Does anyone find it odd that the spell Nikos was known for was specifically casting a changing spell on a unicorn that turned one into a man? Ok here me out on this crazy theory but what if that man was King Haggard? He went on to marry a woman and he was well respected (becoming a king) In the movie when he gave advice to Lady Amalthea he said something along the lines of how love is exciting at first and eventually it fades. He is shown, like the unicorn, to express only simple emotions like sorrow and knowing joy but never regret. Remember that a recurring point is that only pure people can see unicorns. King Haggard is far from pure but he can see them. And he finds joy in nothing but seeing them. Think about it, the previous magician quite possibly tried to make him happy but his way was conjuring the red bull. The red bull is perhaps the manifestation of his lost unicorn powers. He is controls that power but at the same time, it keeps him prisoner for it is something he no longer had but is always there hidden away.
I love this. And would actually make sense. Hagard feels joy looking at the unicorns, like when you see something and you know it belongs to a good memory, but you can't really remember what exactly.
There's also an emphasis on unicorns having rejuvenating powers. It's said that it's always springtime in a unicorn's meadow and being in the presence of a unicorn can restore one's youth and beauty. Unicorns can normally heal wounds too and even return the recently dead to life, as the unicorn does to Lir at the end of the story. But earlier, after being turned human, Amalthea is unable to heal an injured horse and it dies. Although the town of Hagsgate is cursed to flourish until the day the castle comes down, Haggard's castle and immediate surroundings themselves are barren despite the presence of unicorns, and it only flourishes again after they are set free. So it would seem that Haggard becoming mortal not only stripped him of his powers, but made them work in reverse, turning his realm cold and dark and barren and bereft of anything beautiful or joyous. The book also has a line when he confronts Amalthea on the tower where she looks at him and gets a sense of them being the same somehow. Even in the movie where the story about Nikos and his unicorn is cut, Haggard is drawn with fluffy white hair and a beard resembling the male unicorns shown in the tapestries hanging in his castle. Tapestries the movie deliberately draws attention to by framing Amalthea's head to line up with the unicorns' horns to remind us of her true form. Haggard is what Amalthea would've become if she'd stayed human and married Lir.
One exchange from the end of the book that I absolutely love that didn't make it into the movie. "They (Molly and Lír) love you more, I think, though I do the best I can." "That is why," she said, and he could not tell what she was answering. It just speaks so goddamn truly. Schmendrick clearly does love the Unicorn but he doesn't adore her. At least not in the same way as the fanatical love of his companions. And the Unicorn knows and acknowledges this, not in a way that makes any of the love from her from her three followers lesser. And then we learn she said nothing to Lír (because anything would be too painful for her) and something secret to Molly (because it's to personal to disclose). Leaving us with just her words to Schmendrick, something more tangible, rational and understandable. It's just beautiful on so many levels.
I love the last unicorn so much. As for why the unicorn freed the harpy even though the harpy said she would kill her, I think you're somewhat right in that she was compelled. She could no more leave the harpy chained then she could abandon her quest to find her kind. I also think the unicorn didn't really believe the harpy COULD kill her since there's so very few things that can.
It makes more sense in the film because the harpy says "set me free, we are sisters you and I" that would convince Amalthea. I really want that graphic novel.
In the book,when Mommy Fortuna poses as Elli,it actually scares the Unicorn,it makes her feel frightened, old and disgusting.Even when she knows it's really Mommy Fortuna,she's still afraid of her.She mentions to herself"Mommy Fortuna knows more than she knows she knows,"
I remember watching this as a child, and being both enchanted and confused by the story line (Not knowing as a child that this was a book). I laughed a little at the Harpy part, because I remember the harpy having that weird voice. But when watching the movie it kinda made sense to me when the harpy mentions they are 'Sisters.' Because they where both as the harpy puts it immortal creatures thus that is why she said they where of the same. But yeah, I never understood as a child why the unicorn would willingly let the harpy go given the threat the harpy possessed. Nor the whole unicorns not fighting back the Red Bull; when there where many of them, and one little demonic hell spawn of a bull. I enjoyed your comparisons of the book and movie, and I think both are a fun one to check out.
I think i understand her decision. If there was a bear caged and suffering... i think despite its danger most would want to help it. Its still an animal, like us, and we hurt to see it suffer... it should be back where it belongs, even if it poses a danger to us. Its possible its hard for a mortal creature like a human to feel the same way to an immortal being, seeing them as a fellow animal. Its hard enough for us to even see certain other animals as worthwhile - such as bugs - because they are so different. But a Unicorn is immortal too. She would not have such issue.
Watched the movie when I was a kid in the 80s, fell in love with it, and since then the book as well. The line "there is no happy ending because nothing ever ends" is my favourite quote and sums up why I love it so much. It's really melancholic and the perfect fairy tale. One other thing to mention is the end suggests a budding romance between schmendrik and Molly;)
It's actually more than just the end. There are many more innuendos about Molly and schmendrik in the book that are worth mentioning. The jealousy he feels at first when Molly is, as a woman of pure heart, much closer to the unicorn and physically expresses it by touching her which offends schmendrik as he is more deferent towards the unicorn.
That's true, and I believe the book mentioned Schmendrick having children in the future too! But, truly, if not for the sadder ending I don't think the movie would be as memorable.
I grew up watching The Last Unicorn and around this time last year, I finally bought the book. I found Molly was portrayed a lot younger in the book. You also forgot to mention that Shmedric found his control over the magic and is aging again.
Wow, that's interesting. People in prison read whatever they can, I'm sure, but it's still fun to build a story around. What kind of prisoner cared so deeply about this tale of childhood,innocence, mortality. legacy and loss? When did he (she? They?) get this special copy? What role did it play in recovery or enduring prison and what was the impact of it's loss? Was it a kind prison library gift from someone unfamiliar with it's value? Probably not such interesting answers, really, but it's fun to speculate. Was it propping the bed legs up straight, evening them out, or was it lost underneath? Is that the first time you read it, bored in a jail bunk?
It was a lot less creepy in the book. The tree didn't have giant wooden titties, for one. Also, while in the movie that scene is just a weird moment of broad comedy in an otherwise melancholy film, in the book it fits right into the theme of mortality vs immortality.
I KNEW IT I've seen this movie countless times since I was 3 and each time Lir felt empty(and kinda useless), I knew there was no real love between them and the unicorn saying he wants her how the bull did makes so much sense.
I love this movie so much, it was a huge part of my childhood. I remember running around the house pretending to be a unicorn and drawing a star on my forehead 😂💕
I actually met the author before the pandemic & asked him a few questions like how powerful is the red bull. I was asking how the red bull would do against various superheroes & he said the red bull was supposed to be a manifestation of fear & it can't really hurt someone if they're not afraid.
Thank you for compairing, even tho they skipped a couple of things in the film, I still think it is a very accurate translation. Even the lines they said in the movie were almost the same as in the book. This will stay my all time favourite movie and book :) From the graphic novel, I never liked the fact how they changed the symbol on lady Amaltheas forehead in the comics from a star to a flame.
