Fun facts: The “tapestry animation” in the unicorn’s forest is all imagery taken from a set of 7 tapestries called “The Unicorn Hunt.” It tells the story of a unicorn being chased down by the kings hunting party and captured and kept as a pet, which is sort of foreshadowing the whole movie. Most of our modern visual imagery of what unicorns look like come from those tapestries as well. Before then, unicorns were more goat than horse looking. Best part? The tapestries are on display in a museum just outside New York City called The Cloisters. It is basically a rebuilt medieval castle in the middle of a state park, and it’s full of medieval art. I’ve been and it’s fantastic. When I got to the room with the tapestries and realized what I was looking at, I tell you I stopped breathing for a moment. ICONIC and GORGEOUS.
The Last Unicorn tapestry is also featured in the book Blizzard of the Blue Moon from the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Where the two protagonists Jack and Annie have to rescue The Last Unicorn in 1930's New York City during the Great Depression.
The Cloisters was my favorite part of visiting NYC. Such a deeply beautiful place in the middle of a park overlooking the Hudson. 🥰 I’m so glad that my sisters and I aren’t the only people still excited about those tapestries and their connection to this gem of an animation. ❤️
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn uses the tapestry as well. The Unicorn, Lion and the Phoenix as part of its narrative as well. Unicorn Gundam 01, Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee and 03 - Phoenix which also received its own movie called Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, with a subtitle of sorts being Phoenix Hunt which would be more thematically be called Unicorn Gundam Phoenix Hunt. It also deals with the concepts of immortality and trying to contain that which must not be contained.
Molly first meeting the unicorn...watching as an adult is devastating to me. Where were you when I was new? With unicorns being drawn to pure and innocent maidens in their lore, it really means where were you then? Before all the pain and heartbreak, where were you when I could have been proud and happy to meet you, when you would have found someone deserving? I will never get over the emotion in that scene. I also love the discussion around immortality. For so long, it is what comes to everyone's mind when thinking of a superpower one could want. Living longer and longer, being immortal. And only recently we started talking about how lonely it could be. How sad. Or would it be? Would time kill all the humanity in someone? Would it be worth it? Plus the discussion around happiness. Really, really good movie. Really good movie
immortality,.. i think it could be interesting but only with the caveat that you have the power, to die if you want to. so.. live your centuries, or millenia.. but when it gets to much you can just move on.
In the book, Schmendrick was cursed to be immortal /never age at some point in his past, "until he learned real magic", but that storyline never made it into the movie. The only things hinting at it are the bitter way he reacts to Amalthea's wish to stay human and his quote that "there are no happy ends, because nothing ever ends". It is never stated in the book how long he has been immortal, but he becomes mortal again after he manages to turn Amalthea back into the unicorn. Looking at it that way, Molly really is the only "normal" person in their little group.
The game Lost Odyssey and the segment within titled "A Thousand Years Of Dreams" (which also got printed as a book) explores the loneliness of immortality in an interesting way.
What the Unicorn says at the end is “Unicorns are in the world again. No sorrow will love in me with that joy - save one. And I thank you for that part, too.” She means that, because of the joy of having unicorns in the world, she will not feel sorrow, except for one (sorrow).” She was referring to having been in love with Lir, but not being able to remain with him. She was thanking Schmendrick for having experienced humanity, mortality, and love, even if had brought her both joy and sorrow.
Fun Fact: The animation was outsourced to a Japanese studio called Topcraft, this same studio also produced Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. The studio got dissolved in 1985 and most of it's animators were later brought together to form Studio Ghibli.
Fun fact: Christopher Lee was a big fan of the original story and was glad to play King Haggard, although he did every so often indulge his inner fanboy and ask what was being changed for the film and what was staying the same. Not that he had any sort of command over the production, but it was cool that he didn't want the film to stray too far from the novel.
@thewildfae8603 and that made Haggard so much more special. As a kid I couldn't tell what it was, but Haggard's way of speaking always felt so unique and gave him more character. I think I was about 13 when I learned that it was because it wasn't actually his first language
He also had said, back about.. 15-20 years ago, when there was some very early pre-production into a live action/cgi animated films.. that he would reprise his role as King Haggard then. I am sad that we never got him as live action King Haggard, but after learning how devastating the owners of the license and rights had been to the author, I am glad that never came to fruition. With the rights now owned by the author again, perhaps, someday we can revisit that idea.
There are definitely a lot of interesting philosophical questions that the story brings up. It’s not too much of a spoiler, but one tiny detail from the book that I wish they’d kept in the movie is that Mommy Fortuna has a spider in her carnival called Arachne. It’s just a normal spider weaving a normal web, but they ham it up and say that she holds the whole world together with her weaving. None of the other animals made to look like magical creatures actually believe that they’re anything special. And at the end when Mommy Fortuna gets killed, the spider cries because she’s the only animal who thought that she was magical by herself without any help.
Yeah. The spider illusion was powerful because the spider believed it, and the old age illusion was the only one strong enough that it unsettles the unicorn. That was left out too. I wish they had left that in and Hagsgate. There’s a lot of exposition in Hagsgate. But this is a good adaptation.
I also wish the included the fact that Schmendrik is immortal from the book too. He told the unicorn that she was his only hope because his master,Niko, cursed him with immortality because he felt that the only way that he could master his magical potential was to come into it on his own, however he was so atrocious at magic that Niko realized it would take more than one lifetime for him to do so.
@@Firstborn0Raz The most we get of that is the other wizard Mabruk recognizing and knowing Schmendrick, but they don't elaborate on it and Schrmendrick doesn't get a second to respond to him.
I think the idea of immortals not feeling regret, it's because it's a mortal concept, it's tied to missing out on something. In the case of the movie where Schmendrick feels regret about Lady Fortuna's death, it is because of that concept of her being dead, that despite their strained relationship he will never talk to her again, that she is now dead forever. And he regrets, perhaps he regrets past conversations, perhaps he regrets how things came to be with them. The Unicorn doesn't feel this regret because she is Immortal and doesn't feel as though she has missed out on any interactions like that. In her case, Lady Fortuna kept her captive so there's no regrets there, but as well her interactions with Molly and Schmendrick do carry a hint of aloofness. She's kind, she's compassionate, but there is a disconnect. She has all the time in the world and she doesn't regret anything... until she gets a taste of being human, and then experiences love with Lir. Then she feels regret, for what could have been with him. I guess another aspect to it as well is mortal beings are fraught with indecision and anxiety, and the Unicorn didn't have these traits. Whatever she did, she did with full intention and confidence. She didn't really become indecisive and worrisome until she was a mortal woman. This movie is a fascinating one and I still love it, really enjoyed seeing you guys react!
An important aspect from the book that wasn't really brought up in the movie: Schmendrick is immortal himself. He once was a sorcerer's apprentice, who saw great potential in him, but he was too slow a learner to ever amount to anything, so the sorcerer "gifted" him with immortality until he finally mastered his magical talent. However, he has only been immortal for a relatively short amount of time; in the story despite him looking like a young man, he's somewhere in his 50s +/- a decade. But in a sense, the unicorn as she was initially, unfeeling and ageless, might've been a symbol of what he might eventually turn into if he lived long enough (or too long, depending on your perspective). "Therefore I grant that from this day forth you shall not grow old, but will travel the world round and round, eternally inefficient, until at last you come to yourself and know what you are. Don't thank me. I tremble at your doom." - Schmendrick's Master to him
Haggard is such an impressively written antagonist. He's not "evil". He's a lost and miserable old man with an unhealthy attachment to the past. He may not be deserving of forgiveness, but he's at least deserving of pity.
The Last Unicorn is one of many non-disney animations from the 80's that are so underrated. The novel is a bit more darker than the movie, but still brilliant. :)
I remember when I was a kid I thought the unicorns all ran into the ocean and died but never came back lol I was traumatized for so long until I came back to the movie
When I was sixteen 1998/1999 I went to a boarding school (im from Austria) and eventhough everyone was between 14 and 20 a lot of as where really fond of that movie even some of the guys. One of my room mates even had a CD with the sound track. Beside a singer recored a new version of the titel song in those years.
My understanding was that the unicorn in her immortality never experienced regret, only sorrow when she saw something sad. But after having been a human she regretted having not spent more of her time with the prince, who she truly did fall in love with, yet she felt no sorrow because she valued the small amount of time she did have with the prince.
"I can feel this body dying all around me!" - It can also be taken in a very literal sense too. She can literally feel the cells on her body dying as every second goes past. We probably can too but we just don't notice it because we've always existed that way. Scary :(
@@opalo4113 I mean, yes, our cells constantl die - and are formed new. The main reason we die is that we got a programm running that stops this after a while. Good question would be, why this happend, why nature put an off switch in, so instead of just living forever, a new generation is born, while the old one vanishes. But even with our body immortal, it's unlikely that our mind could handle it, at some point we simply want to go. Overall it's almost absurd to think, that this life is just all there is and that there is nothing more.
In the book she is also grieving Amalthea who feels like a different person and at the same time ist of herself and just ceased to exist along with her chance of getting to live happily ever after with the Prince
It's WILD watching people react to this movie, getting struck by the twists and turns and little profundities, when every frame of it is basically printed on my DNA. I still remember where the commercial breaks were because we taped it off TV. And yeah, it gets better the older I get.
The thing that really struck me about King Haggard is that everything he sought to make him happy was always from a worldly perspective - even when he adopted Lir, it was from the perspective of 'owning a son' rather than developing a true relationship with him. The key trait of regret is when you have the opportunity to attain or accomplish something, fail to do so, and must contend with the realization that the opportunity will never come again. As Lady Amalthea, the unicorn experienced the joy of sharing a deep emotional relationship with another. While she still loves Lir, and will always love him, she will never again experience the fulfillment of being with him.
King Haggard is the difference between treasuring a great moment as part of the tapestry of your life and obsessing over it to the point of madness. He loved what the unicorns looked like, but dared not learn or care what they meant to the world. To me, he’s the emptiness of someone who adores something because of the surface level look of it, with no care or love for what it actually is.
As much as I grew up watching Disney, this is my all time favorite animated film. Even with concepts in it I never got as a child, it still resonates as an adult. It didn't shy away from some of the darker aspects of fantasy and fairy tales. The characters were complex and interesting and everyone has faults and failings. Another 80s film you need to check out. The Secret of Nhym.
I agree with that 100%. and there are so many things you can connect with as we grow up and stick with us. It's almost a little ironic that even though this is a fantasy story in a world with magic and mythical creatures, it's not a fairy tale. I also think it is important that the story did not have a complete happily ever after. the quest is complete, but there are broken hearts and everyone goes their separate ways. It ends well, but there is as the guys say, a Tolkien like quality. Not unlike Lord of the Rings and how the elves and Frodo and Gandalf leave, as magic continues to fade from the world. it's a good ending but there is also sadness mixed within the joy. And that in a way is all we can hope for.
*Watership Down* from 1978 is a must see film for any lovers of animation or just of really good stories. It's based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams.
