village resisting Roman occupation, must save their magic potion-brewing druid Getafix when he is kidnapped by a Phonus Balonus.This was the first of the many animated features based on the internationally popular beloved French cartoon character and arrived 6 years after the character first appeared in comic-book form. The animation style is more Hanna-Barbera than Disney, while the humour is of the “did they really say that?” variety, largely revolving around magic potions and the silly names of the characters. The film is aimed squarely at kids, and I’m sure that they would have found it a quite satisfactorary entertainment, but this style of humour and animation tends to work better in half hour TV episodes and feels rather stretched here. The story, as if you couldn’t guess, involves the Gauls defeating the Romans by hook or by crook. Certainly preferable to the 90’s live action adaptations, this proved popular enough to spawn several sequels, but if you’re above the age of puberty chances are it will leave you cold.
- DirectorGaëtan BrizziPaul BrizziStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadePierre MondyAsterix and Obelix join the Roman Legions to rescue Obelix's crush Panacea and her fiance Tragicomix, who have been kidnapped to appease Julius Caesar.
- DirectorGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsPaige O'HaraRobby BensonJesse CortiA prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman's love.
- DirectorWilliam R. Kowalchuk Jr.StarsCharlton HestonDuncan FraserScott McNeilWhen a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
- DirectorTed BermanRichard RichStarsGrant BardsleyFreddie JonesSusan SheridanA young boy and a group of misfit friends embark on a quest to find a dark magic item of ultimate power before a diabolical tyrant can.This arrived in 1981 in the middle of Disney’s first fallow patch and is probably one of their least remembered animated features, which is a pity, for while it has it’s faults it is certainly far from the worst of their output. The weak points here are a flimsy plot revolving around a search for a magical “black cauldron” which, when it finally appears, is rather a non-event, plus you have your standard annoying teenage youth as a lead character who fails to elicit any sympathy whatsoever – and why do they always have to be ginger? (Apologies to any gingers reading this, but the law of averages are not in your favour outside of Disneyworld). The Horned King (probably quite scary for young kids) is after a pig with magical powers to find him the cauldron, although the pig plot that leads the first half of the film is all but forgotten in the second half. You have your usual hodgepodge of Disney supporting characters including a lisping hunchback goblin, a hairy thing that may have been a dog, a magic sword, an underused two-headed dragon, some people-eating witches and your obligatory smart-alecky Disney Princess. Where the film does shine is with some attractive animation, far better than what Disney churned out in the 90’s, and an enjoyably silly humour that prevents the lack of plot from becoming a major concern. Middling Disney product then, better than it’s reputation, and just on the right side of average.
- DirectorMark AndrewsBrenda ChapmanSteve PurcellStarsKelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonDetermined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.Pixar – via Disney – take on Braveheart territory and come up with an unlikely new Disney Princess. Merida is an arrogant spoiled Scottish brat who looks like Bonnie Langford with parent and marriage issues. If you can cope with that then you’re probably onto a winner, though it is telling that the funniest moments come when her mother is changed into a bear. This is aimed squarely at kids and I doubt that little girls at least will be disappointed. Adults will probably struggle with the storyline, but they do at least have some stunning, faultless animation to compensate.
- DirectorClyde GeronimiWilfred JacksonHamilton LuskeStarsIlene WoodsJames MacDonaldEleanor AudleyWhen Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from the lovable mice Gus and Jaq and from her Fairy Godmother.
- DirectorOsamu TezukaEiichi YamamotoStarsChinatsu NakayamaKotoe HatsuiTsubame YanagiyaTo decipher a scheme plotted by enemy aliens, three agents from the future travel to Cleopatra's time, where they witness her romances with Caesar and Mark Antony.CLEOPATRA: QUEEN OF SEX
- DirectorKirk DeMiccoChris SandersStarsNicolas CageRyan ReynoldsEmma StoneAfter their cave is destroyed, a caveman family must trek through an unfamiliar fantastical world with the help of an inventive boy.The usually reliable Dreamworks here give us a rather unremarkable animated caveman pic. Just about every caveman cliché in the book is taken, along with liberal slices of the Ice Age plot, and mixed with modern family dilemnas and teenage angst. The family values angle here is way too preachy, while the quality of the animation is extremely variable – possibly due to the obligatory in-your-face 3D. It’s not all bad and would probably appeal to younger children, but the hit rate of jokes is about 1 in 5 and in the crowded field of modern animation this one comes in just below average. One other thing – considering the title the crudities are in rather short supply.