I ALMOST DIED WHEN YOU SHOWED THE PICTURE OF KAGOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Inuyasha but when I try to talk to anyone my age about it, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂
I watched the movie as a kid, and read the book as an adult. The movie is a pretty good adaption of the book, which I can admit doesn't usually happen lol. Of course they can't put everything into the movie, and they change stuff due to time constraints.
2:55 Awwww... The poor Spider... That part actualy made me the creepy-crawly-lover I am today. "Why, if that troop of witlings withdrew their wonder, there’d be nothing left of all her witchery but the sound of a spider weeping. And no one would hear it.”
I just had a thought, mainly due to the comic still your showed, what if the reason behind Smendrick's intense yet locked away power is because he's the son of the unicorn turned into a man?
You... you just broke my brain! That would make a LOT of sense, because I couldn't understand myself why Shmendrick didn't have very much of his background explained!
Yeah, and when he says in the movie, to the unicorn, "if I were blind I would know what you are" maybe its to do with your theory of him being the unicorns son, even if he doesn't know it
The book outright states that the unicorn-turned-man never had any children. He married the woman he was with when he was transformed, but they were unable to have any kids.
Does the book say the fate of that unicorn-man? I have never read the book but watching this made me expect the final chapter to reveal that Haggard was the unicorn.
It's been years since I read the book. The only difference I could remember after all this time was that the bandits offered Schmendrick a taco and I thought it was hilarious.
Thanks! It was so weird reading the book and hearing the lines from the movie in the characters voices. Yeah, I might have seen it a few thousand times.. :)
When Haggard is told "You have let your doom and by the front door," everyone assumes it means the unicorn. What if it actually means Molly Grue? If she is Haggard's daughter based on your theory, then the curse of the witch could relate to Molly....
This film, along with Flight of Dragons, was my childhood. Like, hands down. On the Red Bull being blind in the book but this not mentioned in the film - the film does depict the bull's eyes as bright milky white, as if it has cataracts, so perhaps they were trying to show blindness that way.
About the blindness of the red bull, I can't remember if they mention it in the movie, but I do know that he can't see her, but he can hear her or smell her or something. Something to do with him not noticing them until they move or something?
I seem to remember something like that too. I had always been confused during about the unicorn's transformation to a woman why the red bull just didn't continue since it happened right in front of him.
I assumed it was because it's mission was to drive unicorns into the lake, changing the unicorn into a human meant she no longer was part of its mission. She was no longer of any importance. The blindness part wasn't mentioned as I remember it.
I'm agreeing that the blindness wasn't mentioned from my recollection either. I'm just remembering that scene in the dungeon where the Red Bull is chasing our heroes, Schmendrick says something along the line "He knows" referring to the Red Bull knows "Amalthea" and the Unicorn are the same and begins giving chase. So it seems like physical form doesn't seem to matter to the Red Bull. So it just confuses me that the Red Bull stopped chasing Amalthea at the beginning even though the transformation must've occurred in front of him and later on it doesn't seem to matter human form or not. The blindness angle takes care of that question for me. Of course I could be misremembering. It's been a while since I've seen the movie.
I'm guessing at the author's intent, but if the Red Bull was blind and tracking the unicorn by scent like a bloodhound, then changing or masking the scent throws off the tracker completely. It would be like turning invisible before someone's very eyes. But since the beast is intelligent, it would have eventually figured out how it was duped and that the strange human had to be the unicorn. He just had to think about it for awhile.
In her fight against the Red Bull, after Lyr is killed, it's less that she becomes superpowered and more that she's fighting without fear. Her more human-like emotions aid her and the bull obeys creatures that are without fear, the fight at that point is truly the force of Hagrid's order to capture all the unicorns vs hers that the bull die for what it had done.
"I send all my princesses to him." You really have to love Shmendrick. The current version of the book includes the sequel "Two Hearts" for any fans who don't know that. And a conversation with the author and the publishing agent that will make you smile but leave you asking the same question they had at the end. "What happens when she whistles it?" I still remember the first time I saw this movie. I was on a date with a very lovely girl who wanted to tease at making out. I watched the scene where Molly meets the unicorn during one of my dates cold shoulder moments and...well...I'm sorry Donna, but I have to see how this ends. Then Shmendrick explained it all. "There are no happy endings because nothing ever ends."
Me and my two best friends are basically the only people in our elementary and middle school that have this movie. THE ONLY ONES. And we all owned the movie before we met. That's true friendship.
Honestly, I was never a fan of The Last unicorn as a child, because of the ending. I thought it was too sad and I felt bad for the unicorn. When I got older I watched it again and realized it's a good story and I liked it much more then I did as a kid. I still thought it was a crap end though, that she was essentially condemned to a fate worse then death after gaining human emotions....because while her friends and Lr went off to live happily ever after, she was condemned to insanity....since we humans thanks to our emotions tend to lose our minds when in solitude for long periods of time....and in the movie it pretty much makes it clear she lives in isolation from everyone including other unicorns, which is why she didn't know she was the last...and even if she wasn't alone anymore in terms of proximity to other unicorns she has a new world view thanks to knowing human emotions and that would isolate her.....so either way it's a lose/lose for the unicorn.
Seiena I think only partially, she accomplished her goal of bringing the unicorns back into the world, I think there was a line in the book somewhere that says 'happy endings do not exist, for nothing ever truly ends'. I loved the movie as a little kid, I was kinda sad at how Lir didn't get together with the unicorn but then the message wouldn't have felt as solid in my opinion
It is similar to Frodo's fate at the end of Lord of the Rings. She succeeded in her quest but had to pay a price for it, and must bear the scars of it for the rest of her life.
It's an interesting theory. I've never read the book. I watched the movie on video tape in 1980, shortly after the death of my brother. It could have been the result of trying to come to terms with his death, but I was taken aback by the song " I'm Alive" by the group America. Needless to say I fell in love with the movie and the music. I feel that Molly was just a woman that, for whatever reason, was in company with these men that were thieves and was having a hard time trying to make their profession pay. She obviously had a hard and difficult life, and had a sort of no nonsense, and may I say a bit of a cynical outlook on life too. She meets the unicorn after all her years of hardship and strife; she is now face to face with purity, real magic and, the possibility of a better life! She represents to me the average person, who after years of ups and downs, is resigned to their fate. Then they meet a miracle! It's too good to be true! Why didn't it happen when they were younger, when they could have become someone special! But like the unicorn said, "I'm here now!" So magic can still happen, you can still have a happy ending... you can still sing " I'm Alive!"
One of my favourite movies I watched as a kid. At the time my mind was young to give deep thought about the story. But when I see Amalthea eyes on Lir just after his death, I can't help but shed a tear now. I'm surprise the book had quite a few differences.
JAJAJA I remember this movie from when I was, like, four! OH THE NOSTALGIA I haven't watched it since then, though. The only scenes I can remember are the scene where they're in a castle or something and the skeleton spots the unicorn as a human and starts shouting "UNICORN! UNICORN!" And then at the end when there's, like, a sea of unicorns.
