The Last Unicorn (1982)

Directors:

Jules Bass
Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writers:

Peter S. Beagle (screenplay)
Peter S. Beagle (novel)

Release Date:

19 November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Animation | Fantasy

Tagline:

A Treasured Fantasy Classic of Incomparable Charm!

Plot:

A brave unicorn and a magician fight an evil king who is obsessed with attempting to capture the world's unicorns.

Plot Keywords:

Unicorn | Evil King | King | Magician | Prince

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Schmendrick (voice)
Jeff Bridges	...	Prince Lir (voice)
Mia Farrow	...	Unicorn / Amalthea (voice)
Tammy Grimes	...	Molly Grue (voice)
Robert Klein	...	The Butterfly (voice)
Angela Lansbury	...	Mommy Fortuna (voice)
Christopher Lee	...	King Haggard (voice: English version) (voice: German version)
Keenan Wynn	...	Captain Cully / Harpy (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Mabruk (voice)
Rene Auberjonois	...	The Skull (voice)
Brother Theodore	...	Ruhk (voice)
Don Messick	...	The Cat (voice)
Jack Lester	...	Hunter #1 / Old Farmer / Cully's Men (voice)
Nellie Bellflower	...	The Tree (voice)
Ed Peck	...	Jack Jingley / Cully's Men (voice) (as Edward Peck)
Kenneth Jennings	...	Hunter #2 / Cully's Men (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
America	...	The Balladeers / Chorus (voice) (uncredited)
Gerry Beckley	...	The Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
Dewey Bunnell	...	The 2nd Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
Will Leacox	...	The Balladeers' Drummer & Pecussionist (voice) (uncredited)
Brad Palmer	...	The Balladeers' Bassist / Chorus (voice) (uncredited)
Michael 'Woodzy' Woods	...	The Balladeers' Lead Guitarist / Chorus (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jules Bass
Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writing credits
Peter S. Beagle		(screenplay)
Peter S. Beagle		(novel)

Produced by
Jules Bass	....	producer
Arthur Rankin Jr.	....	producer
Martin Starger	....	executive producer
Michael Chase Walker	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jimmy Webb

Film Editing by
Tomoko Kida

Production Design by
Arthur Rankin Jr.

Production Management
Masaki Îzuka	....	in charge of production (as Masaki Iisuka)

Art Department
Don Duga	....	additional storyboard sequences

Sound Department
Tom Clack	....	sound effects
John Curcio	....	sound recording engineer
Dave Iveland	....	sound recording engineer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Richards	....	sound recording engineer
Kiyoshi Ôhira	....	sound effects (as Noriyoshi Ohira)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hiroyasu Omoto	....	camera

Animation Department
Lester Abrams	....	character designer
Irra Duga	....	tapestry designer
Toru Hara	....	animation coordinator (as Toru Kara)
Mitsuo Iwasaki	....	background artist
Kazuyuki Kobayashi	....	key animator
Hidemi Kubo	....	key animator
Tsuguyuki Kubo	....	continuity animation (as Kubo)
Minoru Nishida	....	backgrounds
Kiyoshi Sakai	....	assistant animation coordinator
Kayoko Sakano	....	animator
Yoshiko Sasaki	....	animator
Fukuo Suzuki	....	animator
Katsuhisa Yamada	....	animation director
Masahiro Yoshida	....	animator
Tadakatsu Yoshida	....	key animator
Kazusuke Yoshihara	....	background artist

Music Department
America	....	song performer
Matthew McCauley	....	orchestrator
William McCauley	....	orchestrator
Elton Moser	....	additional orchestrations
Jimmy Webb	....	additional orchestrations
America	....	band accompaniment (uncredited)
America	....	chorus (uncredited)
America	....	musician (uncredited)
America	....	scoring band (uncredited)
America	....	vocal accompaniment (uncredited)
Gerry Beckley	....	chorus (uncredited)
Gerry Beckley	....	musician: piano & guitar (uncredited)
Gerry Beckley	....	singer (uncredited)
Jeff Bridges	....	featured vocalist (uncredited)
Dewey Bunnell	....	chorus (uncredited)
Dewey Bunnell	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Dewey Bunnell	....	singer (uncredited)
Katie Irving	....	featured vocalist (uncredited)
Katie Irving	....	singing voice: Mia Farrow (uncredited)
Will Leacox	....	musician: drums & percussions (uncredited)
Brad Palmer	....	chorus (uncredited)
Brad Palmer	....	musician: bass guitar (uncredited)
Michael 'Woodzy' Woods	....	chorus (uncredited)
Michael 'Woodzy' Woods	....	musician: lead guitar (uncredited)

Other crew
Lee Dannacher	....	production coordinator (as Lee Dannacker)
Lew Grade	....	presenter (as Lord Grade)
Katsuhisa Yamada	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Rankin/Bass Productions
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (as ITC Films)
• Topcraft (uncredited)

Distributors

• Jensen Farley Pictures (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmwelt (1983) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | UK | Japan | West Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:6 (original rating) | Germany:o.Al. (re-rating) | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl (TV rating) | Finland:S

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

Paul Frees speaks for Haggard's court magician, but also provides the voice of the peg-legged cat in Haggard's castle as well as the amorous tree.

Quotes:

Butterfly:Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: The Top 10 Characters of the Rankin/Bass Holiday Specials" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Man's Road

One of my all time favorite movies!

This is an excellent animation that I have loved since childhood. The story, voices, and music are by far more beautiful and memorable than any other animated movie I have seen. In fact, there are few animations that can top the cast of great stars that provided their voice talents for this movie. The music is astoundingly wonderful and even after it had been years since I had seen the movie I would still often find the tunes playing inside my head.

As for the profanity and nudity mentioned on the other review I have to say that I can't recall either (I own the DVD and have watched it recently). I would say this movie is by far suitable for any child that can handle a one or two mildly frightening scenes. Great movie and I still love it!