- DirectorVictor CookMike DisaSangjin KimStarsGraham McTavishVanessa BranchSteve BlumDante journeys through the nine circles of Hell -- limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery -- in search of his true love, Beatrice.While the rest of the world has moved on to three dimensional digital technology for their animation, Japanese anime seems to be stuck in a time warp and this is a typical example, poorly and irritatingly flatly animated, more reminiscent of Ralph Bakshi’s 70’s output than of anything being produced today. Set sporadically during the time of the crusades, but predominantly in hell, where hero Dante spends most of his time beheading a series of never ending demons to rescue his beloved Beatrice who Lucifer wants for his bride. The “animated epic” subtitle is blatant misadvertising since in it’s longest form the film still runs less than 90 minutes. This is poorly, unattractively animated, hard to follow, contains plenty of pointless ineffective gore and sex, and, worst of all, it’s just plain dull.
- DirectorJim HensonFrank OzStarsJim HensonKathryn MullenFrank OzOn another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.This is a pretty dark fairy tale from Muppet crestors Jim Henson and Frank Oz. The story is basic and pretty pants, but more than sufficient for a kids movie, involving a race against time to return a missing shard of crystal and save the world. The gelflings entrusted with the task are the weakest creations here, basically stand-ins for whiny human kids, complete with cod west country yokel accents. Fortunately the film does have some pretty amazing creations to counteract them, not least of which are the purely evil, selfish, vulture-like Skeksis which must have given plenty of children nightmares and are still unsettling today. You also have totally bonkers Aughra, a witchy creature who comes to the gelflings aid, and Fizzgig, a manic dog-like creation. Thankfully they steer clear of any actual humans on screen, the element which, for me anyway, ruined Henson’s Labyrinth. The puppet animation does date the film now, but not so much that it can’t still be a joy for kids of any age.
- DirectorWill MeugniotStarsMichael RosenbaumKiefer SutherlandLucy LawlessA barbarian woman with a miraculous healing staff gains the help of a group of to-be heroes as an army of dragons invades the land.
- DirectorJose PozoStarsManel FuentesNatalia VerbekeLoles LeónRodrigo's life as a child was a noble and happy one, he entered school at a young age. Often he went on adventures with his best friend Sancho and often visited his beloved one Jimena, the daughter of the count of Gormaz. His happiness did not last forever, after the death of the King Fernando, Rodrigo is seen wrapped in a world of plots and conspiracies that to will put an end to the life of Sancho and the consequent coronation of the infant Alfonso. All of a sudden, Rodrigo loses all that that he has acquired, his best friend and the love of its beloved one, and is unjustly exiled to Castile without honor!
- DirectorMark DindalStarsDavid SpadeJohn GoodmanEartha KittEmperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne with the help of Pacha, the gentle llama herder.
- DirectorSaul BlinkoffElliot M. BourRobin SteeleStarsPatrick WarburtonTracey UllmanEartha KittKronk desperately tries to find ways to impress his dad, whom he can never please. But when things go wrong, Kronk kicks into comical gear and discovers the true riches in life are his friends and being "true to your groove".
- DirectorKevin LimaStarsAmy AdamsSusan SarandonJames MarsdenA young maiden in a land called Andalasia, who is prepared to be wed, is sent away to New York City by an evil Queen, where she falls in love with a lawyer.The way-too-short opening animated sequence has everything you could hope for in a Disney animated fairy tale – a beautiful princess, a handsome prince, a wicked witch, trolls, cute talking animals – then the witch pushes Princess Giselle down a well and she comes out in modern day New York. After this point it’s still good, just no longer peplum.
- DirectorMarcell JankovicsStarsGyörgy CserhalmiVera PapGyula SzabóIn this dreamlike Hungarian folk myth, a horse goddess gives birth to three powerful brothers who set out into the Underworld to save three princesses from three evil dragons and reclaim their ancestors' lost kingdom.
- DirectorRalph BakshiStarsRandy NortonCynthia LeakeSteve SandorAt the end of the ice age, an evil queen and her son are set on conquering the world using magic and warriors. The lone survivor of a crushed village fights back as does the king of Fire Keep.Ralph Bakshi’s entry into the 80’s sword and sorcery cycle is somewhat of a wasted opportunity; where it could have used the boundless opportunities of animation to open up the genre it sticks instead to a very basic genre plot which could have fitted into any Conan or Ator movie of the same period. Bakshi’s animation style, using human models the way motion-capture does today, which had seemed innovative in the likes of Lord Of The Rings and Fritz the Cat, here looks far more lazily applied, and the result hardly seems any different from what you could expect to find on 80’s kids TV. What you have in the way of plot involves girly-haired not-too-muscular hero Lam, the lone survivor of an apocalypse, up against evil villain Nekron and his trog-like henchmen, teaming up with more muscular masked loner Darkwolf to save kidnapped big-bazoomed Princess Taegra, who covers her modesty with the most negligible bikini imaginable, which must have disappointed the multitude of teenage boys who would presumably have made up the majority of the target audience. All the sword and sorcery plot elements are present and correct and this would make a fitting double bill with any film starring Miles O’Keeffe or Peter McCoy, but at the end of the day it’s all rather “so what”.