The Last Unicorn remains one of my all-time favorite books, and despite the differences I love the old animated movie. I'd love an accurate live action movie.
YOu can order online a signed copy from The Jean Cocteau Theater In Santa Fe New Mexico. You should really check out Colin Press web site. YOu can order all kinds of cool Unicorn and other such writers and fan items. The Unicorn tour also should start again next year. I have met Peter many times and if you ever come to New Mexico and would like to meet some of your many fan favorites, please let me know. Neil Gaiman will be premiering AmericanGods at GRRM's theater at the end of this month. Let me know if you need footage.
When I was in my teens I happened to buy a copy of The Last Unicorn. I read it and liked it. Years later a movie was made which I thought was close to the book. I later realized the screenplay was by Peter S. Beagle,author of the book. I realized here that a few things in the book were toned down.
Yeah, and he was a lot more mean spirited and petty than I had ever thought of him in the movie. You would think with all that age he'd be much more mature.
The Fangirl yea I definitely agree he was also a bit greedy aswell, definitely stupid of him to haggle that gold away from Drin and not to comply with what he asked. But I guess the mean spirit nature could come from that temporary immortality, probably would suck to not age along side your loved ones/ friends and ultimately out live them.
I bet he just became bitter after all these years and still no magic... I just read the short story 'The Green Eyed Boy' by Peter S beagle. It's about Schmendricks childhood as a student with Nikos. You get to know him as this shy, insecure kid who is disliked by his parents and doesn't seem to think much of himself. I think he acts this way to give himself some confidence and to make himself count, even though he still sees himself as a total failure.
It's actually a short story, just 14 pages long. Beagle was gonna write a collection of 3 short stories about Schmendrick, and two of them I found already including 'The green eyed boy' and 'The woman who married the man in the moon'. I think the 3rd one hasn't been published yet. I haven't found it yet anyway... For the story about his childhood, I bought a back issue of the 'Fantasy and Science fiction' magazine because I couldn't find it anywhere else.... The other story I found here: www.fantasy-magazine.com/new/new-fiction/the-woman-who-married-the-man-in-the-moon/
I freaking love the movie, despite the plot holes and choppy animation. I think it's charming. Plus, I really love the character designs, specifically Amalthea, both as a unicorn and as a human. Also, anyone else think Schmendrick and Molly should be a couple? I ship them. XD I would actually love to see The Last Unicorn be made into a live action movie. So much more from the book could be added, and with how far our technology has come, we could get some awesome effects with Amalthea and the Red Bull. I love the book as well, and I've also read the graphic novel. I believe there's also a short story written by Peter S. Beagle that focuses around Molly and Schmendrick. I haven't read it yet, but I think it's called Two Hearts. You can find it online.
If you read 'two hearts', you'll find that Schmendrick and Molly actually did end up together. It's a lovely story. Beagle also released 3 other 'Schmendrick stories' about his youth. Definitely worth reading if you're a Schmendrick fan!
I think a great book vs movie comparison would be between The Little White Horse and Secret of Moonacre. By the way, love your perspective in your videos.
I grew up with this story. I read the book in elementary school because they had it in our library (my school was pretty old) and don't remember it AS MUCH as the movie but I plan to re-read it with my Adult mind...if that makes any sense. I watched the movie a lot as a kid until my mom saw a few scenes she didn't like and actually got it out of the house...to this day i'm guessing it was the scene with the witch getting eaten by a harpie with saggy boobs... idk. Long story short kids don't know what they see and it's no big deal. as far as the blindness in the bull...? I knew that even as a kid because in the movie they drew it with no pupils or tinting in it's eyes at all...a common thing in anime that means a person is blind or even possessed. And if the bull is linked that much with the king he didn't need his own eyesight, only the master's if he had that ability. just a thought. They did leave a lot of room to speculate.
I have been casting a live action adaptation of the book in my head for years. David Tennant as "Schmendrick", Catherine Tate or Sarah Parrish as "Molly Grue", Amanda Seyfried as "Unicorn/Lady Amalthea", Ian McKellen as "King Haggard", Tom Hiddleston as "Prince Lir", Stephen Fry as "Capt. Cully" or "The Cat", Julie Walters as "Mommy Fortuna", just to name a few. :D
Weirdly enough I think David Tennant would actually be perfect for Schmendrik, and Ian McKellen would be perfect as King Haggard. For some reason I see Helena Bonham Carter or Meryl Streep as Molly Grue though.
It's been a while since I read the book, though it's somewhere in the house. I was also quite interested to see the parts it's explained that the movie was not all that clear on. Probably the biggest parts that stuck in memory was the Midnight Carnival parts and Hagsgate. The movie of "The Last Unicorn" was one that had a huge effect on me as a child, and probably contributes a great deal to my love of fantasy, unicorns, and shapeshifting. On and off I have had characters I have made up who have shape-shifted for various reasons. The earliest two directly influence by TLU, in that they were unicorns, the latest a Silmaril from the Silmarillion (LotR). It's always about something not human[oid] taking a human[oid] form as disguise too (I add the -[oid] because with my RP Silmarils, they tend to be Elves).
It was really fun finding this because I just read the book AND watched the movie afterward for the first time this week. They both were amazing and I loved your discussion!
I have another video talking about the original version of The Last Unicorn book, called The Lost Version. It's amazing how different the book was going to be!
I used to read this book to my daughter at bedtime when she was small. It was her favorite, so when they made a movie, of course we had to go see it! She still has a collection of unicorn figures to this day and she's all grown up now!
Wonderful video! I recently reread the novel and wanted to hear a good analysis on it. Gotta say, yours is spot-on and super informative! I love the format you use for your videos and your voice is really nice to listen to. ❤️ I subscribed immediately! So, after saying all that, I know this is going to be super random but I did spot one tiny misunderstanding in your analysis that really doesn't influence the story at all tbh. Since I haven't seen any other comments regarding this one thing, I will go ahead and write my comment: It was my understanding that Captain Cully and Jack Jingly were the only two who actually became wandering musicians, not the rest of their men. To quote the book: "Wherever they stopped, he left word that all outlaws were pardoned, and Molly hoped that the news would come to Captain Cully and his merry band. As it happened, it did, and all the merry band immediately abandoned the life of the greenwood, saving only Cully himself and Jack Jingly. Together they took up the trade of wandering minstrels and were reported to have become reasonably popular in the provinces." Anyways, I'm so happy you've made so many videos about The Last Unicorn. 💜 I grew up with this movie and didn't get a chance to read the book for the first time until I was already an adult. I certainly recommend the novel to anyone who hasn't read it; you will not regret! 💜
Yeah Movelea, you are right.I could have sworn The Fangirl said that was the name of the snake.So much for me,and I must have read that book a dozen times.But I do know they never mentioned that Schmendrick or anyone else could really bring anything in from another dimension.Total Carney hype.
so much of the story is about the loss of innocence, or the fear of the loss, or longing for return to innocence -- the regret of aging is really reflected over and over -- and the Unicorn is the personification of agelessness, untouched by time / aging
Thank you so much for this video. I originally saw the animated movie in 2002 when i was 10, in Nigeria (yes, we actually get A LOT of old american entertainment) and I suddenly had a huge nostalgic urge to look it up. Didn't know it was a book.