This story is such an interesting exploration of fulfillment and the joys and pains of finding it. Mommy Fortuna would rather scam the gullible and die in infamy to live on in the hate of others than live with or confront the chip on her shoulder, Haggard hoards from the rest of the world what should make him happy and still isn’t truly happy, Lir will be a good king but has to sacrifice his life with Amalthea and mourns the loss, Captain Cully is a shameful imitation of the myth of Robin Hood and his men flee after the illusion of the real thing, the same desire that made joining Cully appealing in the first place, Molly mourns her lost meaning and innocence when confronted with the Unicorn after trying to live like Maid Marian with Cully, but finds happiness once she does truly start doing that by helping the Unicorn and Schmendrick in her own way. It’s also a surprisingly funny deconstruction and reconstruction of fairy tales. The ending dialogue between the Unicorn and Schmendrick still gives me chills. His simple answer, “Humans don’t always know when they’re happy, but I think so,” and how the Unicorn is able to sum up her entire journey and the bittersweet message of the story “No. There are unicorns in the world again. No sorrow will live on in my heart as long as that joy, save one…and I thank you for that too.” It’s similar in theme and tone to the end of The Lord of the Rings, their journeys have changed them and while Frodo and the Unicorn are wisened and triumphant, they can’t fully return to their old lives.
Best comment here. Thought I was the only one who likened Amalthea's journey to Frodo's. Lord of the Rings is the only similar feeling story that touches my soul the same way.
@@DanSolo0119I hope Lir finds love again. I think he will, if he allows himself. If he doesn’t, he could end up like his father. But I don’t think he will. I think love will find someone who loves so well.
Read the book; it’s gorgeous (and not long), and the movie is one of the best and most accurate adaptations. Very melancholic, but touching and beautiful.
Tamsin is also awesome from Peter my parents brought my copy to be signed by him.(I was sick so couldn’t go) The last unicorn was apparently really difficult for him to write due to the depth of the book that he found depressing, but necessary for that story. He said Tamsin was one his favorites to write. I am quoting my mom so don’t know how accurate it is but I found it interesting.
This is my favourite movie! I'm so glad you guys watched it. The line "I can feel this body dying all around me"- every second you have cells being born and dying. You are literally filled with death all the time. Imagine being unchanging your entire life, every cell immortal, then experiencing that. I think that line is really descriptive.
"My dear, you deserve the services of a great wizard, but I'm afraid you'll have to be glad of the aid of a second-rate pickpocket." is my favorite line in this whole movie
The music for "The Last Unicorn" was performed by America and the London Symphony Orchestra. As a fan of the band, this was a cherry on top of a great story! I've had the privilege of seeing Peter S. Beagle in person. He is a pleasant and wonderful human being who has been wronged more than once by unscrupulous people. I wish him all the best. He deserves better for all the joy his works have brought to people.
It's been almost 20 years ago but America played a show at a local festival where I lived at the time. They did autographs after the show and I got my copy of the last unicorn autographed by Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell.
America delivered and thensome. The movie wouldn't have been the same without their music. I was fortunate to be living in Germany 20~ years after the movie came out when In Mood/Juliette's cover of the song topped the charts and was playing nonstop on the radio.
Let’s talk old animation effects. You are absolutely right in that this is much smoother than any of the older Disney films. Know why? Disney screwed themselves over. Original versions of old Disney films worked really hard to blend all the different layers of animation. It resulted in a style of animation that is soft and very beautiful. Then they decided to “clean up” the animation for new DVDs and some attempt to make stuff 3D. They handed the task to people who clearly knew nothing about animation history. They erased lines. They changed colors. They scrubbed out whole layers of effects. Worst of all, the blending techniques are gone. You can SEE the top, second, third, and background layers on every frame. So many people are furious about this, you have no idea. Beauty has been LOST. You gotta find an old style vhs or laser disc to see anything before 2000 in its original glory. It is a whole thing.
@@cmrobbins88 Cinderella is the example used most. Her ball dress used to be so much more detailed. They erased lines that used to show the layers of skirt AND much of the sparkle. It is just 🤷🏻♀️ kinda nice now rather than ✨magical✨
I didn't know about this!! I thought some of the newer versions looked "flatter" but I assumed maybe it was my nostalgia thinking stuff looked better back then. I think I still have a few VHS tapes of my favorites somewhere too, so glad I kept them.
Please read Beagle's wonderful book. In it, the most convincing of Mommy Fortuna's disguises is the spider web that looks to have the whole starry sky trapped in it. The reason it's so convincing is that the spider believes it herself. When Fortuna is killed and the illusions are dispelled, all the other animals run off, and the only remaining sign of life is "the small, dry sound of a spider weeping." That's writing, that is.
I just want to say- your respect here for old fairytales and how philosophical they can be made me so happy. 🥰 You would be surprised how many people completely miss all the older themes in the fairytales, and see them as silly cheesiness. Fairytales are my JAM, so the understanding was so nice to see. ❤
As a fellow Fairy Tale Jammer, may I recommend the book Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, and Burning Your Boats, the collected short stories of Angela Carter? They're incredible in very different mind-boggling ways.
I think king haggard suffered from depression. Christopher lee did a great job. He even was king haggards voice in the german synchronisation. He was amazing
The Last Unicorn is a novel by Peter S Beagle. And he had his say in how the story came about. He actually wrote a short story sequel that just continues to tug at my heartstrings.
I was blanking out on the title but I have both the novelization of this movie and his book which does contain Two Hearts. I've also read several of his other works.
So you'll be thrilled when I point you toward 'The Way Home', which is a recent publication containing Two Hearts, as well as another novella following the main character of said story, Sooz. It was published with a matching cover to compliment a new release of The Last Unicorn so they look gorgeous together on a shelf. Also, if you liked the novel of The Last Unicorn, I can recommend literally anything else by Peter S. Beagle. The man can do no wrong, and every book he's written is absolutely beautiful. The fact that he's no as widely known authors like Stephen King and James Patterson is absolutely criminal.
This absolutely one of my favorites and almost no one has done a reaction to it. While this was a Rankin/Bass film, the animation was done by a Japanese studio called Topcraft. Topcraft also worked with Hayao Miyazaki doing "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind" (also one of my favorite films). As the studio was in financial trouble, Miyazaki bought the studio later and it became Studio Ghibli.
@@whitenoisereactsI think it is a symbolism thing. Ravens generally symbolize loss, so it may be a commentary on what the unicorn lost, and how it remains with her, even after she returns home. But also, at the beginning, the experienced hunter mentions that the forest is always in spring, so it possibly also symbolizes the change in the forest. That now that the unicorn feels regret, it is very possible that the other three seasons can now become a part of her forest. After all, Seasons tend to have a type of energy associated with them. Spring is life, Summer is most associated with joy, Fall generally represents death/passage of time, and Winter represent rest or possibly depression. As Ravens are most associated with Fall, it can be a hint to this. But that is just a theory, a FILM--- XD I hope you have a lovely day.
What I got the first time watching this masterpiece is: the old greedy people (Mommy and Haggard) wanted inmortality by owning things. But Lir got it by the means of love. By loving and being loved by an inmortal being hes memory, his spirit, his love, will be inmortal. That is powerful❤
One amazing detail that EVERYONE misses is that when Fortuna's first mook, Rukh, looks at the unicorn, we see what he sees, a white mare. But when it's Shmindrick's turn, the horn is animated in and he *lies* to Fortuna about seeing her as a white mare.
molly grue and her character played a small part in the story but what she stands for means so much to me. 😭😭 the fact unicorns themselves symbolize purity and youth and how upset molly is with amalthea finally making an appearance when she’s been hardened by life and living amongst thieves MAKES ME SOOO AUGSHSH
I don't know if this was mentioned. sorry if it's a repeat. The Last Unicorn was one of Christopher Lee's favorite books. When he came to his recording sessions, he came with his copy of the book. He even requested certain lines stayed in the film, such as King Haggard's monologue to Amalthea/Unicorn about why he had the red bull capture all of the other unicorns. When the author came to the recording sessions one day, Christopher Lee would go as far as asking the author how he pictured Haggard speaking his lines because he wanted to recite them as the author had envisioned them. And Jeff Bridges (Lir) was such a fan of the book that he offered to play Lir without pay.
The fact that Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee are all in the same movie is just so amazing. I really do miss movies like this
Amaltheia is actually the name of the first ever Unicorn from Greek mythology. Rather ironic that The Last Unicorn's name as a human is the same name of the first ever Unicorn.
There are so many deep meanings and messages in this movie, and in the original book, it's amazing. Even the butterfly's seemingly random nonsense had many truths and foreshadowing in them. The underling theme of immortality going through the entire film gives it a somber feeling.
I feel like with immortality emotions might not be a strong because you live through so much and things might not touch you as much. Regret you feel because you cannot change something, but if you are immortal you have time to change things. Regret is about missed opportunities.
Thanks for the reaction you guys and both of you are correct as much like the Hobbit and the Return of the King tv specials by Rankin Bass, _The Last Unicorn_ was animated by Topcraft, which was a Japanese animation studio that eventually was closed in 1985, but some of it’s assets would be acquired by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Isao Takahata that would later form Studio Ghibli. Interestingly, Topcraft animated and developed Miyazaki’s debut film _Nausicaä._
You two just made my day! My cousins and I have loved The Last Unicorn since we saw it as children back in 1982. We had Betamax copies of the film, then VHS, and finally DVDs. When we were growing up, it became a Christmas tradition to watch the film at family gatherings. So happy that you enjoyed the story as well as the animation. The voice actors were favourites even back then: Jeff Bridges (Lir), Mia Farrow (Amalthea), Alan Arkin (Shmendrick), Tammy Grimes (Molly Grue) Christopher Lee (Haggard), Angela Lansbury (Mommy Fortuna)... even René Auberjonois (Skull).
I remember the beta small vhs tapes I believe I had this recorded on it with the Care Bears movie and my little ponies movie I would always watched it and then our beta stopped working and I missed watching them then when Netflix came out with the DVDs these movies I got right a way to watch them 😂 I was born in 1990 tho 😂 so much nostalgia 😂 I loved watching this movie over and over never got old
AHHHH! This is my favorite movie ever. And the book is... incredible. If you guys are readers, check it out. They obviously had to leave stuff out for the runtime. One of my favorite things from the book that I wish they included is that Schmendrick is actually immortal himself - his teacher knew there was great magic inside of him, but he was so inept, his teacher made him immortal so he would live long enough to figure out how to use his power. Once he becomes a real magician, he becomes mortal again and will live out the rest of his life, growing old and eventually dying. And it's my opinion that the wizard in "The Innkeeper's Song" by the same author is an elderly version of Schmendrick at the end of his life.
When Alan Arkin passed, I was hysterically crying and I think I kept saying, "HE WAS FINALLY MORTAL HE GOT HIS BEARD HE WAS A REAL MAGICIAN" (Which I guess is a little reductive since Alan Arkin did make other things lol.) But that's what I felt happening.
@@katburkard5389 OMG, same. I was so sad. He found his magic at last. We;ve lost so many of that amazing cast - I believe Mia and Jeff are the only ones left.
@@JenniLeigh81 (it's the same person on my other account) I was literally just crying over that last night watching this video. Every time someone came on screen, I was like, oh it's...ohhhh. RIP.
The Last Unicorn is so dear to my childhood and to many others’ as well. Peter S. Beagle’s novel is one of my favourite pieces of literature and it was adapted exceptionally well in this animated movie. Thank you both for reacting to this film- you guys made my day :)
Years ago, I was a security guard at an America concert. I was actually excited because The Last Unicorn was a favorite movie of mine. They actually sang the main song that night. I was in heaven.❤
I don't say that often: the German dubbig is really good - the Voice-Cast in my ears fits even better to the Characters than the original Cast. o_0 Of course not every Joke can be translated but they did very good.