- DirectorPitofStarsAmy AckerTom WisdomJohn Rhys-DaviesRuled by King Augustin, Carpia is a peaceful kingdom in a world inhabited by dragons and knights. The land's serenity is unexpectedly shattered by a Fire Dragon that spreads almighty fear and death amongst the kingdom's innocent people.FIRE AND ICE: THE DRAGON CHRONICLES
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsVictor BuonoJames GregoryJames Earl JonesA young Boston writer goes back in time into an era where wizards and dragon reign and science is just barely known.
- DirectorChris BuckJennifer LeeStarsKristen BellIdina MenzelJonathan GroffFearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.Disney continue to plunder progressively less interesting and less filmable fairy tales in their search for the next brand Princess with which to mine the bottomless pit of pennies to be found in the pockets of the parents of pre-pubescent girls, following Ruplestiltskin (Tangled) with this, based on something called The Snow Queen, which, beyond maybe the name, I had no recollection of whatsoever. The animation, while as flawless as you would expect, is also surprisingly basic and unimaginative, more fitting for kids TV than for a big screen Disney feature. The characters are those freaky not-quite-human creations with pasty skin, bulging eyes and unhealthily skinny arms and waist, while the cutesy animals here are a mentally deficient reindeer who owes a large debt to Donkey from Shrek and a sad smart-ass snowman. The songs, if you can call them that, including the one that was nominated for an Oscar for some unfathomable reason, are all tuneless trash clearly designed to be adapted for the Broadway stage. Obviously as a 50-something year old man I am a long way from the targeted demographic, but then maybe that’s also the problem, as I do love animated features, the best of which, unlike this one, are aimed to appeal to adults and children alike. This one just left me cold – pun intended.
- DirectorIginio StraffiStarsLuca ArgenteroJohn SchwabLaura ChiattiFrom Rainbow S.p.A. and Paramount Pictures comes a hilarious, animated adventure of epic proportions. Timo, a student at the Gladiators' Academy in Rome, has no desire to become a legendary gladiator like his stepfather. That is, until the mesmerizing Lucilla walks into his life. With the help of an unlikely band of sidekicks, Timo is determined to be the gladiator of her dreams and embarks on an action-packed journey to become the Colosseum's first victor.GLADIATORS OF ROME
I really wanted to like this since it’s about the nearest thing Italy has produced to a real peplum in several decades. Anyone hoping for the first serious peplum animation will be sorely disappointed, this is populated by annoying kids, cute animals and modern rock music. The storyline steals ideas and characters liberally from numerous animated features which preceded it including Kung Fu Panda, Asterix, Tangled (doesn’t that horse look dreadfully familiar?) and Disney’s Hercules. After a promising start with the destruction of Pompeii, a child named Timo is rescued by General Chirone and taken to Rome, where his efforts to train the boy into a champion gladiator prove futile. It eventually takes a tough lady trainer to get him into shape, but only after he loses his credibility for getting drug tested positive for magic potions. The amateurish animation won’t be giving Dreamworks or Pixar any sleepless nights and the 3D is anything but subtle, but I did find myself warming to this towards the end. Very young children will probably love this and unfortunately it is them that this is squarely aimed at, but I guess if it gives one of them a taste for real peplum movies then it will have served a purpose. - DirectorAlex StittStarsPeter UstinovKeith MichellArthur DignamThis is an animated story covering the ancient legend of Beowulf, as narrated in a Monty Pythonesque way by Grendel (Sir Peter Ustinov), the "monster" in the legend.
- DirectorYukihiko TsutsumiStarsMiki NakataniHiroshi AbeMaki CarouselDespite all signs pointing toward potential heartbreak, a woman and man begin a romance.
- DirectorPaul BolgerYvette KaplanGreg TiernanStarsSigourney WeaverSarah Michelle GellarPatrick WarburtonAn alliance of evil-doers, led by Frieda, looks to take over Fairy Tale Land. But when Ella realizes her stepmother is out to ruin her storybook existence, she takes a dramatic turn and blossoms into the leader of the resistance effort.
