Sunday, 30 March 2025

BITE-SIZED: The Last Unicorn (Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, 1982)

The last unicorn (Mia Farrow) goes on a quest to find out what happened to the rest of her kind. 


It feels appropriate to watch this movie in 2025 - a time where hope is in short supply


Here is a movie about rediscovering hope, believing that darkness is not inevitable and can be fought 


I had never heard of The Last Unicorn until a few days ago.


A dive into the crew reveals a murderer's row: Rankin and Bass, the animators who would later form the nucleus of Hayao Miyazaki's team, and Jimmy Webb supplying the melancholy songs and score.


I feel like every other movie I have been watching recently has featured Lew Grade in the credits. This was one of the last forays he made into movies. 


It is a pity it bombed because this movie is kind of great.


While it is aimed at a younger audience, it deals with some dark subjects.


The unicorn’s journey, of learning about love and loss, is infused with a sense of melancholy. 


The passage of time, ageing and death underlie the whole film. 


There is the witch welcoming her end at the hands of a harpy she has caged for years.


And the film ultimately revolves around a heartless tyrant who is so devoid of happiness he feels the need to destroy anything that can inspire this feeling in the world around him.


Featuring a literate script with respect for young viewers' intelligence, striking character design, and a marvellous score by Jim Webb, The Last Unicorn is terrific.


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