King Haggard seems to represent the bitterness that comes with age, that loss of wonder and hope in the world, and he's left hollow, bored, disenchanted, and depressed because he's a king and yet he has nothing. He's alone in the castle, apart from his adopted son who temporarily brought him happiness, and his only vice was kidnapping immortal unicorns as a happiness substitute. That's twisted yet tragic.
Every actor/actress in this movie is a legend! Mia Farrow as the Unicorn/Lady Amalthea, Alan Arkin as Schmendrick, the magician Jeff Bridges as Prince Lír, Tammy Grimes as Molly Grue, Robert Klein as The Butterfly, Angela Lansbury as Mommy Fortuna, Christopher Lee as King Haggard, I loved this movie as a child, and it opend the door for me to myths and fantasy.
The interesting point of the book is that you can't really pinpoint when its story is meant to be set. Not just where, but you're never even sure when, it could be far ago in the past, or today in a more rural region of the world or sometimes in the future. It's a very strange and fascinating read. The movie is beautiful and a piece of art, but together with the book it becomes complete. This is one of the very few examples of a book and a movie completing and adding to each other. An absolute perfect and ideal project of art.
So fun fact, several of the animators from this movie were let go after this movie because the studio closed, but they were later hired by Miazaki. They became Ghibli animators.
Also, if you like these older animations might I recommend The wind in the willows. It's a fun childhood movie that I remember loving to the point where I went out and found the child's novel and have purchased a digital copy of the movie for me to watch whenever I like. Or if you want to go deep, and get really dark with it Watership down.
The Last Unicorn is an absolute masterpiece of an animated film! i love everything about it the story, the animation, the voice acting Mia Farrow did an outstanding job voicing the Unicorn. And I enjoy how surprisingly dark it gets. And don't get me started on the films opening song, the band "America" did such a first rate job on that masterpiece! it was a fluid song for a 80's animated film!
This was my FAVORITE movie growing up, I still am compelled to belt out the songs at the top of my lungs and I LOVE the themes now that I'm old enough to understand them.
I have loved this film ever since I was a kid. Watching it again as an adult that has gone through some really turbulent times really drives home some very key themes of the story. It's worth mentioning that the entire film is based on the book of the same name by Peter S. Beagle. Many of the scenes from the book were cut to shorten the time of the film, and I think the character that suffers the most from that is Molly Grue. It is heavily implied that she is a former princess who could not will herself marry her betrothed, as it was tradition for maidens to be visited by unicorns before their wedding day, to bless her and the marriage. It was supposed to also be a symbol of virginity and purity. But because the unicorns had vanished, Molly did not get her unicorn visit, and later ended up with Captain Cully as a result. With all this in mind, her grief upon seeing Amalthea is perfectly human and heartwrenching. She wanted her life to be more, and all of it fell on her in that single moment. This film and it's story is succinct and begins a conversation on the concept of mortality and what really makes us human. The book is wonderful, if you liked the movie then you will most likely enjoy the book. They are both severely underrated.
This is such an incredible movie, and you made some excellent points in your discussion. The characters are incredibly well crafted, and the story is beautiful and enjoyable for children, but at the same time offers so much food for thought if you get older, because completely different themes stand out to you in different stages in life. That's why it holds up so well, even after all these years.
The Last Unicorn is a very good film, one of my favorite novel based movies! It is the one thing that got me interested in mythical creatures, aside from books. I like the story, the characters, the art style, and the songs as well, especially the title song.
You realized that there are many profound statements in this movie. As a youth I heard the prince say that he knew what heroes were for, and it had meaning. But when I remembered it, walking alone, outside of the base overseas, to find out why the convoy we signaled to come in wasn’t moving, it was more profound, and had more depth.
When the unicorn first meets him, Shmendrick is living with a curse. His teacher realized that Shmendrick's incompetence was so profound that a greater power must have designs on him. So the teacher cursed Shmendrick with immortality, until he comes to his power and fulfils his destiny. His meeting with the unicorn was a big clue as to what he needed to do with his life and get his curse lifted.
Highly recommend the book. It's not that long, but goes much deeper into all of the characters, how they got where they are when the Unicorn meets them, and how the Unicorn is changed--and still the same--after her quest. For every brilliant almost throw-away line in the movie, the book probably has three.
Jeebus...that main theme still kills me everytime I hear it. It did when I was 10 years old and it still does to this day. If you want to continue this journey into Rankin/Bass fantasy, may I next recommend "The Flight of Dragons." As much as I enjoy "The Last Unicorn" and "The Hobbit," that is my all time favorite fantasy animation.
"Unicorns are in the world again. No sorrow will live in me as long as that joy. Save one. And I thank you for that part, too". If that line doesn't move you then you have *no* romance in your soul. And if Molly's words upon meeting the unicorn don't break your heart, then you were never a disappointed child.
!!!! The final lines spoken to Schmendrick always move me to tears. You can hear the heaviness but also lightness in her voice. She'll never be able to look at her home the same again. I so desperately wish we had more animations with this much beauty and complexity.
The way the book describes Molly during that speech is just... oof. It hurts to read: "And what good is it to me that you're here now? Where where you twenty years ago, ten years ago? How dare you, how dare you come to me now, when I am this?" With a flap of her hand she summed herself up: barren face, desert eyes, and yellowing heart."
Christopher Lee was a huge fan of this story and film, he was also ready and willing to reprise his role in live action, but it just never came to be during his life time.
Okay I absolutely loved this movie growing up, and even now in my 20s it's still such a beautiful film. You did say you wanted to know everything about this film, so I figured I'd drop the few facts that I know about it. 1) This film was actually originally intended for an adult audience. It was marketed as an adult fairy tale adventure at first, which is why some of the content is so deep and not traditional for a children's story. 2) The author of the book is the one who wrote/adapted it into the movie because he didn't trust anyone else to do it justice 3)The whole cast was the author's first pick of actors (which doesn't often happen). Not to mention that Jeff Bridges (Prince Lir) wanted to be in the film so bad that he actually offered to voice act for free if that's what it took 4) The Last Unicorn was animated by the studio that would later become Studio Ghibli (and yes, Topcraft did animate The Hobbit as well) 5) In the book, Prince Lir had more of a happy ending. If I remember correctly, after he loses everything (his father, home, and love) he rebuilds his father's land and ends up finding love with a princess
This such an absolutely unique masterpiece. It's beautifuly drawn, the music is stunning leading you subtly through the story which is deep, emotional, bittersweet until the end. Molly meeting the unicorn makes me cry every single time it's absolutely heartbreaking.
"Where were you when I was new, when I was one of those innocent maidens you'd always come to?" This line always manages to make me tear up; it cuts so deep :( Molly crying out in anger and grief at a beacon of hope come too late is heartwrenching but I think the fact that she can still see the unicorn in her true form is just as impactful. She views herself as an old woman who’s innocence and purity have withered away, but some part of it is still in there even though she is no longer a young maiden.
The nostalgia this gives me, the title song gave me goosebumps I love it sm. I watched this a lot as a child which surprises me now bc I was pretty easily scared and the first time I watched it again when I was older I realised that it's actually a lot darker than I remembered - amazing though, still absolutely worth watching today for adults as well imo
I'm 44 now. I grew up *devouring* this movie. 🦄 As a child, I would watch it on VHS tape every day. I could recite it in my sleep. At some point, my father forbid me watching it, because he feared the video recorder would break from me using it so much to watch this movie. 😅 But I couldn't be stopped: I'd simply watch it when he was at work - and he'd still know, because he'd come home to me dressed in my mother's long, flowy nightgowns (they reminded me of Amalthea's princess dresses), "galloping" around our magnolia tree. He'd facepalm and sigh: "She's watched that film again!" 🤣In the end, he didn't get mad about it. His way to wake me up in the morning was by drumming his fingers in a galloping rhythm on my room's door, because he knew how much I loved it. ❤ As I'm watching this video right now, a DVD of this movie is sitting on a shelf to the right of my screen. I don't watch it every day anymore. Sometimes a few years pass before I watch it again. But it doesn't get old, ever. And to this day the songs in this movie are the only songs I can sing by heart. And I haven't discarded the idea to add the last unicorn to the many tattoos I've collected so far. It would definitely have earned it's place on my skin. And... I still like wearing long, flowy nightgowns and dresses when the mood strikes me. I sew them myself. And when I go for hikes in the nearby woods and nobody is around, I might still "gallop" like a horse on occasion. Magic only stops existing, when you outgrow the things you were passionate about as a child. 😉
I feel like the reason she can feel sorrow and not regret is because sorrow is an emotion that’ll go away with time, but regret is something that sticks with you because you ran out of time. Since she is immortal she doesn’t need regret because she has all the time in the world
I think the word/concept you're trying to find at the end is melancholy. Ive always felt the perfect age to watch this movie is 10-12. That age where kids are starting to let go of the magic of childhood. Where you begin to stop believing in fairies and unicorns, just as the movie world is losing the magic of unicorns in the world. There's a mourning to the slow loss of magic in the world that runs in the background of this movie. Theres a want to cling to last vestiges of magic & wonder in the characters like king haggard, captain cully's men and those who visit mommy fortuna's caravan. I think this melancholy is for the readers/watchers of this story and the release of the unicorns from the sea means hope that maybe, just maybe, not all the magic has left the world if you look for it.
The song the last unicorn that plays in this movie is sung by Kenny loggins same man who sang danger zone (Top Gun) and footloose. He also has a fantastic lullaby CD, when my sister and I watched this movie we were like ”It’s the song from our CD!!!” 😱😱😱 anyway thought you guys would appreacaite that tidbit. y’all’s channel is awesome keep it up!
I loved this movie. It got me started on my unicorn collection, which has since been lost. I found the soundtrack in a thrift shop. I listened to it so much i knew it by heart. Thanks for bringing back fond memories.
This was actually one of my favorite movies as a kid. I think that what a lot of studios and adults don’t realize is that kids love stories with complex themes and danger. And this movie in particular has aged well and I’ve watched it at every age of my life and it’s one of my favorite movies for a reason. I appreciate it more as an adult than I did as a child but I watched it more as a child than I do as an adult because I loved it so much.
Molly was furious at the unicorn's late arrival because, in Folklore, unicorns come to virgins; Amalthea is the name of the she-goat who nursed the infant Zeus; the movie is based on an award-winning novel by Peter S. Beagle (he also wrote the screenplay)
god im so glad to finally see a reaction to this movie, it's been one of my all-time favourite things ever since i was a kid and so few people have seen it. it's gotten to a point where as a kid i loved it cause of unicorns, but these days it makes me so endlessly emotional about the story and its themes, the discussion of immortality and happiness never fail to get me. i can very much recommend the book by peter s beagle, i finally got around to reading it in my adulthood and there's some very very nice additional bits that the movie left out in regards to immortality and such. i deeply love both movie and book and they work so well with each other.
