Review of The Black Cauldron (1985) by Adrian Z — 30 Nov 2013

As the 25th and final of the "classic" Disney films, a lineage started with Snow White and The Seven Dwarves nearly 50 years before this film was released, The Black Cauldron's serviceable sword and fantasy story may seem a bit of a missed opportunity.

I kept thinking a very simplified Lord Of The Rings, although it's inspired by a completely different set of books, which reportedly hold a greater depth than what Disney execs eventually allowed to seep through.

That said, the story should probably go down well enough with younger male viewers, even if the villain (John Hurt) and his army of the dead may be a little too vivid for very young ones. On a technical level, though, the film is extraordinary.

The animation stretches back to the lush, detailed style of the earlier Disney features, before the simplified look of the 50s and 60s, and as such, is a wonder to behold. Silky smooth character animation, backgrounds imbued with dark and rich colours (working with a palette that is in fact darker than usual Disney fare) enhanced by some nifty special effects.

It had the highest animation budget to date, and it shows.