I adore this movie! I used to watch it ALL THE TIME as a child! I've also been especially fond of the music track as well! I always figured it was based off of a book, but was never truly sure until just now. Now, I always hated the part where she turned to a human, but now I see why it was necessary. (I still don't like it.... XD) OH.....I also take it that the disturbing pink breast tree wasn't in the book? I figured it was since it's so random. But apparently not?.......
I’ve been watching it since I was 3-years-old myself, and it is still one of my favorite animated films! I’ve actually done quite a few book theories on The Last Unicorn, so if you ever get to read it I hope you’ll check them out. There are quite a few gaps that line up very nicely for theorizing. I believe the tree IS in the book, but I don’t think it’s as curvaceous! Maybe I’m forgetting that detail and it is, but I’m fairly confident the cartoon decided to lean into making it extra weird lol.
Subbed. And this was a great video. I was lucky enough to meet Peter S. Beagle (and his editor, who he works closely with) several years ago. Wonderful people to talk to (only got to talk to Peter for about 40 minutes, but I talked to his editor for about 2 hours >_
I own the unabridged version of the book and I noticed the book has a larger story at least the unabridged version does the cover that is Goldish yellow where the cover has the Unicorn illustration with a curved horn
She didn't say she forgot men can't see unicorns. She asks why they can no longer see her for what she is, a unicorn. "If men have forgotten how to see unicorns, then maybe there are unicorns in this world after all, unknown, and glad of it."
So this princess Allison whatshername in the end... she isnt the same one who Leer broke off with right? I gave the movie a re-watch just a few days ago... doesn't really hold up. I remember it fondly when I saw it as a kid tho. But seeing it now as a 40 year old, it was very.... mmm thin I should say. Like an old classic where a handsome prince "falls in love" with a pretty face just because. And yeah, watching this video essay you made cleared up some things - like why suddenly the Red Bull just inexplicable cowered in the face of her resolve or that thing about Shmendrick's age.
So I found you through Network 1901 earlier today, and went to go check out your channel. When I heard you say "The Last Unicorn", my favorite movie and book of all time, I was super excited ^^ Anyway, been binge watching your videos since then. I'm so glad I found your channel, it's nice to have someone to listen to while crafting and writing. Thanks for the awesome content!
I did, it was actually the last video I watched before this one. I really like the idea Mama Odie is a fairy in disguise, it made me wonder if you and Shannon think the fairies and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty might also be connected to the Neverland fairies in some way? The three good fairies seem like wish granters as well, bestowing virtues upon Aurora that a monarch parent of that time would wish for their daughter. And, I don't know if you've seen the Tinkerbell movie with the Beast of Neverland, but it struck me as interesting that Maleficent's green magic looks oddly similar to the beast's magic. I also wonder if the fairy from Beauty and the Beast could be connected to Neverland in some way, maybe all Disney fairies are connected to Pixie Hollow? I'd love to see a Fairies theory video as there's just so many loose ends that Disney never seems to touch on twice with these characters
If thinking of history The Last Unicorn reminds me of the historic tapestries of unicorns, I've read the book from the library and have the film, but this unicorn has some stuff in common with Sisu. I can visualize this unicorn and Sisu happily following each other they're both a brave heroine.
Could you imagine if they did like they have been doing with so many other movies and made a live-action version of this that was more dedicated to the original story?
So I read "the last unicorn" and by God it's dark aether A.i read a book with the same title and totally different book Or B.the last unicorns the darkest fucking book in the world
It's a long long time since I read the book, but I do remember there were large sections in it that weren't in the movie. But I didn't remember all of them - thanks for the video!
Elli _(ee-lee)_ is a giantess and the personification of old age in Norse mythology. She is featured as a metaphor in The Utgard-Loki Myth, easily beating Thor in a wrestling match, showing that no one can conquer old age.
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I don't know how id feel if I was a magical unicorn
Turned human
And could never turn back
I'd be devastated
I used to be a magical mog, so now i drink 211 kupo.
That's the truth for many otherkin. Call it what you will, it's how they feel.
You mean if you were a unicorn you can never go back?
I use to be a unicorn like you, then I took a wizard to the knee.
Does anyone find it odd that the spell Nikos was known for was specifically casting a changing spell on a unicorn that turned one into a man? Ok here me out on this crazy theory but what if that man was King Haggard? He went on to marry a woman and he was well respected (becoming a king) In the movie when he gave advice to Lady Amalthea he said something along the lines of how love is exciting at first and eventually it fades. He is shown, like the unicorn, to express only simple emotions like sorrow and knowing joy but never regret. Remember that a recurring point is that only pure people can see unicorns. King Haggard is far from pure but he can see them. And he finds joy in nothing but seeing them. Think about it, the previous magician quite possibly tried to make him happy but his way was conjuring the red bull. The red bull is perhaps the manifestation of his lost unicorn powers. He is controls that power but at the same time, it keeps him prisoner for it is something he no longer had but is always there hidden away.
I love this.
And would actually make sense.
Hagard feels joy looking at the unicorns, like when you see something and you know it belongs to a good memory, but you can't really remember what exactly.
Interesting..
This is fascinating to the point that I'm going to put it in my personal book of theories on movies, I love it.
There's also an emphasis on unicorns having rejuvenating powers. It's said that it's always springtime in a unicorn's meadow and being in the presence of a unicorn can restore one's youth and beauty. Unicorns can normally heal wounds too and even return the recently dead to life, as the unicorn does to Lir at the end of the story. But earlier, after being turned human, Amalthea is unable to heal an injured horse and it dies. Although the town of Hagsgate is cursed to flourish until the day the castle comes down, Haggard's castle and immediate surroundings themselves are barren despite the presence of unicorns, and it only flourishes again after they are set free. So it would seem that Haggard becoming mortal not only stripped him of his powers, but made them work in reverse, turning his realm cold and dark and barren and bereft of anything beautiful or joyous.
The book also has a line when he confronts Amalthea on the tower where she looks at him and gets a sense of them being the same somehow.
Even in the movie where the story about Nikos and his unicorn is cut, Haggard is drawn with fluffy white hair and a beard resembling the male unicorns shown in the tapestries hanging in his castle. Tapestries the movie deliberately draws attention to by framing Amalthea's head to line up with the unicorns' horns to remind us of her true form.
Haggard is what Amalthea would've become if she'd stayed human and married Lir.
I thought Nikos was the Unicorn (uNICOrn) hence the power to freeze Shmedric in his youth like a Unicorn makes a forest always Springtime.
The Last Unicorn was the saddest, most beautiful movie I have ever seen.
And the song is a masterpiece.