This was one of my favorite movies growing up and I would even listen to the soundtrack over and over (still do when the mood strikes me). Watching it again as an adult I find myself appreciating it even more - you don't get a lot of animated films (especially intended for children/families) that feature the kind of bitter-sweet ending we see here, the darker and high fantasy themes and creature + character designs really make it stand out from the Disney and Disney-esque works from the same time. My family had the German dub on VHS and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Christopher Lee (fluent in German) dubbed the German track for King Haggard as well.
I'm happy to see lots of people are telling you to read the book. I'm just here to say that, too. The movie stayed pretty close, but there was so much that couldn't be fit in--from what you guys say about the film, I know you'd appreciate all the details that were missed.
The last unicorn truly hits a feeling of hope and loss. That while the world can be dark, it is up to you to find your own happiness but dont lose yourself to a false joy. You should do troll in central park, secret of nimh, little nemo, rock a doodle,and once upon a forest are all older somewhat unappreciated animations. They are all darker compared to todays mostly light hearted animations. If you want really dark animations try watership down(one of absolute favs) plague dogs, or felidae. I hope you'll see these all someday
Thank you for reacting to this gem, it is one of my all-time favourites for sure. It is just such a magnificent movie. Also some fun facts; Christopher Lee didn't just voice King Haggard in the English dub, but also in the German one since he was basically fluent in German. He was also said to have come to the recording sessions with his personal copy of the book with some lines of Haggard highlighted that he instisted were to be kept in the movie since he loved the story so much. The movie is a fairly close adaptation of the book. There are only two somewhat major plotthreads left out (most likely for time and/or pacing reasons): 1. In the book, Schmendrik is actually just as immortal as the unicorn. Thousands of years ago, he was a student of the greates magician that had ever lived. So great in fact, he had been the only wizard to ever have been known transforming a unicorn into a human man in order to save it from hunters. Tho even that greatest wizard of all times then didn't have the power to change the unicorn back into it's original form. Schmendrik used to be a horrible student, so terrible that other wizard doubted he posessed any magic at all. His mentor tho recognized that the opposite was true; Schmendrik posessed so freaking much magic that a single human lifetime could never be enough to master it, so he turned Schmendrik immortal against his will "until he could truly master his magic". Thus, Schmendrik and the unicorn have quite a few disagreements about the nature of immortality in the book - the unicorn thinking that immortality reigns supreme, whereas Schmendrik insists that mortality is what makes life beautiful, as it gives life meaning in the first place. 2. Before reaching King Haggard's castle, the band comes across a town at the foot if the castle, called Hagsgate. The town is very prosperous but they realize there are only middle-aged and old people living in it. Upon questioning the townsfolk, they revealed that a 20-ish years ago, King Haggard hired a witch to build his castle. However after she finished her work, he refused to pay her. She turned to the town's people to help her get her due, but they refused her too. Enraged, she put a curse on them; they would prosper, with good trades and bountyful harvests. But one day it would be a child born of this town that would bring ruin to both the castle and the town. Thus, the villagers decided to just ride the good times as long as possible and stop having children. However, someone didn't keep it in their pants and one winter, a child was found in the towns square. The villagers wanted to let it freeze to avoid the curse, but some stray cats kept it warm (which is one of many instances in the book where the characters note upon them realizing they are in a fairytale, as they immediately recognize this child would be marked for greatness, only further convincing them that the child should not be allowed to live). The next morning the child was gone, but King Haggard suddenly proclaimed that he had a son. After the unicorns' stampede destroyed the castle and Hagsgate, one of the townsfolk comes foward, admitting that he was Lir's father, which sadly doesn't ease the bitterness he feels at the end of the story. Tho, just as they are about to leave together, Schmendrik and Molly come across a young princess who is looking for a hero to help her avenge her betrayed father and get her kingdom back; Schmendrik just points her in Lir's direction, telling her to go find him. So there is some hope that Lir might find happyness one day yet again.
I was born in '66. the book came out in '68 and I got it for my 5th birthday. I adored the story. When the movie came out in '82 I was a freshman in HS. It took me back to childhood. It def hits different as a grown adult. This book and movie will forever have a special place in my heart.
I remember this movie was one of my favorites to watch growing up. It is absolutely gorgeously animated, and there was no story like it. Such a classic. 💜
As a man rapidly approaching his 50s, this has long been one of my favorite movies. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. TLU fans are, generally speaking, quiet but dedicated, and easy to miss... except for the size and sheer number of TLU tattoos many of them have, yeesh. At the end of the movie, the unicorn states that she, unlike other unicorns, now feels regret. However, she also states that, because the unicorns are free, she has no sorrows, except for one... but she thanks Schmendrick for that sorrow, too. The sorrow she's speaking of is that she loved Lir and lost him. Straight out of the old adage, though, she apparently feels that it is better to have loved him, even though she lost him, than to have never known that love at all. Because of that, she thanks Schmendrick for (the opportunity to have felt) that sorrow, in addition to thanking him for helping free the unicorns. It's both romantic and horrifying, if you think about it: She will live forever with the memory of that blissful love (an emotion no other unicorn feels), but will also spend an eternity with the pain and emptiness of having lost it. If you're interested in more Rankin/Bass fantasy, check out The Flight of Dragons. It doesn't have songs throughout, like this one, but it does have a cool opening song, by Don McLean. Don't be fooled by the fact that they farmed the cover art out to the lowest bidder; the animation is pretty much right up there with The Last Unicorn, even if it's doesn't reach the emotional heights of this gem. The Secret of NIMH is another good animated feature that doesn't soften its edges, just because the movie is for children.
The opening with the trees is I think using the multi-plane camera (it was created and used by disney for Bambi, Fox and the Hound, and other movies with forests) the trees are painted on multiple pieces of glass that when layered on top of each other create depth, plus since they’re painted on separate glass panels they can be moved to create motion like that scene.
This movie is my childhood. But finding adults who know it, or even know the book is rare. Nothing has had such a profound affect on me like this story, the music, the meaning, and the characters. I've always thought the animation was gorgeous. To see two young people loving it and appreciating it, 40 odd years on, has me tearing up. I love how much you valued it. That it can still hit hard is everything.
Another movie from that era I always loved was a Flight of Dragons. Not sure if you've done it but here's the trailer: ua-cam.com/video/vn9xV6_yyG0/v-deo.html
This and the book are incredible. The story, the soundtrack and art. Goddamn was I hyped to see that cover art in the thumbnail. Never clicked on a video so fast.
"Do not boast, old woman. Your death sits in that cage, and she hears you." "You have let your doom in by the front door, but it will not depart that way!"
One of my favorite Fun Facts about this film is Haiyo Miazaki loved it so much that he hired most of the animators. Many of them still work at Studio Ghibli ❤
Fun fact: I am German and this movie is shown on TV each Christmas over here, so I grew up watching it once a year. Chrisopher Lee is King Haggard in German, too. I wonder, what other languages he did the voice over for.
@@whitenoisereacts Hunt of the Unicorn/Unicorn Tapestries it was created in the late Middle Ages around 1495-1505. IIRC a Rockefeller donated them and they are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
@@whitenoisereacts (hope you see this, not sure if UA-cam tells you about replies to other comments) If you search for "the unicorn tapestries" or "the hunt of unicorn" you can see details of them. They are made of wool, and were woven around 1500. They're currently housed in the Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I've wanted to see them since I was a kid because of this movie, lol.
@whitenoisereacts The Cloisters in NY I've loved this movie since before I have memories. When I found out the tapestries were real, I cried. I've not seen them yet, but I'm certain I will.
The scene with molly crying is because there was an old European folk tradition of unicorns coming to innocent and pure maidens. And now she finally sees one when she has been tricked, used, and feels she is old and worn out.
i want to thank you both for reacting to this movie. it's a gem and i'm happy you both had a chance to see it. it's one of the most beautiful films and literally takes you one on a journey. I did crack up though wheny ou both laughed at molly's bluntess when she told haggard the other wizard doesnt make him happy and he's like how so? her response " well just look at you!"
Molly Grue is one of my favorites in this movie, and when she sees the Unicorn for the first time it is another powerful moment of that theme of mortality, since Molly cries "How dare you come to me now, when I am like this, instead of one of those maidens you always come to?" Also, I think you guys should check out Flight of Dragons if you want to explore similar animation and fantasy from around that time
this was my ultimate favorite movie when i was a kid. i was so obsessed, that my uncle got me the comic, which now goes for $60-150 😳 i still have it but i’ve never opened it…
What is your favorite classic animation?
I hope one day y'all react to one my favorite classic Disney movie The Great Mouse Detective. 🔎🐭
I’d have to say Walt Disney’s Bambi.
This is.... It's this, a long time nothing and then a re-watch of this
From Disney? It's the Fox and the Hound.
The sword in the Stone.
That scene where Molly first meets the Unicorn hits different as an adult than it did when I was a kid.
When you know about the lore of unicorns, it really does hit hard from Molly's perspective.
as a kid i was like "oooo that's sad 😬" and now i'm just like "oh. that's sad ☹️"
Same here especially since I watched the censored version first.
Poor molly waited for decades to see a unicorn because they all disappeared into the sea
Now that I am Molly's age, I don't think she over-reacted like I thought she did as a kid lol
Fun facts:
The “tapestry animation” in the unicorn’s forest is all imagery taken from a set of 7 tapestries called “The Unicorn Hunt.” It tells the story of a unicorn being chased down by the kings hunting party and captured and kept as a pet, which is sort of foreshadowing the whole movie.
Most of our modern visual imagery of what unicorns look like come from those tapestries as well. Before then, unicorns were more goat than horse looking.
Best part? The tapestries are on display in a museum just outside New York City called The Cloisters. It is basically a rebuilt medieval castle in the middle of a state park, and it’s full of medieval art. I’ve been and it’s fantastic.
When I got to the room with the tapestries and realized what I was looking at, I tell you I stopped breathing for a moment. ICONIC and GORGEOUS.
The Last Unicorn tapestry is also featured in the book Blizzard of the Blue Moon from the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Where the two protagonists Jack and Annie have to rescue The Last Unicorn in 1930's New York City during the Great Depression.
No it gets killed. It's another tapestry that shows its rebirth.
The Cloisters was my favorite part of visiting NYC. Such a deeply beautiful place in the middle of a park overlooking the Hudson. 🥰 I’m so glad that my sisters and I aren’t the only people still excited about those tapestries and their connection to this gem of an animation. ❤️
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn uses the tapestry as well.
The Unicorn, Lion and the Phoenix as part of its narrative as well.
Unicorn Gundam 01, Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee and 03 - Phoenix which also received its own movie called Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, with a subtitle of sorts being Phoenix Hunt which would be more thematically be called Unicorn Gundam Phoenix Hunt. It also deals with the concepts of immortality and trying to contain that which must not be contained.
I think one of the other tapestries in King Haggard's castle is used in the Griffindor common room.
Molly first meeting the unicorn...watching as an adult is devastating to me. Where were you when I was new? With unicorns being drawn to pure and innocent maidens in their lore, it really means where were you then? Before all the pain and heartbreak, where were you when I could have been proud and happy to meet you, when you would have found someone deserving? I will never get over the emotion in that scene. I also love the discussion around immortality. For so long, it is what comes to everyone's mind when thinking of a superpower one could want. Living longer and longer, being immortal. And only recently we started talking about how lonely it could be. How sad. Or would it be? Would time kill all the humanity in someone? Would it be worth it? Plus the discussion around happiness. Really, really good movie. Really good movie
immortality,.. i think it could be interesting but only with the caveat that you have the power, to die if you want to. so.. live your centuries, or millenia.. but when it gets to much you can just move on.
