The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary

Adapted from Lloyd Alexander's popular young-adult novels, The Chronicles of Prydain, Disney's 1985 animated adventure fantasy The Black Cauldron is a classic odyssey tale set in a realm of magic, where the evil Horned King (voiced by John Hurt) wants to rule the world and a lowly assistant pig-keeper named Taran (Grant Bardsley) becomes a hero by trying to stop him. The object of Taran's quest is a black cauldron with magical powers; the challenge lies in reaching it before the villain—a task that involves recapturing Hen Wen, a clairvoyant pig who knows the cauldron's location but has been kidnapped by sinister forces. Disney wanted to serve up something darker after 1981's The Fox and the Hound, but The Black Cauldron's classical animation style—combined with a hero right out of The Sword in the Stone, and a cartoonish mob of ogres, goblins, fairies, and other creatures—makes this PG-rated movie feel more like a G-rated lark, downright quaint and innocent next to the shadowy dangers of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. DVD extras include a deleted scene (or, more accurately, an alternate version of the meeting between Taran and the fairy folk), a 1952 Donald Duck cartoon, set-top games, and a gallery of artwork and stills. The Black Cauldron failed to attract much of an audience during its premiere run and remains a minor Disney entry. Optional. (S. Axmaker)