- DirectorSteven E. GordonBoyd KirklandStarsG.K. BowesCam ClarkeDoug ErholtzFairy tales collide when Mambo and Munk tip the scales of good and evil once again. This time Princess Snow White is a misguided teenager who'd rather have fun with friends Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and Little Bo Peep than help peasants. When Snow White's father is matched up with Lady Vain - a scheming witch brewing to rule the kingdom - Snow White becomes a thorn in Lady Vain's side. Snow White is soon tricked by Lady Vain (with Rumpelstiltskin's help) into spreading vicious gossip about the townspeople, forcing her to flee. Through rebuilding the three little pigs' houses with the seven dwarves leading the way, Snow White learns the value of helping others. Only Snow White can foil her dad's wedding to stop Lady Vain. With Mambo and Munk in tow, Snow White proves she can rule the kingdom, while bringing balance back to the scales of good and evil.
- DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerStarsTate DonovanSusan EganJames WoodsThe son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.Made during that period when the powers that be at Disney really didn’t have a clue, this isn’t the worst, but is certainly on the lower half of the heap. The storyline sticks pretty close to the Hercules legend, and anyone wanting a primer on the back story before attacking the Italian genre pics could do worse than looking here. Unfortunately the parts that go to make up the whole are largely lacking, the animation is seriously dodgy as are the characterisations, songs and attempts at hip humour. A largely wasted opportunity.
- DirectorDean DeBloisChris SandersStarsJay BaruchelGerard ButlerChristopher Mintz-PlasseA hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.An interesting premise, but one that’s never fully realised to the best of it’s potential. Vikings and dragons are enemies, until one day a boy disobeys his father’s orders to kill one, tames it and learns to fly it. The boy shows the other vikings that dragons and men are able to live hermoneously together, and that’s about it. The animation is very good, but done in an unnecessarily dull and dark colour pallatte, the voice talents are ok but not exceptional, and dragon flying had already been done more impressively in Avatar, and since dragon flying s pretty much all this film has going for it, it came along just a little too late. It’s not a bad film, just under developed character and plot wise, and it would have benefitted greatly from an extra 10 or 15 minutes of plot and character development, plus some flashier dragons.
- DirectorDean DeBloisStarsJay BaruchelCate BlanchettGerard ButlerWhen Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.
- DirectorGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsDemi MooreJason AlexanderMary Kay BergmanA deformed bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a gypsy dancer.
- DirectorBradley RaymondStarsJason AlexanderJennifer Love HewittTom HulceQuasimodo goes into action when a magician seeks to steal one of the bells of Notre Dame.
- DirectorPaul GrimaultStarsJean MartinPascal MazzottiRaymond BussièresA chimney sweep and a shepherdess seek to escape from the clutches of a tyrannical king.THE KING AND THE MOCKINGBIRD
- DirectorSoundarya Rajinikanth VishaganStarsRajinikanthDeepika PadukoneR. SarathkumarA noble warrior seeks revenge against the ruler of his kingdom, who killed his father, and also ends up upsetting the neighboring enemy kingdom's ruler.
- DirectorMark OsborneJohn StevensonStarsJack BlackIan McShaneAngelina JolieTo everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.Dreamworks craft a fun, original animated story and turn the ridiculous into the sublime with this tale of a panda called Po (Jack Black) whose destiny it is to become the “Dragon Warrior”. When Po is told of his destiny no-one believes it – not his teacher, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), not the other animal warriors who had been expecting to receive the title, not his father the duck who wants his son to be a noodle seller, and most certainly not escaped master criminal leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane). This is a joy from start to finish, the animation is first rate, the story well told, the humour works just fine for adults and children alike – in short one of the best animated features of recent years.
- DirectorJennifer Yuh NelsonStarsJack BlackAngelina JolieJackie ChanPo and his friends fight to stop a peacock villain from conquering China with a deadly new weapon, but first the Dragon Warrior must come to terms with his past.
- DirectorAlessandro CarloniJennifer Yuh NelsonStarsJack BlackBryan CranstonDustin HoffmanContinuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness", Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to home.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJeff BridgesMia FarrowAngela LansburyA beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.