In the book, Schmendrick was cursed to be immortal /never age at some point in his past, "until he learned real magic", but that storyline never made it into the movie. The only things hinting at it are the bitter way he reacts to Amalthea's wish to stay human and his quote that "there are no happy ends, because nothing ever ends". It is never stated in the book how long he has been immortal, but he becomes mortal again after he manages to turn Amalthea back into the unicorn. Looking at it that way, Molly really is the only "normal" person in their little group.
I cry every time. As a 43 year old, it hits home.
The game Lost Odyssey and the segment within titled "A Thousand Years Of Dreams" (which also got printed as a book) explores the loneliness of immortality in an interesting way.
What the Unicorn says at the end is “Unicorns are in the world again. No sorrow will love in me with that joy - save one. And I thank you for that part, too.” She means that, because of the joy of having unicorns in the world, she will not feel sorrow, except for one (sorrow).” She was referring to having been in love with Lir, but not being able to remain with him. She was thanking Schmendrick for having experienced humanity, mortality, and love, even if had brought her both joy and sorrow.
Fun Fact: The animation was outsourced to a Japanese studio called Topcraft, this same studio also produced Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. The studio got dissolved in 1985 and most of it's animators were later brought together to form Studio Ghibli.
I didnt know that but it explains so much. Thank you
The same studio animated Ralph Bakshi's Lord Of The Rings.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is incredible.
@@joshcopley9039Topcraft had no involvement with Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings.
They also did "Flight of Dragons", which is also an enjoyable animated movie!
Fun fact: Christopher Lee was a big fan of the original story and was glad to play King Haggard, although he did every so often indulge his inner fanboy and ask what was being changed for the film and what was staying the same. Not that he had any sort of command over the production, but it was cool that he didn't want the film to stray too far from the novel.
he also did the german dub for King Haggard!
@thewildfae8603 and that made Haggard so much more special. As a kid I couldn't tell what it was, but Haggard's way of speaking always felt so unique and gave him more character. I think I was about 13 when I learned that it was because it wasn't actually his first language
He also had said, back about.. 15-20 years ago, when there was some very early pre-production into a live action/cgi animated films.. that he would reprise his role as King Haggard then. I am sad that we never got him as live action King Haggard, but after learning how devastating the owners of the license and rights had been to the author, I am glad that never came to fruition. With the rights now owned by the author again, perhaps, someday we can revisit that idea.
@@thewildfae8603He had a little accent, but his voice was fitting very well.
The accent makes it even better. The german dub in general is better imo, especially the unicorn.
There are definitely a lot of interesting philosophical questions that the story brings up. It’s not too much of a spoiler, but one tiny detail from the book that I wish they’d kept in the movie is that Mommy Fortuna has a spider in her carnival called Arachne. It’s just a normal spider weaving a normal web, but they ham it up and say that she holds the whole world together with her weaving. None of the other animals made to look like magical creatures actually believe that they’re anything special. And at the end when Mommy Fortuna gets killed, the spider cries because she’s the only animal who thought that she was magical by herself without any help.
Oh, I forgot that moment! It's so sad and poetic and very Peter S. Beagle.
Yeah. The spider illusion was powerful because the spider believed it, and the old age illusion was the only one strong enough that it unsettles the unicorn. That was left out too. I wish they had left that in and Hagsgate. There’s a lot of exposition in Hagsgate. But this is a good adaptation.
I also wish the included the fact that Schmendrik is immortal from the book too. He told the unicorn that she was his only hope because his master,Niko, cursed him with immortality because he felt that the only way that he could master his magical potential was to come into it on his own, however he was so atrocious at magic that Niko realized it would take more than one lifetime for him to do so.
@@Firstborn0Raz The most we get of that is the other wizard Mabruk recognizing and knowing Schmendrick, but they don't elaborate on it and Schrmendrick doesn't get a second to respond to him.
I think the idea of immortals not feeling regret, it's because it's a mortal concept, it's tied to missing out on something. In the case of the movie where Schmendrick feels regret about Lady Fortuna's death, it is because of that concept of her being dead, that despite their strained relationship he will never talk to her again, that she is now dead forever. And he regrets, perhaps he regrets past conversations, perhaps he regrets how things came to be with them. The Unicorn doesn't feel this regret because she is Immortal and doesn't feel as though she has missed out on any interactions like that. In her case, Lady Fortuna kept her captive so there's no regrets there, but as well her interactions with Molly and Schmendrick do carry a hint of aloofness. She's kind, she's compassionate, but there is a disconnect. She has all the time in the world and she doesn't regret anything... until she gets a taste of being human, and then experiences love with Lir. Then she feels regret, for what could have been with him. I guess another aspect to it as well is mortal beings are fraught with indecision and anxiety, and the Unicorn didn't have these traits. Whatever she did, she did with full intention and confidence. She didn't really become indecisive and worrisome until she was a mortal woman. This movie is a fascinating one and I still love it, really enjoyed seeing you guys react!
An important aspect from the book that wasn't really brought up in the movie: Schmendrick is immortal himself. He once was a sorcerer's apprentice, who saw great potential in him, but he was too slow a learner to ever amount to anything, so the sorcerer "gifted" him with immortality until he finally mastered his magical talent. However, he has only been immortal for a relatively short amount of time; in the story despite him looking like a young man, he's somewhere in his 50s +/- a decade. But in a sense, the unicorn as she was initially, unfeeling and ageless, might've been a symbol of what he might eventually turn into if he lived long enough (or too long, depending on your perspective).
"Therefore I grant that from this day forth you shall not grow old, but will travel the world round and round, eternally inefficient, until at last you come to yourself and know what you are. Don't thank me. I tremble at your doom." - Schmendrick's Master to him
Haggard is such an impressively written antagonist. He's not "evil". He's a lost and miserable old man with an unhealthy attachment to the past. He may not be deserving of forgiveness, but he's at least deserving of pity.
The Last Unicorn is one of many non-disney animations from the 80's that are so underrated. The novel is a bit more darker than the movie, but still brilliant. :)
This movie is brilliant
*It was highly rated in the 80s.*
I remember when I was a kid I thought the unicorns all ran into the ocean and died but never came back lol I was traumatized for so long until I came back to the movie
@@whitenoisereacts so glad you reacted to this beautiful movie.
When I was sixteen 1998/1999 I went to a boarding school (im from Austria) and eventhough everyone was between 14 and 20 a lot of as where really fond of that movie even some of the guys. One of my room mates even had a CD with the sound track. Beside a singer recored a new version of the titel song in those years.
My understanding was that the unicorn in her immortality never experienced regret, only sorrow when she saw something sad. But after having been a human she regretted having not spent more of her time with the prince, who she truly did fall in love with, yet she felt no sorrow because she valued the small amount of time she did have with the prince.
"I can feel this body dying all around me!" - It can also be taken in a very literal sense too. She can literally feel the cells on her body dying as every second goes past. We probably can too but we just don't notice it because we've always existed that way. Scary :(
@@opalo4113 I mean, yes, our cells constantl die - and are formed new. The main reason we die is that we got a programm running that stops this after a while.
Good question would be, why this happend, why nature put an off switch in, so instead of just living forever, a new generation is born, while the old one vanishes.
But even with our body immortal, it's unlikely that our mind could handle it, at some point we simply want to go.
Overall it's almost absurd to think, that this life is just all there is and that there is nothing more.
@@miriamweller812had to me till the end, that's not true at all.. Change it always inevitable..
In the book she is also grieving Amalthea who feels like a different person and at the same time ist of herself and just ceased to exist along with her chance of getting to live happily ever after with the Prince
It's WILD watching people react to this movie, getting struck by the twists and turns and little profundities, when every frame of it is basically printed on my DNA. I still remember where the commercial breaks were because we taped it off TV. And yeah, it gets better the older I get.
"When every frame of it is basically printed on my DNA." The most deeply relatable comment I've read. 💜
Same, the jingles of 90s commercials that I still know by heart I know because they were on the last unicorn tape 😂❤
The thing that really struck me about King Haggard is that everything he sought to make him happy was always from a worldly perspective - even when he adopted Lir, it was from the perspective of 'owning a son' rather than developing a true relationship with him.
The key trait of regret is when you have the opportunity to attain or accomplish something, fail to do so, and must contend with the realization that the opportunity will never come again. As Lady Amalthea, the unicorn experienced the joy of sharing a deep emotional relationship with another. While she still loves Lir, and will always love him, she will never again experience the fulfillment of being with him.
King Haggard is the difference between treasuring a great moment as part of the tapestry of your life and obsessing over it to the point of madness. He loved what the unicorns looked like, but dared not learn or care what they meant to the world. To me, he’s the emptiness of someone who adores something because of the surface level look of it, with no care or love for what it actually is.
As much as I grew up watching Disney, this is my all time favorite animated film. Even with concepts in it I never got as a child, it still resonates as an adult. It didn't shy away from some of the darker aspects of fantasy and fairy tales. The characters were complex and interesting and everyone has faults and failings.
Another 80s film you need to check out. The Secret of Nhym.
"There are no happy endings, because nothing ends" is a quote that still sticks with me to this day.
I agree with that 100%. and there are so many things you can connect with as we grow up and stick with us. It's almost a little ironic that even though this is a fantasy story in a world with magic and mythical creatures, it's not a fairy tale. I also think it is important that the story did not have a complete happily ever after. the quest is complete, but there are broken hearts and everyone goes their separate ways. It ends well, but there is as the guys say, a Tolkien like quality. Not unlike Lord of the Rings and how the elves and Frodo and Gandalf leave, as magic continues to fade from the world. it's a good ending but there is also sadness mixed within the joy. And that in a way is all we can hope for.
The Secret of NIMH. Other '80s recommendations: Fire and Ice; Rock & Rule.
*Watership Down* from 1978 is a must see film for any lovers of animation or just of really good stories.
It's based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams.
yes Secret of NIMH for sure, I recommended that before, the animation is amazing. Also yes for Watership Down!!
This story is such an interesting exploration of fulfillment and the joys and pains of finding it. Mommy Fortuna would rather scam the gullible and die in infamy to live on in the hate of others than live with or confront the chip on her shoulder, Haggard hoards from the rest of the world what should make him happy and still isn’t truly happy, Lir will be a good king but has to sacrifice his life with Amalthea and mourns the loss, Captain Cully is a shameful imitation of the myth of Robin Hood and his men flee after the illusion of the real thing, the same desire that made joining Cully appealing in the first place, Molly mourns her lost meaning and innocence when confronted with the Unicorn after trying to live like Maid Marian with Cully, but finds happiness once she does truly start doing that by helping the Unicorn and Schmendrick in her own way. It’s also a surprisingly funny deconstruction and reconstruction of fairy tales. The ending dialogue between the Unicorn and Schmendrick still gives me chills. His simple answer, “Humans don’t always know when they’re happy, but I think so,” and how the Unicorn is able to sum up her entire journey and the bittersweet message of the story “No. There are unicorns in the world again. No sorrow will live on in my heart as long as that joy, save one…and I thank you for that too.” It’s similar in theme and tone to the end of The Lord of the Rings, their journeys have changed them and while Frodo and the Unicorn are wisened and triumphant, they can’t fully return to their old lives.