I read the book before I ever watched the movie. I dearly loved both the book and the movie.
Both amazing stories
@@funkyfiss i think now that i’m a woman (mia farrow’s version) and that’s all i’ve got to say are the musical masterpieces of the film
The line “I can feel this body dying all around me” hit hard Ngl
One exchange from the end of the book that I absolutely love that didn't make it into the movie.
"They (Molly and Lír) love you more, I think, though I do the best I can."
"That is why," she said, and he could not tell what she was answering.
It just speaks so goddamn truly. Schmendrick clearly does love the Unicorn but he doesn't adore her. At least not in the same way as the fanatical love of his companions. And the Unicorn knows and acknowledges this, not in a way that makes any of the love from her from her three followers lesser. And then we learn she said nothing to Lír (because anything would be too painful for her) and something secret to Molly (because it's to personal to disclose). Leaving us with just her words to Schmendrick, something more tangible, rational and understandable. It's just beautiful on so many levels.
I love the last unicorn so much. As for why the unicorn freed the harpy even though the harpy said she would kill her, I think you're somewhat right in that she was compelled. She could no more leave the harpy chained then she could abandon her quest to find her kind. I also think the unicorn didn't really believe the harpy COULD kill her since there's so very few things that can.
It makes more sense in the film because the harpy says "set me free, we are sisters you and I" that would convince Amalthea. I really want that graphic novel.
Dragons can, unicorn hunters and griffins.
😂😂😂 I lost it at "we are sisters you and I" my sisters and I used to say it to each other in the creepy voice.
In the book,when Mommy Fortuna poses as Elli,it actually scares the Unicorn,it makes her feel frightened, old and disgusting.Even when she knows it's really Mommy Fortuna,she's still afraid of her.She mentions to herself"Mommy Fortuna knows more than she knows she knows,"
I remember watching this as a child, and being both enchanted and confused by the story line (Not knowing as a child that this was a book). I laughed a little at the Harpy part, because I remember the harpy having that weird voice. But when watching the movie it kinda made sense to me when the harpy mentions they are 'Sisters.' Because they where both as the harpy puts it immortal creatures thus that is why she said they where of the same. But yeah, I never understood as a child why the unicorn would willingly let the harpy go given the threat the harpy possessed. Nor the whole unicorns not fighting back the Red Bull; when there where many of them, and one little demonic hell spawn of a bull. I enjoyed your comparisons of the book and movie, and I think both are a fun one to check out.
I think i understand her decision.
If there was a bear caged and suffering... i think despite its danger most would want to help it.
Its still an animal, like us, and we hurt to see it suffer... it should be back where it belongs, even if it poses a danger to us.
Its possible its hard for a mortal creature like a human to feel the same way to an immortal being, seeing them as a fellow animal.
Its hard enough for us to even see certain other animals as worthwhile - such as bugs - because they are so different.
But a Unicorn is immortal too. She would not have such issue.
Watched the movie when I was a kid in the 80s, fell in love with it, and since then the book as well. The line "there is no happy ending because nothing ever ends" is my favourite quote and sums up why I love it so much.
It's really melancholic and the perfect fairy tale.
One other thing to mention is the end suggests a budding romance between schmendrik and Molly;)
It's actually more than just the end. There are many more innuendos about Molly and schmendrik in the book that are worth mentioning. The jealousy he feels at first when Molly is, as a woman of pure heart, much closer to the unicorn and physically expresses it by touching her which offends schmendrik as he is more deferent towards the unicorn.
That's true, and I believe the book mentioned Schmendrick having children in the future too! But, truly, if not for the sadder ending I don't think the movie would be as memorable.
Jenn and I
I grew up watching The Last Unicorn and around this time last year, I finally bought the book. I found Molly was portrayed a lot younger in the book. You also forgot to mention that Shmedric found his control over the magic and is aging again.
This movie is a christmas/new year standard in Germany.
Avellania
ist es wirklich 😄
Makes me wish I was in Germany!
I never saw this on TV I normaly watch "Weihnachtsmann und Co. KG"
I LOVE this Storie! 😊 🦄
Who are you? What about the..., "But I Remember!!!"!
Nice
I found a signed copy of the paper back book under a bunk while serving time in jail.
Julie Norris wut
Cherry Berry Beatz reading that was a rollercoaster.
Wow, that's interesting. People in prison read whatever they can, I'm sure, but it's still fun to build a story around. What kind of prisoner cared so deeply about this tale of childhood,innocence, mortality. legacy and loss? When did he (she? They?) get this special copy? What role did it play in recovery or enduring prison and what was the impact of it's loss? Was it a kind prison library gift from someone unfamiliar with it's value? Probably not such interesting answers, really, but it's fun to speculate. Was it propping the bed legs up straight, evening them out, or was it lost underneath? Is that the first time you read it, bored in a jail bunk?
Ok can we please address the sentient tree in that one scene? like, was anyone else EXTREMELY uncomfortable during that part?
I questioned life
It was a lot less creepy in the book. The tree didn't have giant wooden titties, for one.
Also, while in the movie that scene is just a weird moment of broad comedy in an otherwise melancholy film, in the book it fits right into the theme of mortality vs immortality.
That part really scared me! I think the tree was more scary than the Red Bull!
Back then I was a tad more cautious around trees. Good times x)
That tree scene was emotionally traumatic
I KNEW IT I've seen this movie countless times since I was 3 and each time Lir felt empty(and kinda useless), I knew there was no real love between them and the unicorn saying he wants her how the bull did makes so much sense.
I love this movie so much, it was a huge part of my childhood. I remember running around the house pretending to be a unicorn and drawing a star on my forehead 😂💕
I actually met the author before the pandemic & asked him a few questions like how powerful is the red bull.
I was asking how the red bull would do against various superheroes & he said the red bull was supposed to be a manifestation of fear & it can't really hurt someone if they're not afraid.
Schmendrick's dream meant the most, to me...it was so sad
I got this movie as a gift from an older cousin when I was very young. That old woman used to scare me shitless
alize0623 OMG me too 😂
Thank you for compairing, even tho they skipped a couple of things in the film, I still think it is a very accurate translation. Even the lines they said in the movie were almost the same as in the book. This will stay my all time favourite movie and book :)
From the graphic novel, I never liked the fact how they changed the symbol on lady Amaltheas forehead in the comics from a star to a flame.
I ALMOST DIED WHEN YOU SHOWED THE PICTURE OF KAGOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Inuyasha but when I try to talk to anyone my age about it, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂
You might like my InuYasha theory then ^_^
I'll be sure to check it out! 😄😄😄
I watched the movie as a kid, and read the book as an adult. The movie is a pretty good adaption of the book, which I can admit doesn't usually happen lol. Of course they can't put everything into the movie, and they change stuff due to time constraints.
theres also a sequel book. its a short story, but its amazing :) I read both books and watched the movie I loved them so much :)
The last unicorn is like my favourite animated movie!
same, i absolutely adore the animation style
It was the inspiration for “My Little Pony”.