- DirectorRalph BakshiStarsChristopher GuardWilliam SquireMichael ScholesThe Fellowship of the Ring embark on a journey to destroy the One Ring and end Sauron's reign over Middle-earth.I hadn’t seen this in 35 years and didn’t have terribly good memories of it largely due to the style of animation, then in the intervening years Peter Jackson had come along and the whole world became familiar with the story. My first surprise was how well Ralph Bakshi manages to tell the story, with very few changes or omissions, in just over two hours what it took Jackson 6 to tell. The animation is still pretty rough, with an uncomfortable mix of cartoon and painted in live action, but what looked rather dodgy at the time of release now looks quaint and even possesses a certain charm, though does grow tiresome long before the end. Definitely not the definitive version anymore, but if you don’t have 6 hours to spare and want a primer on the storyline then this should certainly suffice.
- DirectorHenri XhonneuxStarsFrançois MarthouretValérie KlingMichel RobinThe scene is a pre-French Revolution Bastille, where various political prisoners are being held: a woman who was raped and impregnated by the king, a police chief who was accused of selling bad pork, and the Marquis, who was unjustly accused of working for the overthrow of the king. The Marquis is only interested in writing his deviant stories, while his penis yearns for a little action (they argue about this frequently), the prime candidate being the jailer who likes to be buggered. The corrupt priest arranges to have the pregnant woman raped by the Marquis so they can claim the king had nothing to do with it. The priest also steals the Marquis' manuscripts and publishes them for his own profit. Things come to a head as the people rise up against the tyranny.
- DirectorTakashi MasunagaStarsPeter UstinovSeveral animated stories from "Metamorphoses", Roman poet Ovid's narrative of legends, are presented.
- DirectorRichard RichStarsNicholas KadiRichard EpcarEli AllemAn account of the birth of Islam.
- DirectorTony BancroftBarry CookStarsMing-Na WenEddie MurphyBD WongTo save her father from death in the army, a young maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process.Certainly one of the oddest choices for a Disney Princess movie, this is interesting for it’s subject matter, though almost certainly disrespectful of a Chinese legend. The broad American accents are out of place coming from clearly Oriental faces, the songs are largely forgettable Disney tosh, and the animation, from that awkward period right before the appearance of CGI, is very basic. On the plus side the storyline is certainly easier to follow than in the later live-action Chinese version. Your obligatory cutesy Disney animal comes in the form of an annoying little red dragon thingy voiced by Eddie Murphy in a dry run for his Donkey from Shrek. Moderately amusing, it’s surprising how well the story of a female cross-dressing warrior fits into the Disney formula.
- DirectorDarrell RooneyLynne SoutherlandStarsMing-Na WenBD WongMark MoseleyWhile preparing for their wedding, Shang and Mulan are suddenly sent off on a secret mission. Mushu starts to meddle, and a surprise attack by Mongolians doesn't help either.
- DirectorJirí TrnkaStarsZdenek StepánekEduard KohoutKarel HögerExcellent stop-motion animation film from one of the best Czech filmmakers, Jirí Trnka. It tells the ancient story of Bohemia, how it was founded by Czech, the Forefather, and a series of legendary episodes of heroes, queens and kings, inspired in a book by Alois Jirásek compiling the Czech myths.
- DirectorJack KinneyStarsJim BackusKathryn GrantDwayne HickmanMr. Magoo's ancestor, Abdul Aziz Magoo, is the uncle of Aladdin, who falls in love with a princess.
- DirectorTaiji YabushitaStarsHisaya MorishigeMariko MiyagiVirginia BlackmanThe adventures of a cute little panda, a dragon god and an evil serpent.PANDA AND THE MAGIC SERPENT
- DirectorEduardo SchuldtStarsDiego BertieGianfranco BreroStephanie CayoA young boy travels back to the 17th century to battle pirates off the coast of Peru.PIRATES IN CALLAO
- DirectorPeter LordJeff NewittStarsHugh GrantSalma HayekJeremy PivenPirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.
- DirectorGerhard HahnAnthony PowerStarsKim HasperDavid TurbaIlona SchulzThree boys visit a museum and discover a golden bowl - part of a legendary Aztec treasure. While looking at the treasure they set off the secret of time traveling before they know it they are aboard a pirate ship in the 18th century. They meet the beautiful female pirate Anne Bonnie, and the evil and ruthless pirate of the Caribbean Capt. Blackbeard. They must help Anne Bonnie, keep Tortuga free and from the clutches of Capt. Blackbeard, save the island, Bonnie, and find their way back home.THE PIRATES OF TORTUGA: UNDER THE BLACK FLAG
- DirectorMike GabrielEric GoldbergStarsMel GibsonLinda HuntChristian BaleAn English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.The British slaughter of the native Americans makes for a pretty uncomfortable subject matter for a Disney kids cartoon. If you can get past this, then it’s your typical schmaltzy nineties Disney romance with so-so animation and dull songs. In it’s favour it’s a lot easier to follow than Terence Malick’s The New World (which deals with the same storyline), though since this is at the expense of the reality and bloodshed then it’s a debatable benefit.
