Product: The Last Unicorn (1982)
Rating: 5.0
A First, also
Other animation studios started doing what it took Disney until the Lion King to try a hand at. Putting an end to the candy coating of serious issues and emotions. While animators and actors at Disney had the muddy singing child abusers of Pete's Dragon making a laughing matter of an all too serious issue, other animated studios were giving children and adults the benefit of the doubt and credit to their ability to process and handle issues. They were also giving credit to the ability of animation to be a valid platform to put across serious issues and opinions, and to be a truly beautiful art form not just enjoyeable for children. The Last Unicorn's style of animation is based on famous tapestries that contain scenes depicting unicorns. The background thus created is beautiful, haunting, and unique. Character design is beautiful in its own right, the characters are no Sleeping Beauties or Prince Charmings but rather imperfect by usual standards of attractiveness and being such memorable and endearing. The characters deal with what it means to be human, regret, dissapointment, and the moral responsibility to do the right thing even if it means giving up something we desire. The heroes have serious faults, the antagonists are human with understandable intentions for their conduct, and yet the moral implication is clear with justice being delivered. I am not meaning to desecrate the sacred name of Disney, for surely I own most of their movies, and completely respect what they have done in their feild. I will, however, say that they were slow to fully realize the capability of their genre and that smaller studios that created films such as The Last Unicorn and lent a little more credit to their audience deserve a little of the credit returned. This movie is certainly a must-see.