Best comment here. Thought I was the only one who likened Amalthea's journey to Frodo's. Lord of the Rings is the only similar feeling story that touches my soul the same way.
With Lir, that was a major sacrifice since love was what he wanted most, as he would never receive any from his father.
@@DanSolo0119I hope Lir finds love again. I think he will, if he allows himself. If he doesn’t, he could end up like his father. But I don’t think he will. I think love will find someone who loves so well.
Thanks for the best summation of the "moral" of this truly great film.
Read the book; it’s gorgeous (and not long), and the movie is one of the best and most accurate adaptations. Very melancholic, but touching and beautiful.
by Peter S. Beagle - and it really is beautifully written. I loved his "A Fine and Private Place" as well.
Tamsin is also awesome from Peter my parents brought my copy to be signed by him.(I was sick so couldn’t go) The last unicorn was apparently really difficult for him to write due to the depth of the book that he found depressing, but necessary for that story. He said Tamsin was one his favorites to write. I am quoting my mom so don’t know how accurate it is but I found it interesting.
This is my favourite movie! I'm so glad you guys watched it. The line "I can feel this body dying all around me"- every second you have cells being born and dying. You are literally filled with death all the time. Imagine being unchanging your entire life, every cell immortal, then experiencing that. I think that line is really descriptive.
"My dear, you deserve the services of a great wizard, but I'm afraid you'll have to be glad of the aid of a second-rate pickpocket." is my favorite line in this whole movie
The music for "The Last Unicorn" was performed by America and the London Symphony Orchestra. As a fan of the band, this was a cherry on top of a great story! I've had the privilege of seeing Peter S. Beagle in person. He is a pleasant and wonderful human being who has been wronged more than once by unscrupulous people. I wish him all the best. He deserves better for all the joy his works have brought to people.
It's been almost 20 years ago but America played a show at a local festival where I lived at the time. They did autographs after the show and I got my copy of the last unicorn autographed by Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell.
Wow! You got to see him in person?! How wonderful
America delivered and thensome. The movie wouldn't have been the same without their music. I was fortunate to be living in Germany 20~ years after the movie came out when In Mood/Juliette's cover of the song topped the charts and was playing nonstop on the radio.
Let’s talk old animation effects.
You are absolutely right in that this is much smoother than any of the older Disney films. Know why? Disney screwed themselves over.
Original versions of old Disney films worked really hard to blend all the different layers of animation. It resulted in a style of animation that is soft and very beautiful.
Then they decided to “clean up” the animation for new DVDs and some attempt to make stuff 3D. They handed the task to people who clearly knew nothing about animation history.
They erased lines. They changed colors. They scrubbed out whole layers of effects. Worst of all, the blending techniques are gone. You can SEE the top, second, third, and background layers on every frame.
So many people are furious about this, you have no idea. Beauty has been LOST. You gotta find an old style vhs or laser disc to see anything before 2000 in its original glory. It is a whole thing.
That’s very interesting. Would be able to give an example because I’m curious and trying to picture it.
ok, I will never get rid of my vhs disney movies o.o this is appalling D:
@@cmrobbins88 Cinderella is the example used most. Her ball dress used to be so much more detailed. They erased lines that used to show the layers of skirt AND much of the sparkle. It is just 🤷🏻♀️ kinda nice now rather than ✨magical✨
I didn't know about this!! I thought some of the newer versions looked "flatter" but I assumed maybe it was my nostalgia thinking stuff looked better back then. I think I still have a few VHS tapes of my favorites somewhere too, so glad I kept them.
Wow... that's just sad.
Please read Beagle's wonderful book. In it, the most convincing of Mommy Fortuna's disguises is the spider web that looks to have the whole starry sky trapped in it. The reason it's so convincing is that the spider believes it herself. When Fortuna is killed and the illusions are dispelled, all the other animals run off, and the only remaining sign of life is "the small, dry sound of a spider weeping."
That's writing, that is.
I just want to say- your respect here for old fairytales and how philosophical they can be made me so happy. 🥰
You would be surprised how many people completely miss all the older themes in the fairytales, and see them as silly cheesiness. Fairytales are my JAM, so the understanding was so nice to see. ❤
As a fellow Fairy Tale Jammer, may I recommend the book Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, and Burning Your Boats, the collected short stories of Angela Carter? They're incredible in very different mind-boggling ways.
100% this! I love it so much.
I think king haggard suffered from depression. Christopher lee did a great job. He even was king haggards voice in the german synchronisation. He was amazing
I think I remember Lee could speak fluently in 5 languages. Man was badass.
Lee read the book on the plane and came into the studio with passages underlined that he insisted he had to read.
Sir Christopher Lee was one of the very few people, where Legend, is an understatement...
@@Metzwerg74 true, so ist es
The Last Unicorn is a novel by Peter S Beagle. And he had his say in how the story came about. He actually wrote a short story sequel that just continues to tug at my heartstrings.
The sequel is called "two hearts".its beautifull too
I was blanking out on the title but I have both the novelization of this movie and his book which does contain Two Hearts. I've also read several of his other works.
So you'll be thrilled when I point you toward 'The Way Home', which is a recent publication containing Two Hearts, as well as another novella following the main character of said story, Sooz. It was published with a matching cover to compliment a new release of The Last Unicorn so they look gorgeous together on a shelf.
Also, if you liked the novel of The Last Unicorn, I can recommend literally anything else by Peter S. Beagle. The man can do no wrong, and every book he's written is absolutely beautiful. The fact that he's no as widely known authors like Stephen King and James Patterson is absolutely criminal.
This absolutely one of my favorites and almost no one has done a reaction to it.
While this was a Rankin/Bass film, the animation was done by a Japanese studio called Topcraft. Topcraft also worked with Hayao Miyazaki doing "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind" (also one of my favorite films). As the studio was in financial trouble, Miyazaki bought the studio later and it became Studio Ghibli.
🤯💕!
47:25 I like that Mommy Fortunas raven has been following them and finally settles in the unicorns forest.
Yeah. I’m not even sure what that means
@@whitenoisereacts what does anything mean? Edit: I'm afraid this is a 'do your research' movie, still perfectly fine on it's own either way.
@@whitenoisereactsI think it is a symbolism thing. Ravens generally symbolize loss, so it may be a commentary on what the unicorn lost, and how it remains with her, even after she returns home.
But also, at the beginning, the experienced hunter mentions that the forest is always in spring, so it possibly also symbolizes the change in the forest. That now that the unicorn feels regret, it is very possible that the other three seasons can now become a part of her forest. After all, Seasons tend to have a type of energy associated with them. Spring is life, Summer is most associated with joy, Fall generally represents death/passage of time, and Winter represent rest or possibly depression. As Ravens are most associated with Fall, it can be a hint to this.
But that is just a theory, a FILM---
XD I hope you have a lovely day.
The cat, meanwhile, hitched a ride with Schmendrick and Molly, if you look closely in the farewell scene
What I got the first time watching this masterpiece is: the old greedy people (Mommy and Haggard) wanted inmortality by owning things. But Lir got it by the means of love. By loving and being loved by an inmortal being hes memory, his spirit, his love, will be inmortal.
That is powerful❤
One amazing detail that EVERYONE misses is that when Fortuna's first mook, Rukh, looks at the unicorn, we see what he sees, a white mare. But when it's Shmindrick's turn, the horn is animated in and he *lies* to Fortuna about seeing her as a white mare.
molly grue and her character played a small part in the story but what she stands for means so much to me. 😭😭 the fact unicorns themselves symbolize purity and youth and how upset molly is with amalthea finally making an appearance when she’s been hardened by life and living amongst thieves MAKES ME SOOO AUGSHSH
But she never lost her ability to see unicorns. I think that speaks volumes about the kind of person she is and why she's so important.
I don't know if this was mentioned. sorry if it's a repeat. The Last Unicorn was one of Christopher Lee's favorite books. When he came to his recording sessions, he came with his copy of the book. He even requested certain lines stayed in the film, such as King Haggard's monologue to Amalthea/Unicorn about why he had the red bull capture all of the other unicorns. When the author came to the recording sessions one day, Christopher Lee would go as far as asking the author how he pictured Haggard speaking his lines because he wanted to recite them as the author had envisioned them.
And Jeff Bridges (Lir) was such a fan of the book that he offered to play Lir without pay.
The fact that Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee are all in the same movie is just so amazing. I really do miss movies like this
Yet they couldn't auto tune Mia for her singing
@@catandrobbyflores I'm not sure if auto tune was available back when this was made
@@JaelynMcgee they could have at least used the singer they grabbed for the duet between her and the prince for her voice.
@catandrobbyflores yeah I agree. Her singing and Jeff's aren't the best but the rest of the story makes up for it imo
Amaltheia is actually the name of the first ever Unicorn from Greek mythology. Rather ironic that The Last Unicorn's name as a human is the same name of the first ever Unicorn.
Oh, wow, one of the classics of my childhood that I hadn't expected to see you guys react to; what a nice surprise.
Same here!
Oh wow, I'm so pleasantly surprised to see this review! This movie holds a special place in my childhood, I'm glad you guys enjoyed it.
There are so many deep meanings and messages in this movie, and in the original book, it's amazing. Even the butterfly's seemingly random nonsense had many truths and foreshadowing in them. The underling theme of immortality going through the entire film gives it a somber feeling.
My entire childhood just punched me in the face so hard with nostalgia i almost passed out, doom GOD i haven't seen this movie for an entire DECADE
I feel like with immortality emotions might not be a strong because you live through so much and things might not touch you as much. Regret you feel because you cannot change something, but if you are immortal you have time to change things. Regret is about missed opportunities.
Beautiful way of putting it!
Thanks for the reaction you guys and both of you are correct as much like the Hobbit and the Return of the King tv specials by Rankin Bass, _The Last Unicorn_ was animated by Topcraft, which was a Japanese animation studio that eventually was closed in 1985, but some of it’s assets would be acquired by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Isao Takahata that would later form Studio Ghibli. Interestingly, Topcraft animated and developed Miyazaki’s debut film _Nausicaä._
You two just made my day! My cousins and I have loved The Last Unicorn since we saw it as children back in 1982. We had Betamax copies of the film, then VHS, and finally DVDs. When we were growing up, it became a Christmas tradition to watch the film at family gatherings. So happy that you enjoyed the story as well as the animation. The voice actors were favourites even back then: Jeff Bridges (Lir), Mia Farrow (Amalthea), Alan Arkin (Shmendrick), Tammy Grimes (Molly Grue) Christopher Lee (Haggard), Angela Lansbury (Mommy Fortuna)... even René Auberjonois (Skull).
I remember the beta small vhs tapes I believe I had this recorded on it with the Care Bears movie and my little ponies movie I would always watched it and then our beta stopped working and I missed watching them then when Netflix came out with the DVDs these movies I got right a way to watch them 😂 I was born in 1990 tho 😂 so much nostalgia 😂 I loved watching this movie over and over never got old
AHHHH! This is my favorite movie ever. And the book is... incredible. If you guys are readers, check it out. They obviously had to leave stuff out for the runtime. One of my favorite things from the book that I wish they included is that Schmendrick is actually immortal himself - his teacher knew there was great magic inside of him, but he was so inept, his teacher made him immortal so he would live long enough to figure out how to use his power. Once he becomes a real magician, he becomes mortal again and will live out the rest of his life, growing old and eventually dying. And it's my opinion that the wizard in "The Innkeeper's Song" by the same author is an elderly version of Schmendrick at the end of his life.