- DirectorBrenda ChapmanSteve HicknerSimon WellsStarsVal KilmerRalph FiennesMichelle PfeifferEgyptian Prince Moses learns of his identity as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people.Old school biblical animation from DreamWorks, telling the story of Exodus (basically the same storyline as The Ten Commandments). It features inoffensive but unexceptional songs, though ‘Playing with the big boys now’ is rather good. There are some impressive set pieces (the hieroglyphics coming to life for instance) and it is mostly fun, but the religious angle does get a little heavy handed at times, and God is actually rather scary. Oddly it is God and not the Pharaoh who comes across as the villain of the piece, which surely can’t have been the filmmaker’s intention – can it? The ending with the parting of the Red Sea is rather rushed and anyone expecting the rest of the story as told in the Ten Commandments may feel short changed.
- DirectorChris MillerStarsAntonio BanderasSalma HayekZach GalifianakisAn outlaw cat, his childhood egg-friend, and a seductive thief kitty set out in search for the eggs of the fabled Golden Goose to clear his name, restore his lost honor, and regain the trust of his mother and town.
- DirectorKimio YabukiStarsSusumu IshikawaToshiko FujitaRumi SakakibaraWhile being on the run for saving a mouse, the famous Puss in Boots, Pero, helps a young peasant boy win the heart of a lovely princess, while trying to rescue her from an evil wizard.PUSS ‘N BOOTS
- DirectorFrederik Du ChauStarsJessalyn GilsigCary ElwesAndrea CorrAn adventurous girl, a young blind hermit, and a goofy two-headed dragon race to find the lost sword Excalibur to save King Arthur and Camelot from disaster.QUEST FOR CAMELOT
- DirectorUsha GanesarajahPandavas - The Five Warriors is a wonderful movie in English. It is a classic Indian tale from one of India's greatest epic 'The Mahabharat'. The story depicts the eternal fight between good and evil. It is the story of the five 'Pandava' brothers and their war against their cousins 'The Kauravas'. Watch the epic conclusion on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The movie stood 3rd at the Vancouver Effects & Animation Film Festival (2001) held in Cananda.
- DirectorMike NawrockiStarsTim HodgeMike NawrockiPhil VischerThree vegetable friends seek the roots of true heroism during a 17th-century adventure.
- DirectorChetan DesaiStarsManoj BajpayeeJuhi ChawlaAshutosh RanaLord Rama, son of King Dashrath is sent for exile for 14 years. His wife Sita and brother Laxman accompanies him. But she is deceitfully kidnapped by Ravana, The King of Lanka. Thus a might war takes place between ram & ravana. Hanuman with his monkey warriors, a worshiper of ram also joins him. Will Sita be saved?
- DirectorToby SheltonTad StonesAlan ZasloveStarsJonathan FreemanScott WeingerDan CastellanetaJafar comes for revenge on Aladdin, using a foolish thief and Iago's treachery to find a way back into power.As Disney sequels go this one is surprisingly inventive. The first Aladdin feature had some of the strongest Dismey characters for many a year and they all return here though missing some original voice talent including Robin Williams. While the story is strong and certain to appeal to anyone who enjoyed the first film, unfortunately the film is let down by some seriously second-rate animation. It feels just like a rush job that was released half finished, and the psychedelic colour sheme of the first film is sorely missed with the muted tones here. It’s a great shame that this is so poorly animated, with better visuals (and the omission of one dirgy song) this could have been a Disney classic to rival the original.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsOrson BeanJohn HustonTheodore BikelTwo Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.
- DirectorBibo BergeronDon PaulJeffrey KatzenbergStarsKevin KlineKenneth BranaghRosie PerezTwo swindlers get their hands on a map to the fabled city of gold, El Dorado.Dreamworks final animated feature before entering the digital age with Shrek is a neglected gem, which, like so much of Dreamworks animated ouput has yet (as of September 2013) to see a blu ray release. This film is a joy from start to finish, with two carefree and reckless Spanish vagabonds, Tullio and Miguel (voiced joyfully and with great chemistry by Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh) discovering the city of El Dorado and being mistaken for gods. The animation is first rate (Disney’s offering that year was the vastly inferior The Emperor’s New Groove), the characters fun and involving, and the Elton John/Tim Rice songs are as good as anything they did for Disney. Unfortunately, for some unfathomable reason, the movie was a box office failure ($75 million worldwide gross on a budget of $90 million), and has today been seemingly forgotten, which is a great shame for this is one of the few great animated features to appear in the years just before CGI changed the game forever.