2:55 Awwww... The poor Spider... That part actualy made me the creepy-crawly-lover I am today.
"Why, if that troop of witlings withdrew their wonder, there’d be nothing left of all her witchery but the sound of a spider weeping. And no one would hear it.”
I just had a thought, mainly due to the comic still your showed, what if the reason behind Smendrick's intense yet locked away power is because he's the son of the unicorn turned into a man?
You... you just broke my brain! That would make a LOT of sense, because I couldn't understand myself why Shmendrick didn't have very much of his background explained!
Yeah, and when he says in the movie, to the unicorn, "if I were blind I would know what you are" maybe its to do with your theory of him being the unicorns son, even if he doesn't know it
The book outright states that the unicorn-turned-man never had any children. He married the woman he was with when he was transformed, but they were unable to have any kids.
@@amandasmith593 Unless they had children in some magical way and it was a secret.
Does the book say the fate of that unicorn-man? I have never read the book but watching this made me expect the final chapter to reveal that Haggard was the unicorn.
It's been years since I read the book. The only difference I could remember after all this time was that the bandits offered Schmendrick a taco and I thought it was hilarious.
*YOUR TELLING ME MY FAVORITE MOVIE HAD A BOOK THIS ENTIRE TIME???*
Yes! And it's just like the movie with a few extra bits the director had to cut - so it's really good!
Favourite book and movie for me! Always love seeing your videos!
Thanks! It was so weird reading the book and hearing the lines from the movie in the characters voices. Yeah, I might have seen it a few thousand times.. :)
@@TheFangirlWatches Rip Mrs Lansbury 😢😢😢😢
When Haggard is told "You have let your doom and by the front door," everyone assumes it means the unicorn. What if it actually means Molly Grue? If she is Haggard's daughter based on your theory, then the curse of the witch could relate to Molly....
This film, along with Flight of Dragons, was my childhood. Like, hands down.
On the Red Bull being blind in the book but this not mentioned in the film - the film does depict the bull's eyes as bright milky white, as if it has cataracts, so perhaps they were trying to show blindness that way.
About the blindness of the red bull, I can't remember if they mention it in the movie, but I do know that he can't see her, but he can hear her or smell her or something. Something to do with him not noticing them until they move or something?
I seem to remember something like that too. I had always been confused during about the unicorn's transformation to a woman why the red bull just didn't continue since it happened right in front of him.
I assumed it was because it's mission was to drive unicorns into the lake, changing the unicorn into a human meant she no longer was part of its mission. She was no longer of any importance. The blindness part wasn't mentioned as I remember it.
I'm agreeing that the blindness wasn't mentioned from my recollection either.
I'm just remembering that scene in the dungeon where the Red Bull is chasing our heroes, Schmendrick says something along the line "He knows" referring to the Red Bull knows "Amalthea" and the Unicorn are the same and begins giving chase. So it seems like physical form doesn't seem to matter to the Red Bull.
So it just confuses me that the Red Bull stopped chasing Amalthea at the beginning even though the transformation must've occurred in front of him and later on it doesn't seem to matter human form or not. The blindness angle takes care of that question for me.
Of course I could be misremembering. It's been a while since I've seen the movie.
I'm guessing at the author's intent, but if the Red Bull was blind and tracking the unicorn by scent like a bloodhound, then changing or masking the scent throws off the tracker completely. It would be like turning invisible before someone's very eyes. But since the beast is intelligent, it would have eventually figured out how it was duped and that the strange human had to be the unicorn. He just had to think about it for awhile.
NoArtisticLimitation it wasn't mentioned
In her fight against the Red Bull, after Lyr is killed, it's less that she becomes superpowered and more that she's fighting without fear. Her more human-like emotions aid her and the bull obeys creatures that are without fear, the fight at that point is truly the force of Hagrid's order to capture all the unicorns vs hers that the bull die for what it had done.
"I send all my princesses to him."
You really have to love Shmendrick.
The current version of the book includes the sequel "Two Hearts" for any fans who don't know that.
And a conversation with the author and the publishing agent that will make you smile but leave you asking the same question they had at the end.
"What happens when she whistles it?"
I still remember the first time I saw this movie.
I was on a date with a very lovely girl who wanted to tease at making out.
I watched the scene where Molly meets the unicorn during one of my dates cold shoulder moments and...well...I'm sorry Donna, but I have to see how this ends.
Then Shmendrick explained it all.
"There are no happy endings because nothing ever ends."
Me and my two best friends are basically the only people in our elementary and middle school that have this movie. THE ONLY ONES. And we all owned the movie before we met. That's true friendship.
Honestly, I was never a fan of The Last unicorn as a child, because of the ending. I thought it was too sad and I felt bad for the unicorn. When I got older I watched it again and realized it's a good story and I liked it much more then I did as a kid. I still thought it was a crap end though, that she was essentially condemned to a fate worse then death after gaining human emotions....because while her friends and Lr went off to live happily ever after, she was condemned to insanity....since we humans thanks to our emotions tend to lose our minds when in solitude for long periods of time....and in the movie it pretty much makes it clear she lives in isolation from everyone including other unicorns, which is why she didn't know she was the last...and even if she wasn't alone anymore in terms of proximity to other unicorns she has a new world view thanks to knowing human emotions and that would isolate her.....so either way it's a lose/lose for the unicorn.
Seiena I think only partially, she accomplished her goal of bringing the unicorns back into the world, I think there was a line in the book somewhere that says 'happy endings do not exist, for nothing ever truly ends'. I loved the movie as a little kid, I was kinda sad at how Lir didn't get together with the unicorn but then the message wouldn't have felt as solid in my opinion
It is similar to Frodo's fate at the end of Lord of the Rings. She succeeded in her quest but had to pay a price for it, and must bear the scars of it for the rest of her life.
A much better end would have been for Lir to be turned into a unicorn and live forever with her.
@@chastitywhiterose: No, that would have been a terrible Disney end.
@@denisenova7494 You mean terrible in that they live happily ever after?
This movie was my childhood and this book gave me life. I loved it all so much :D
I can't even guess how many times I rented the VHS tape from the video store! It always made me so sad, but I was always ready to watch it again!
It's an interesting theory. I've never read the book. I watched the movie on video tape in 1980, shortly after the death of my brother. It could have been the result of trying to come to terms with his death, but I was taken aback by the song " I'm Alive" by the group America. Needless to say I fell in love with the movie and the music. I feel that Molly was just a woman that, for whatever reason, was in company with these men that were thieves and was having a hard time trying to make their profession pay. She obviously had a hard and difficult life, and had a sort of no nonsense, and may I say a bit of a cynical outlook on life too. She meets the unicorn after all her years of hardship and strife; she is now face to face with purity, real magic and, the possibility of a better life! She represents to me the average person, who after years of ups and downs, is resigned to their fate. Then they meet a miracle! It's too good to be true! Why didn't it happen when they were younger, when they could have become someone special! But like the unicorn said, "I'm here now!" So magic can still happen, you can still have a happy ending... you can still sing " I'm Alive!"