When Alan Arkin passed, I was hysterically crying and I think I kept saying, "HE WAS FINALLY MORTAL HE GOT HIS BEARD HE WAS A REAL MAGICIAN" (Which I guess is a little reductive since Alan Arkin did make other things lol.) But that's what I felt happening.
@@katburkard5389 OMG, same. I was so sad. He found his magic at last. We;ve lost so many of that amazing cast - I believe Mia and Jeff are the only ones left.
@@JenniLeigh81 (it's the same person on my other account) I was literally just crying over that last night watching this video. Every time someone came on screen, I was like, oh it's...ohhhh. RIP.
When I got married (ten years ago this week!), I walked down the aisle to the last verse of the theme.
The Last Unicorn is so dear to my childhood and to many others’ as well. Peter S. Beagle’s novel is one of my favourite pieces of literature and it was adapted exceptionally well in this animated movie. Thank you both for reacting to this film- you guys made my day :)
Years ago, I was a security guard at an America concert. I was actually excited because The Last Unicorn was a favorite movie of mine. They actually sang the main song that night. I was in heaven.❤
Fun fact: Sir Christopher Lee, who spoke fluent German, dubbed his own voice / lines for the German version of the movie.
I don't say that often: the German dubbig is really good - the Voice-Cast in my ears fits even better to the Characters than the original Cast. o_0 Of course not every Joke can be translated but they did very good.
King Haggard seems to represent the bitterness that comes with age, that loss of wonder and hope in the world, and he's left hollow, bored, disenchanted, and depressed because he's a king and yet he has nothing. He's alone in the castle, apart from his adopted son who temporarily brought him happiness, and his only vice was kidnapping immortal unicorns as a happiness substitute. That's twisted yet tragic.
Every actor/actress in this movie is a legend!
Mia Farrow as the Unicorn/Lady Amalthea,
Alan Arkin as Schmendrick, the magician
Jeff Bridges as Prince Lír,
Tammy Grimes as Molly Grue,
Robert Klein as The Butterfly,
Angela Lansbury as Mommy Fortuna,
Christopher Lee as King Haggard,
I loved this movie as a child, and it opend the door for me to myths and fantasy.
The interesting point of the book is that you can't really pinpoint when its story is meant to be set. Not just where, but you're never even sure when, it could be far ago in the past, or today in a more rural region of the world or sometimes in the future. It's a very strange and fascinating read. The movie is beautiful and a piece of art, but together with the book it becomes complete. This is one of the very few examples of a book and a movie completing and adding to each other. An absolute perfect and ideal project of art.
So fun fact, several of the animators from this movie were let go after this movie because the studio closed, but they were later hired by Miazaki. They became Ghibli animators.
Also, if you like these older animations might I recommend The wind in the willows. It's a fun childhood movie that I remember loving to the point where I went out and found the child's novel and have purchased a digital copy of the movie for me to watch whenever I like.
Or if you want to go deep, and get really dark with it
Watership down.
The Last Unicorn is an absolute masterpiece of an animated film! i love everything about it the story, the animation, the voice acting Mia Farrow did an outstanding job voicing the Unicorn. And I enjoy how surprisingly dark it gets. And don't get me started on the films opening song, the band "America" did such a first rate job on that masterpiece! it was a fluid song for a 80's animated film!
Agreed. Un underrated classic.
I have never seen this movie or heard of it!
A unicorn was always on my Christmas list.
I'm still waiting!!🤔
This was my FAVORITE movie growing up, I still am compelled to belt out the songs at the top of my lungs and I LOVE the themes now that I'm old enough to understand them.
I have loved this film ever since I was a kid. Watching it again as an adult that has gone through some really turbulent times really drives home some very key themes of the story.
It's worth mentioning that the entire film is based on the book of the same name by Peter S. Beagle. Many of the scenes from the book were cut to shorten the time of the film, and I think the character that suffers the most from that is Molly Grue. It is heavily implied that she is a former princess who could not will herself marry her betrothed, as it was tradition for maidens to be visited by unicorns before their wedding day, to bless her and the marriage. It was supposed to also be a symbol of virginity and purity. But because the unicorns had vanished, Molly did not get her unicorn visit, and later ended up with Captain Cully as a result. With all this in mind, her grief upon seeing Amalthea is perfectly human and heartwrenching. She wanted her life to be more, and all of it fell on her in that single moment.
This film and it's story is succinct and begins a conversation on the concept of mortality and what really makes us human. The book is wonderful, if you liked the movie then you will most likely enjoy the book. They are both severely underrated.
This is such an incredible movie, and you made some excellent points in your discussion. The characters are incredibly well crafted, and the story is beautiful and enjoyable for children, but at the same time offers so much food for thought if you get older, because completely different themes stand out to you in different stages in life. That's why it holds up so well, even after all these years.
The Last Unicorn is a very good film, one of my favorite novel based movies! It is the one thing that got me interested in mythical creatures, aside from books. I like the story, the characters, the art style, and the songs as well, especially the title song.
I’m A if iyou’re iiai😅❤ ohh so pretty 😮😅
I don’t know 😅 a kid pop l😮❤ i😂ilp ❤😅 33:15 k is pl Lu i
You realized that there are many profound statements in this movie. As a youth I heard the prince say that he knew what heroes were for, and it had meaning. But when I remembered it, walking alone, outside of the base overseas, to find out why the convoy we signaled to come in wasn’t moving, it was more profound, and had more depth.
When the unicorn first meets him, Shmendrick is living with a curse. His teacher realized that Shmendrick's incompetence was so profound that a greater power must have designs on him. So the teacher cursed Shmendrick with immortality, until he comes to his power and fulfils his destiny. His meeting with the unicorn was a big clue as to what he needed to do with his life and get his curse lifted.
Spoilers!! We want them to read the book!!
Highly recommend the book. It's not that long, but goes much deeper into all of the characters, how they got where they are when the Unicorn meets them, and how the Unicorn is changed--and still the same--after her quest. For every brilliant almost throw-away line in the movie, the book probably has three.
Jeebus...that main theme still kills me everytime I hear it. It did when I was 10 years old and it still does to this day.
If you want to continue this journey into Rankin/Bass fantasy, may I next recommend "The Flight of Dragons." As much as I enjoy "The Last Unicorn" and "The Hobbit," that is my all time favorite fantasy animation.
Yes! I love that one too! That one has some great themes in it too. Magic vs science, fantasy vs logic, nature vs man's greed and industrialization
James Earl Jones's an absolute phenomenon in that film. His speech of defiance and weaponizing human evil still haunts me to this day.
"Unicorns are in the world again. No sorrow will live in me as long as that joy. Save one. And I thank you for that part, too".
If that line doesn't move you then you have *no* romance in your soul. And if Molly's words upon meeting the unicorn don't break your heart, then you were never a disappointed child.
!!!! The final lines spoken to Schmendrick always move me to tears. You can hear the heaviness but also lightness in her voice. She'll never be able to look at her home the same again. I so desperately wish we had more animations with this much beauty and complexity.
The way the book describes Molly during that speech is just... oof. It hurts to read:
"And what good is it to me that you're here now? Where where you twenty years ago, ten years ago? How dare you, how dare you come to me now, when I am this?" With a flap of her hand she summed herself up: barren face, desert eyes, and yellowing heart."
Christopher Lee was a huge fan of this story and film, he was also ready and willing to reprise his role in live action, but it just never came to be during his life time.
He is still alive but modern Hollywood would screw it up.
@@biguy617 … no, he sadly passed a few years ago.
@@nickmanzo8459 if that is true may he RIP
Okay I absolutely loved this movie growing up, and even now in my 20s it's still such a beautiful film. You did say you wanted to know everything about this film, so I figured I'd drop the few facts that I know about it.
1) This film was actually originally intended for an adult audience. It was marketed as an adult fairy tale adventure at first, which is why some of the content is so deep and not traditional for a children's story.
2) The author of the book is the one who wrote/adapted it into the movie because he didn't trust anyone else to do it justice
3)The whole cast was the author's first pick of actors (which doesn't often happen). Not to mention that Jeff Bridges (Prince Lir) wanted to be in the film so bad that he actually offered to voice act for free if that's what it took
4) The Last Unicorn was animated by the studio that would later become Studio Ghibli (and yes, Topcraft did animate The Hobbit as well)
5) In the book, Prince Lir had more of a happy ending. If I remember correctly, after he loses everything (his father, home, and love) he rebuilds his father's land and ends up finding love with a princess
This such an absolutely unique masterpiece. It's beautifuly drawn, the music is stunning leading you subtly through the story which is deep, emotional, bittersweet until the end.
Molly meeting the unicorn makes me cry every single time it's absolutely heartbreaking.
"Where were you when I was new, when I was one of those innocent maidens you'd always come to?" This line always manages to make me tear up; it cuts so deep :( Molly crying out in anger and grief at a beacon of hope come too late is heartwrenching but I think the fact that she can still see the unicorn in her true form is just as impactful. She views herself as an old woman who’s innocence and purity have withered away, but some part of it is still in there even though she is no longer a young maiden.
The nostalgia this gives me, the title song gave me goosebumps I love it sm. I watched this a lot as a child which surprises me now bc I was pretty easily scared and the first time I watched it again when I was older I realised that it's actually a lot darker than I remembered - amazing though, still absolutely worth watching today for adults as well imo
The style, soundtrack, the story telling and pacing. Everything about this movie is excellent!
I'm 44 now. I grew up *devouring* this movie. 🦄 As a child, I would watch it on VHS tape every day. I could recite it in my sleep. At some point, my father forbid me watching it, because he feared the video recorder would break from me using it so much to watch this movie. 😅 But I couldn't be stopped: I'd simply watch it when he was at work - and he'd still know, because he'd come home to me dressed in my mother's long, flowy nightgowns (they reminded me of Amalthea's princess dresses), "galloping" around our magnolia tree. He'd facepalm and sigh: "She's watched that film again!" 🤣In the end, he didn't get mad about it. His way to wake me up in the morning was by drumming his fingers in a galloping rhythm on my room's door, because he knew how much I loved it. ❤
As I'm watching this video right now, a DVD of this movie is sitting on a shelf to the right of my screen. I don't watch it every day anymore. Sometimes a few years pass before I watch it again. But it doesn't get old, ever. And to this day the songs in this movie are the only songs I can sing by heart. And I haven't discarded the idea to add the last unicorn to the many tattoos I've collected so far. It would definitely have earned it's place on my skin. And... I still like wearing long, flowy nightgowns and dresses when the mood strikes me. I sew them myself. And when I go for hikes in the nearby woods and nobody is around, I might still "gallop" like a horse on occasion. Magic only stops existing, when you outgrow the things you were passionate about as a child. 😉
I feel like the reason she can feel sorrow and not regret is because sorrow is an emotion that’ll go away with time, but regret is something that sticks with you because you ran out of time. Since she is immortal she doesn’t need regret because she has all the time in the world
I think the word/concept you're trying to find at the end is melancholy. Ive always felt the perfect age to watch this movie is 10-12. That age where kids are starting to let go of the magic of childhood. Where you begin to stop believing in fairies and unicorns, just as the movie world is losing the magic of unicorns in the world. There's a mourning to the slow loss of magic in the world that runs in the background of this movie. Theres a want to cling to last vestiges of magic & wonder in the characters like king haggard, captain cully's men and those who visit mommy fortuna's caravan. I think this melancholy is for the readers/watchers of this story and the release of the unicorns from the sea means hope that maybe, just maybe, not all the magic has left the world if you look for it.