- DirectorWolfgang ReithermanDavid HandStarsBrian BedfordPhil HarrisRoger MillerThe story of the legendary British outlaw portrayed with the characters as anthropomorphic animals.
- DirectorKresten Vestbjerg AndersenThorbjørn ChristoffersenPhilip Einstein LipskiStarsAnders JuulHadi Ka-KoushLærke WintherThe 100 Barbarian Sons of Krull get attacked by a superior force and captured. It's up to the young, weak but smart Ronal to free them. 3 join his dangerous quest.
- DirectorTomm MooreNora TwomeyStarsEvan McGuireBrendan GleesonMick LallyA young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.
- DirectorAndrew AdamsonVicky JensonStarsMike MyersEddie MurphyCameron DiazA mean lord exiles fairytale creatures to the swamp of a grumpy ogre, who must go on a quest and rescue a princess for the lord in order to get his land back.It’s hard to remember how fresh and innovative this was when it first came out with all the sequels, spin-offs, musicals and assorted fairy tale re-imaginings that have followed. Just 11 years down the line it’s hard to imagine a world without the character of big green ogre Shrek (Mike Myers), and to a lesser extent the characters of Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) , which today are every bit as genuine fairy tale characters as those they are parodying here. The creations were so joyously original and the comic rapport between the three leads is still hilarious after many viewings. Equally impressive are the cast of amusing supporting characters such as the Gingerbread Man, Lord Farquad, the female dragon with odd mating habits and a whole forest full of fairy tale familiars, The CGI animation hasn’t dated quite so well looking pretty primitive by today’s standards, but is quite adequate for it’s purpose. This is that rarest of beasts, a true comic original that has been imitated many times but never bettered and which launched it’s own franchise-all this and a happy ending.
- DirectorMike MitchellStarsMike MyersCameron DiazEddie MurphyRumpelstiltskin tricks a mid-life crisis burdened Shrek into allowing himself to be erased from existence and cast in a dark alternate timeline where Rumpelstiltskin rules supreme.
- DirectorAndrew AdamsonKelly AsburyConrad VernonStarsMike MyersEddie MurphyCameron DiazShrek and Fiona travel to the Kingdom of Far Far Away, where Fiona's parents are King and Queen, to celebrate their marriage. When they arrive, they find they are not as welcome as they thought they would be.
- DirectorChris MillerRaman HuiStarsMike MyersCameron DiazEddie MurphyReluctantly designated as the heir to the land of Far, Far Away, Shrek hatches a plan to install the rebellious Artie as the new king while Princess Fiona tries to fend off a coup d'état by the jilted Prince Charming.
- DirectorPatrick GilmoreTim JohnsonStarsBrad PittCatherine Zeta-JonesJoseph FiennesThe sailor of legend is framed by the goddess Eris for the theft of the Book of Peace and must travel to her realm at the end of the world to retrieve it and save the life of his childhood friend Prince Proteus.An animated feature made on the cusp when such product was changing from hand to computer drawn images, and utilising a mixture of both which must have made it look immediately dated on it’s release, and now looks plain odd. The story is light fluff and would probably have made quite an exciting (or at least camp) live action vehicle, but as an animated feature it is little more than you would expect to find any day on children’s television. The famous voice talents are wasted and stay too serious, in contrast with the campy images, which should keep the kids entertained but offers little for adults. If someone remade this today with a big budget, live action and CGI, I’d be first in the queue.
- DirectorAnton Gino DomenighiniStarsStefano SibaldiGermana CalderiniGiulio PanicaliPrincess Zeila must choose a prince from among all the princes in Baghdad, despite the evil plotting of Jafar to thwart her hopes.THE SINGING PRINCESS
- DirectorLes ClarkClyde GeronimiEric LarsonStarsMary CostaBill ShirleyEleanor AudleyAfter being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies.
- DirectorLev AtamanovStarsVladimir GribkovYanina ZheymoAnna KomolovaWhen the Snow Queen, a lonely and powerful fairy, kidnaps the human boy Kay, his best friend Gerda must overcome many obstacles on her journey to rescue him.THE SNOW QUEEN
- DirectorRichard RichStarsJack PalanceHoward McGillinMichelle NicastroA power-hungry sorcerer curses a princess to live as a swan by day in this tale of everlasting love.