One of my favourite movies I watched as a kid. At the time my mind was young to give deep thought about the story. But when I see Amalthea eyes on Lir just after his death, I can't help but shed a tear now. I'm surprise the book had quite a few differences.
JAJAJA I remember this movie from when I was, like, four! OH THE NOSTALGIA
I haven't watched it since then, though. The only scenes I can remember are the scene where they're in a castle or something and the skeleton spots the unicorn as a human and starts shouting "UNICORN! UNICORN!"
And then at the end when there's, like, a sea of unicorns.
"Haggard! Haggard! Unicorn! UUUUUUUUUNICORN!!!! Going to the old clock!!"
The Last Unicorn remains one of my all-time favorite books, and despite the differences I love the old animated movie. I'd love an accurate live action movie.
i love your channel! i found it yesterday and have become hooked! keep making great theories!
Thank you sweeite!
YOu can order online a signed copy from The Jean Cocteau Theater In Santa Fe New Mexico. You should really check out Colin Press web site. YOu can order all kinds of cool Unicorn and other such writers and fan items. The Unicorn tour also should start again next year. I have met Peter many times and if you ever come to New Mexico and would like to meet some of your many fan favorites, please let me know. Neil Gaiman will be premiering AmericanGods at GRRM's theater at the end of this month. Let me know if you need footage.
Same!!!
Gretchen Scarseth
A new stop-motion animated film that adds a lot of what was left out of this adaptation would be fantastic.
Childhood movie😥😄🙏I believe this sparked my obsession with horses/unicorns/and pegasi from basically birth to the age of 10 or 11
I watched this a million times. I watched a bunch of movies over and over again like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal
When I was in my teens I happened to buy a copy of The Last Unicorn. I read it and liked it. Years later a movie was made which I thought was close to the book. I later realized the screenplay was by Peter S. Beagle,author of the book. I realized here that a few things in the book were toned down.
This was great! I grew up with the Last Unicorn but I never new there was so much more to it. Thank you!
I have always wanted to read the graphic novel. You have given me the kick in the rear that I needed to go do so! Love it! I'll have to hit B&N later.
Definitely a great book and movie, do wish that the movie showed those few scenes where Scmendrick gets drunk off wine that the book features. XD
Yeah, and he was a lot more mean spirited and petty than I had ever thought of him in the movie. You would think with all that age he'd be much more mature.
The Fangirl yea I definitely agree he was also a bit greedy aswell, definitely stupid of him to haggle that gold away from Drin and not to comply with what he asked. But I guess the mean spirit nature could come from that temporary immortality, probably would suck to not age along side your loved ones/ friends and ultimately out live them.
I bet he just became bitter after all these years and still no magic... I just read the short story 'The Green Eyed Boy' by Peter S beagle. It's about Schmendricks childhood as a student with Nikos. You get to know him as this shy, insecure kid who is disliked by his parents and doesn't seem to think much of himself. I think he acts this way to give himself some confidence and to make himself count, even though he still sees himself as a total failure.
Fillyjonk woah wait..shmendrick has his own book?! welp I know what i have to read now.
It's actually a short story, just 14 pages long. Beagle was gonna write a collection of 3 short stories about Schmendrick, and two of them I found already including 'The green eyed boy' and 'The woman who married the man in the moon'. I think the 3rd one hasn't been published yet. I haven't found it yet anyway...
For the story about his childhood, I bought a back issue of the 'Fantasy and Science fiction' magazine because I couldn't find it anywhere else....
The other story I found here: www.fantasy-magazine.com/new/new-fiction/the-woman-who-married-the-man-in-the-moon/
But I remember!
That's some wine... You're more of a wizard than I thought...
I freaking love the movie, despite the plot holes and choppy animation. I think it's charming. Plus, I really love the character designs, specifically Amalthea, both as a unicorn and as a human. Also, anyone else think Schmendrick and Molly should be a couple? I ship them. XD I would actually love to see The Last Unicorn be made into a live action movie. So much more from the book could be added, and with how far our technology has come, we could get some awesome effects with Amalthea and the Red Bull. I love the book as well, and I've also read the graphic novel. I believe there's also a short story written by Peter S. Beagle that focuses around Molly and Schmendrick. I haven't read it yet, but I think it's called Two Hearts. You can find it online.
If you read 'two hearts', you'll find that Schmendrick and Molly actually did end up together. It's a lovely story. Beagle also released 3 other 'Schmendrick stories' about his youth. Definitely worth reading if you're a Schmendrick fan!
@@Fillyjonk I've read Two Hearts but not the other short stories you mention. Know what they are called/where to find them?
Oh! Now the "slit his wizard" bit makes sense. Thanks.
I think a great book vs movie comparison would be between The Little White Horse and Secret of Moonacre. By the way, love your perspective in your videos.
I just LOVE when you put dose memes on the screen
Lol it's really from a lack of knowing what else to show, but I'm glad someone likes them! I've never gotten feedback on memes before. :)
The Fangirl 😋🤗
Great review! I love that you included the graphic novel version as well as the novel. The illustrations are just gorgeous.
Weasand is also a very very obscure synonym for your windpipe, or gizzards,as it were.
i loved this movie when i was little, i'm sad i never knew about the book as a little kid, i feel like i would have loved it
I grew up with this story. I read the book in elementary school because they had it in our library (my school was pretty old) and don't remember it AS MUCH as the movie but I plan to re-read it with my Adult mind...if that makes any sense. I watched the movie a lot as a kid until my mom saw a few scenes she didn't like and actually got it out of the house...to this day i'm guessing it was the scene with the witch getting eaten by a harpie with saggy boobs... idk. Long story short kids don't know what they see and it's no big deal. as far as the blindness in the bull...? I knew that even as a kid because in the movie they drew it with no pupils or tinting in it's eyes at all...a common thing in anime that means a person is blind or even possessed. And if the bull is linked that much with the king he didn't need his own eyesight, only the master's if he had that ability. just a thought. They did leave a lot of room to speculate.
what's weird is I am a last unicorn FANGIRL!!!!!!!!!!! It's my favorite movie. The only problem is that I DONT HAVE THE BOOK! I MEAN WHAT?
All I can do is focus on you saying that the Unicorn's horn becomes Super Saiyan. XD
I find that so hilarious for some reason.
I have been casting a live action adaptation of the book in my head for years. David Tennant as "Schmendrick", Catherine Tate or Sarah Parrish as "Molly Grue", Amanda Seyfried as "Unicorn/Lady Amalthea", Ian McKellen as "King Haggard", Tom Hiddleston as "Prince Lir", Stephen Fry as "Capt. Cully" or "The Cat", Julie Walters as "Mommy Fortuna", just to name a few. :D
Weirdly enough I think David Tennant would actually be perfect for Schmendrik, and Ian McKellen would be perfect as King Haggard. For some reason I see Helena Bonham Carter or Meryl Streep as Molly Grue though.
