Man, the late 70s/early 80s really were the era of family/general audience movies about terrible dads, eh? I also missed this as a child despite being the right age, and ended up watching it with friends about 15 years ago. I was impressed by its maturity and darkness--even for the Black Cauldron era, this was pretty chilling for a kid's film--and also casting a middle-aged mother as the protagonist. I can't imagine a children's film today even considering that.
I should get around showing this one to my kids. Assuming they don't bounce off of it (50/50 when it comes to traditional 2D hand-drawn animation--kids today), I'll bet one of them loves it and the other leaves the room in terror.
Because there’s a very real and near constant sense of danger here, not to mention a pervasive feeling of helplessness, not just before the relentless press of progress, but also against the myriad of foes ” I think this is why I would pass out every time watching as a kid… too much!
Man, the late 70s/early 80s really were the era of family/general audience movies about terrible dads, eh? I also missed this as a child despite being the right age, and ended up watching it with friends about 15 years ago. I was impressed by its maturity and darkness--even for the Black Cauldron era, this was pretty chilling for a kid's film--and also casting a middle-aged mother as the protagonist. I can't imagine a children's film today even considering that.
I should get around showing this one to my kids. Assuming they don't bounce off of it (50/50 when it comes to traditional 2D hand-drawn animation--kids today), I'll bet one of them loves it and the other leaves the room in terror.
Black Cauldron is on my list to watch too!
“ Maybe that’s why I didn’t watch it as a kid…
Because there’s a very real and near constant sense of danger here, not to mention a pervasive feeling of helplessness, not just before the relentless press of progress, but also against the myriad of foes ” I think this is why I would pass out every time watching as a kid… too much!