- DirectorWolfgang ReithermanClyde GeronimiDavid HandStarsRickie SorensenSebastian CabotKarl SwensonA poor boy named Arthur learns the power of love, kindness, knowledge and bravery with the help of a wizard called Merlin in the path to become one of the most beloved kings in English history.
- DirectorIsao TakahataStarsChloë Grace MoretzJames CaanMary SteenburgenKaguya is a beautiful young woman coveted by five nobles. To try to avoid marrying a stranger she doesn't love, she sends her suitors on seemingly impossible tasks. But she will have to face her fate and punishment for her choices.
- DirectorNathan GrenoByron HowardStarsMandy MooreZachary LeviDonna MurphyThe magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.Well I really didn’t remember the Rapunzel story from childhood beyond that she had really long hair, and after watching this I’m little the wiser. For their 50th animated feature Disney have taken an unexceptional fairy tale character and transformed her into the kind of “Disney Princess” that they believe today’s pre-teen girls should aspire to be, tough, rebellious, blonde, beautiful, with a heart and a mission (a very weak one-to see some floating lanterns). They team her with a pretty boy who isn’t as bad as he first appears, and put her up against a by-numbers Disney villainess in the form of the woman who kidnapped her as a child who is posing as her mother. The wafer-thin plotline is little more than an excuse for them to show the wonders they are capable of with modern animation (and 3-D), and as an exercise in “look what we can do” with animated hair and fabrics it works just fine, but otherwise it’s got little to hold the attention. It’s somehow telling that the strongest characters are a rebellious horse and a chameleon, while the humans are plastic both in appearance and personality. Girls under 10 will undoubtedly love it, and in all fairness it is them it’s ruthlessly aimed at, but while adults can ooh and aah at the visuals there’s nothing much in the forced humour, unmemorable songs and bland characterisations to mark it down as anything more than average.
- DirectorRichard WilliamsStarsVincent PriceMatthew BroderickJennifer BealsA lonely princess and a poor cobbler fall in love while trying to retrieve three magical orbs that were stolen by a bumbling thief, all while outwitting a powerful sorcerer as adventure and comedic pop culture references abound.THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER
This is an almost impossible film to review, there being no less than 4 different versions out there, none of which are really complete (actually a fairly familiar story to fans of 60’s Italian peplums). There is a long and complicated story behind the making of this film, for details of which I would refer you to the film’s IMDB page since they are way too complicated to go into here. Suffice to say the director’s original vision was never completed and 2 different cuts butchered and altered by studios were released as Arabian Knight and The Princess And The Cobbler, neither of which I have seen but which reportedly should be avoided at all costs. The most complete version to how director Richard Williams originally intended it to be seen is the “Recobbled cut” (Viewable on YouTube, but annoyingly in 11 unlinked segments), but be warned that this version does contain many sequences of incomplete animation put together from storyboards and work in progress. The storyline is a fairly straightforward Arabian Nights tale with a hero (the cobbler), a thief, a princess and an evil vizier. The animation is a pretty psychedelic experience, most similar in style to Yellow Submarine, though much more intricate. There are parts which contain some of the most dazzling animation I have seen anywhere with startlingly intricate backgrounds and effects. The characters of the vizier and the princess are also impressive, but, crucially, I found the two central characters of the thief and the cobbler to be rather annoying and unimaginative. You get the feeling that if the director had been allowed to complete his vision it could have been a masterpiece, but that in order to achieve his perfectionist vision he would have needed several lifetimes. Certainly it should be seen to see what might have been, but with definite reservations. - DirectorSam LiuStarsMatthew WolfRick GomezTara StrongThe young Norse god Thor embarks on a quest with his brother Loki to find and recover a legendary sword.
- DirectorKarel ZemanStarsJan TrískaStories from the three-year journey of the world-famous Sinbad.
- DirectorDon BluthGary GoldmanStarsJodi BensonGary ImhoffGino ConfortiThis retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale has the digit-sized heroine evading the clutches of various toads, moles, and beetles before she can proceed with her courtship with her dream lover, Prince Cornelius.
- DirectorMarcell JankovicsStarsGyula BalázsiPéter BenköÁgnes BertalanAdam's and Eve's epic journey throughout history trying to find the meaning of human life. Do we grow in wisdom as centuries pass, or just drift towards an inevitable doom?
- DirectorRené GoscinnyHenri GruelAlbert UderzoStarsRoger CarelJacques MorelPierre TornadeAsterix and Obelix are tasked by Julius Caesar with accomplishing twelve impossible labors to determine the fate of their indomitable Gaulish village.