The song the last unicorn that plays in this movie is sung by Kenny loggins same man who sang danger zone (Top Gun) and footloose. He also has a fantastic lullaby CD, when my sister and I watched this movie we were like ”It’s the song from our CD!!!” 😱😱😱 anyway thought you guys would appreacaite that tidbit. y’all’s channel is awesome keep it up!
I loved this movie. It got me started on my unicorn collection, which has since been lost. I found the soundtrack in a thrift shop. I listened to it so much i knew it by heart. Thanks for bringing back fond memories.
This was actually one of my favorite movies as a kid. I think that what a lot of studios and adults don’t realize is that kids love stories with complex themes and danger. And this movie in particular has aged well and I’ve watched it at every age of my life and it’s one of my favorite movies for a reason. I appreciate it more as an adult than I did as a child but I watched it more as a child than I do as an adult because I loved it so much.
Molly was furious at the unicorn's late arrival because, in Folklore, unicorns come to virgins; Amalthea is the name of the she-goat who nursed the infant Zeus; the movie is based on an award-winning novel by Peter S. Beagle (he also wrote the screenplay)
god im so glad to finally see a reaction to this movie, it's been one of my all-time favourite things ever since i was a kid and so few people have seen it. it's gotten to a point where as a kid i loved it cause of unicorns, but these days it makes me so endlessly emotional about the story and its themes, the discussion of immortality and happiness never fail to get me. i can very much recommend the book by peter s beagle, i finally got around to reading it in my adulthood and there's some very very nice additional bits that the movie left out in regards to immortality and such. i deeply love both movie and book and they work so well with each other.
This was one of my favorite movies growing up and I would even listen to the soundtrack over and over (still do when the mood strikes me). Watching it again as an adult I find myself appreciating it even more - you don't get a lot of animated films (especially intended for children/families) that feature the kind of bitter-sweet ending we see here, the darker and high fantasy themes and creature + character designs really make it stand out from the Disney and Disney-esque works from the same time. My family had the German dub on VHS and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Christopher Lee (fluent in German) dubbed the German track for King Haggard as well.
I'm happy to see lots of people are telling you to read the book. I'm just here to say that, too. The movie stayed pretty close, but there was so much that couldn't be fit in--from what you guys say about the film, I know you'd appreciate all the details that were missed.
She didn't release the harpy to kill Mommy. She released the harpy because she couldn't leave another immortal creature in captivity.
The last unicorn truly hits a feeling of hope and loss. That while the world can be dark, it is up to you to find your own happiness but dont lose yourself to a false joy. You should do troll in central park, secret of nimh, little nemo, rock a doodle,and once upon a forest are all older somewhat unappreciated animations. They are all darker compared to todays mostly light hearted animations. If you want really dark animations try watership down(one of absolute favs) plague dogs, or felidae. I hope you'll see these all someday
Thank you for reacting to this gem, it is one of my all-time favourites for sure. It is just such a magnificent movie.
Also some fun facts;
Christopher Lee didn't just voice King Haggard in the English dub, but also in the German one since he was basically fluent in German. He was also said to have come to the recording sessions with his personal copy of the book with some lines of Haggard highlighted that he instisted were to be kept in the movie since he loved the story so much.
The movie is a fairly close adaptation of the book. There are only two somewhat major plotthreads left out (most likely for time and/or pacing reasons):
1. In the book, Schmendrik is actually just as immortal as the unicorn. Thousands of years ago, he was a student of the greates magician that had ever lived. So great in fact, he had been the only wizard to ever have been known transforming a unicorn into a human man in order to save it from hunters. Tho even that greatest wizard of all times then didn't have the power to change the unicorn back into it's original form. Schmendrik used to be a horrible student, so terrible that other wizard doubted he posessed any magic at all. His mentor tho recognized that the opposite was true; Schmendrik posessed so freaking much magic that a single human lifetime could never be enough to master it, so he turned Schmendrik immortal against his will "until he could truly master his magic". Thus, Schmendrik and the unicorn have quite a few disagreements about the nature of immortality in the book - the unicorn thinking that immortality reigns supreme, whereas Schmendrik insists that mortality is what makes life beautiful, as it gives life meaning in the first place.
2. Before reaching King Haggard's castle, the band comes across a town at the foot if the castle, called Hagsgate. The town is very prosperous but they realize there are only middle-aged and old people living in it. Upon questioning the townsfolk, they revealed that a 20-ish years ago, King Haggard hired a witch to build his castle. However after she finished her work, he refused to pay her. She turned to the town's people to help her get her due, but they refused her too. Enraged, she put a curse on them; they would prosper, with good trades and bountyful harvests. But one day it would be a child born of this town that would bring ruin to both the castle and the town. Thus, the villagers decided to just ride the good times as long as possible and stop having children. However, someone didn't keep it in their pants and one winter, a child was found in the towns square. The villagers wanted to let it freeze to avoid the curse, but some stray cats kept it warm (which is one of many instances in the book where the characters note upon them realizing they are in a fairytale, as they immediately recognize this child would be marked for greatness, only further convincing them that the child should not be allowed to live). The next morning the child was gone, but King Haggard suddenly proclaimed that he had a son. After the unicorns' stampede destroyed the castle and Hagsgate, one of the townsfolk comes foward, admitting that he was Lir's father, which sadly doesn't ease the bitterness he feels at the end of the story. Tho, just as they are about to leave together, Schmendrik and Molly come across a young princess who is looking for a hero to help her avenge her betrayed father and get her kingdom back; Schmendrik just points her in Lir's direction, telling her to go find him. So there is some hope that Lir might find happyness one day yet again.
This is my all-time favorite film from childhood. I still love it just the same today!
I was born in '66. the book came out in '68 and I got it for my 5th birthday. I adored the story. When the movie came out in '82 I was a freshman in HS. It took me back to childhood. It def hits different as a grown adult. This book and movie will forever have a special place in my heart.
Yes, this is such a classic! To this day I can still remember the main song from my childhood as well as the skeleton saying ‘UNICOORRRN UNICORRRN!’
I remember this movie was one of my favorites to watch growing up. It is absolutely gorgeously animated, and there was no story like it. Such a classic. 💜
"There are no happy endings, because nothing ends." - A True Wizard 🧙
As a man rapidly approaching his 50s, this has long been one of my favorite movies. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
TLU fans are, generally speaking, quiet but dedicated, and easy to miss... except for the size and sheer number of TLU tattoos many of them have, yeesh.
At the end of the movie, the unicorn states that she, unlike other unicorns, now feels regret. However, she also states that, because the unicorns are free, she has no sorrows, except for one... but she thanks Schmendrick for that sorrow, too.
The sorrow she's speaking of is that she loved Lir and lost him. Straight out of the old adage, though, she apparently feels that it is better to have loved him, even though she lost him, than to have never known that love at all. Because of that, she thanks Schmendrick for (the opportunity to have felt) that sorrow, in addition to thanking him for helping free the unicorns.
It's both romantic and horrifying, if you think about it: She will live forever with the memory of that blissful love (an emotion no other unicorn feels), but will also spend an eternity with the pain and emptiness of having lost it.
If you're interested in more Rankin/Bass fantasy, check out The Flight of Dragons. It doesn't have songs throughout, like this one, but it does have a cool opening song, by Don McLean. Don't be fooled by the fact that they farmed the cover art out to the lowest bidder; the animation is pretty much right up there with The Last Unicorn, even if it's doesn't reach the emotional heights of this gem.
The Secret of NIMH is another good animated feature that doesn't soften its edges, just because the movie is for children.
The opening with the trees is I think using the multi-plane camera (it was created and used by disney for Bambi, Fox and the Hound, and other movies with forests) the trees are painted on multiple pieces of glass that when layered on top of each other create depth, plus since they’re painted on separate glass panels they can be moved to create motion like that scene.
This movie is my childhood. But finding adults who know it, or even know the book is rare. Nothing has had such a profound affect on me like this story, the music, the meaning, and the characters. I've always thought the animation was gorgeous. To see two young people loving it and appreciating it, 40 odd years on, has me tearing up. I love how much you valued it. That it can still hit hard is everything.
Another movie from that era I always loved was a Flight of Dragons. Not sure if you've done it but here's the trailer: ua-cam.com/video/vn9xV6_yyG0/v-deo.html
This movie is sooo good
This and the book are incredible. The story, the soundtrack and art. Goddamn was I hyped to see that cover art in the thumbnail. Never clicked on a video so fast.
The Last Unicorn 🦄 is and always will be my Most Favorite Childhood Animated Movie ever made with Songs by AMERICA
"Do not boast, old woman. Your death sits in that cage, and she hears you."
"You have let your doom in by the front door, but it will not depart that way!"
One of my favorite Fun Facts about this film is Haiyo Miazaki loved it so much that he hired most of the animators. Many of them still work at Studio Ghibli ❤
Fun fact:
I am German and this movie is shown on TV each Christmas over here, so I grew up watching it once a year. Chrisopher Lee is King Haggard in German, too. I wonder, what other languages he did the voice over for.
I still hope to see those tapestries in the beginning in person. They did an incredible job replicating them for the movie.
Where did they get the reference from?Like where are the originals?
@@whitenoisereacts Hunt of the Unicorn/Unicorn Tapestries it was created in the late Middle Ages around 1495-1505. IIRC a Rockefeller donated them and they are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
@@whitenoisereacts (hope you see this, not sure if UA-cam tells you about replies to other comments) If you search for "the unicorn tapestries" or "the hunt of unicorn" you can see details of them. They are made of wool, and were woven around 1500. They're currently housed in the Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I've wanted to see them since I was a kid because of this movie, lol.
@whitenoisereacts The Cloisters in NY
I've loved this movie since before I have memories. When I found out the tapestries were real, I cried. I've not seen them yet, but I'm certain I will.
The scene with molly crying is because there was an old European folk tradition of unicorns coming to innocent and pure maidens. And now she finally sees one when she has been tricked, used, and feels she is old and worn out.
i want to thank you both for reacting to this movie. it's a gem and i'm happy you both had a chance to see it. it's one of the most beautiful films and literally takes you one on a journey. I did crack up though wheny ou both laughed at molly's bluntess when she told haggard the other wizard doesnt make him happy and he's like how so? her response " well just look at you!"
That song, "The Last Unicorn" makes me tear up for reasons I can't explain. The beautiful melancholy in this movie is incomparable.
Molly Grue is one of my favorites in this movie, and when she sees the Unicorn for the first time it is another powerful moment of that theme of mortality, since Molly cries "How dare you come to me now, when I am like this, instead of one of those maidens you always come to?"
Also, I think you guys should check out Flight of Dragons if you want to explore similar animation and fantasy from around that time
this was my ultimate favorite movie when i was a kid. i was so obsessed, that my uncle got me the comic, which now goes for $60-150 😳 i still have it but i’ve never opened it…
So lucky.. 🥰
Great reaction. Thanks!