Bartok the Magnificent (Video 1999)

Russia is being terrorized by an evil witch known as Baba Yaga; the only one who is not afraid of her is Bartok the Magnificent. Bartok, an albino bat, has just arrived in Moscow and is ... See full summary »

Directors:

Don Bluth, Gary Goldman

Writer:

Jay Lacopo

Stars:

Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Andrea Martin

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Hank Azaria	...	Bartok (voice)
Kelsey Grammer	...	Zozi (voice)
Andrea Martin	...	Baba Yaga (voice)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Ludmilla (voice)
Tim Curry	...	The Skull (voice)
Jennifer Tilly	...	Piloff (voice)
Phillip Van Dyke	...	Ivan (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Vol (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelly Marie Berger	...	Little Girl (voice)
Zachary Charles	...	Little Boy (voice)
Danny Mann	...	Head Cossack (voice)
John Schiappa	...	(singing voice)
Glenn Shadix	...	Townspeople (voice)
French Stewart	...	Osle (voice)

Storyline

Russia is being terrorized by an evil witch known as Baba Yaga; the only one who is not afraid of her is Bartok the Magnificent. Bartok, an albino bat, has just arrived in Moscow and is impressing everyone with his performances, including Prince Ivan Romanov. However, one person is not impressed; Ludmilla finds Bartok annoying and naive. After Bartok's show, a violent bear suddenly attacks. Bartok must save everyone by stunning the bear with dust and then knocks him over and traps him in a wagon.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | bat | prince | spin off | riddle | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bartok le magnifique

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The witch Baba Yaga is an actual witch in eastern European/Russian folklore. She is said to have iron teeth, and uses a mortar and pestle as her mode of transportation. According to legend, she would steal children and kill them, and use her victims' bones to build her house and fence, the latter onto which she would mount children's skulls and use them like lanterns. Her house stood on chicken legs, and would only kneel on her command. She also had a cat that she often mistreated, that had been known to help some people escape her clutches, or outwit her.

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Goofs

The key on Ludmilla's arm disappears.

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Quotes

Piloff: Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

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Connections

Featured in MarzGurl Reviews: MarzGurl Loves Don Bluth - Bartok the Magnificent (2011)

User Reviews

Not as good as Anastasia but still entertaining!

Anastasia is my personal favourite Don Bluth movie, but this film actually does it justice if not as good.

The animation is mostly good, bright and colourful, that falls a tad flat in the scarier bits. The story is a bit noisy, but well told, considering that the film itself is too short. The dialogue is good, the best coming from Zozi, and the morals are admirable.

The songs are quite good, but not as beautiful as Anastasia. All of them are lively, and atmospheric, but could have been better timed. The voice talents are impeccable, Bartok is a little annoying but Hank Azaria voices him well, but Kelsey Grammar is perfect as Zozi. Andrea Martin is convincing as Baba Yaga, and Catherine O'Hara is a suitably over the top villain, a bit too OTT perhaps. Tim Curry is also very good as the skull who was brilliantly animated, and Jennifer Tilly is great as Pilaf .

An entertaining movie! Look out for it! 7/10. Bethany Cox