It's been a while since I read the book, though it's somewhere in the house. I was also quite interested to see the parts it's explained that the movie was not all that clear on. Probably the biggest parts that stuck in memory was the Midnight Carnival parts and Hagsgate.
The movie of "The Last Unicorn" was one that had a huge effect on me as a child, and probably contributes a great deal to my love of fantasy, unicorns, and shapeshifting. On and off I have had characters I have made up who have shape-shifted for various reasons. The earliest two directly influence by TLU, in that they were unicorns, the latest a Silmaril from the Silmarillion (LotR). It's always about something not human[oid] taking a human[oid] form as disguise too (I add the -[oid] because with my RP Silmarils, they tend to be Elves).
Peter s Beagle wrote a sequel. Check it out
It was really fun finding this because I just read the book AND watched the movie afterward for the first time this week. They both were amazing and I loved your discussion!
I have another video talking about the original version of The Last Unicorn book, called The Lost Version. It's amazing how different the book was going to be!
When I was younger I rented this movie and watched it ten times in one day 😂
I used to read this book to my daughter at bedtime when she was small. It was her favorite, so when they made a movie, of course we had to go see it! She still has a collection of unicorn figures to this day and she's all grown up now!
could you do Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh vs Secret of Nimh?
I have had the animated version on my to-do list for a while now!
I repentantly read the book and the book does expand and fill in quite a few holes.
Wonderful video! I recently reread the novel and wanted to hear a good analysis on it. Gotta say, yours is spot-on and super informative! I love the format you use for your videos and your voice is really nice to listen to. ❤️ I subscribed immediately!
So, after saying all that, I know this is going to be super random but I did spot one tiny misunderstanding in your analysis that really doesn't influence the story at all tbh. Since I haven't seen any other comments regarding this one thing, I will go ahead and write my comment:
It was my understanding that Captain Cully and Jack Jingly were the only two who actually became wandering musicians, not the rest of their men. To quote the book:
"Wherever they stopped, he left word that all outlaws were pardoned, and Molly hoped that the news would come to Captain Cully and his merry band. As it happened, it did, and all the merry band immediately abandoned the life of the greenwood, saving only Cully himself and Jack Jingly. Together they took up the trade of wandering minstrels and were reported to have become reasonably popular in the provinces."
Anyways, I'm so happy you've made so many videos about The Last Unicorn. 💜 I grew up with this movie and didn't get a chance to read the book for the first time until I was already an adult. I certainly recommend the novel to anyone who hasn't read it; you will not regret! 💜
Yeah Movelea, you are right.I could have sworn The Fangirl said that was the name of the snake.So much for me,and I must have read that book a dozen times.But I do know they never mentioned that Schmendrick or anyone else could really bring anything in from another dimension.Total Carney hype.
Peter S. Beagle also co-wrote the screenplay for Ralph Bakshi's cartoon version of "The Lord of the Rings"
Did he? How neat! I remember my copy of Lord of the Rings had a forward by Beagle too!
so much of the story is about the loss of innocence, or the fear of the loss, or longing for return to innocence -- the regret of aging is really reflected over and over -- and the Unicorn is the personification of agelessness, untouched by time / aging
Thank you so much for this video. I originally saw the animated movie in 2002 when i was 10, in Nigeria (yes, we actually get A LOT of old american entertainment) and I suddenly had a huge nostalgic urge to look it up. Didn't know it was a book.
I do not think that the red bull is blind in the film, it has Mommy Fortuna saying "the red bull will know you when he sees you"
I adore this movie! I used to watch it ALL THE TIME as a child! I've also been especially fond of the music track as well!
I always figured it was based off of a book, but was never truly sure until just now.
Now, I always hated the part where she turned to a human, but now I see why it was necessary. (I still don't like it.... XD)
OH.....I also take it that the disturbing pink breast tree wasn't in the book? I figured it was since it's so random. But apparently not?.......
I’ve been watching it since I was 3-years-old myself, and it is still one of my favorite animated films! I’ve actually done quite a few book theories on The Last Unicorn, so if you ever get to read it I hope you’ll check them out. There are quite a few gaps that line up very nicely for theorizing.
I believe the tree IS in the book, but I don’t think it’s as curvaceous! Maybe I’m forgetting that detail and it is, but I’m fairly confident the cartoon decided to lean into making it extra weird lol.
Subbed. And this was a great video. I was lucky enough to meet Peter S. Beagle (and his editor, who he works closely with) several years ago. Wonderful people to talk to (only got to talk to Peter for about 40 minutes, but I talked to his editor for about 2 hours >_
Key WiteWolf woahh, that is so awesome! Like you talked to him! Ahh!
I own the unabridged version of the book and I noticed the book has a larger story at least the unabridged version does the cover that is Goldish yellow where the cover has the Unicorn illustration with a curved horn
WoW I have not seen this movie in years.
She didn't say she forgot men can't see unicorns. She asks why they can no longer see her for what she is, a unicorn.
"If men have forgotten how to see unicorns, then maybe there are unicorns in this world after all, unknown, and glad of it."
i picked the book up for 1$ at a second hand store vegley remembering there is a movie about it
More last unicorn, I beg you!
Okay, I'll be on it soon. :)
Thank you, I love you so much!
I watched the movie when I was like 4 and it was really good but I didn't wanted to watch it again cuz it was sad af.
also one if the best book / film tranformation
I had NO idea this was a movie....
Get thee to Netflix and indoctrinate in the Cult of The Last Unicorn!
The Fangirl ok thanks!
So this princess Allison whatshername in the end... she isnt the same one who Leer broke off with right?
I gave the movie a re-watch just a few days ago... doesn't really hold up. I remember it fondly when I saw it as a kid tho.
But seeing it now as a 40 year old, it was very.... mmm thin I should say. Like an old classic where a handsome prince "falls in love" with a pretty face just because. And yeah, watching this video essay you made cleared up some things - like why suddenly the Red Bull just inexplicable cowered in the face of her resolve or that thing about Shmendrick's age.
Also I hate the fact Giants exist in fantasy literature almost universally as something to kill. I love Giants, they're cool ;_;
So I found you through Network 1901 earlier today, and went to go check out your channel. When I heard you say "The Last Unicorn", my favorite movie and book of all time, I was super excited ^^ Anyway, been binge watching your videos since then. I'm so glad I found your channel, it's nice to have someone to listen to while crafting and writing. Thanks for the awesome content!
Aww, thank you so much for coming over! Network 1901 is awesome! I hope you found my video collab with Shannon on here :)
I did, it was actually the last video I watched before this one. I really like the idea Mama Odie is a fairy in disguise, it made me wonder if you and Shannon think the fairies and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty might also be connected to the Neverland fairies in some way? The three good fairies seem like wish granters as well, bestowing virtues upon Aurora that a monarch parent of that time would wish for their daughter. And, I don't know if you've seen the Tinkerbell movie with the Beast of Neverland, but it struck me as interesting that Maleficent's green magic looks oddly similar to the beast's magic. I also wonder if the fairy from Beauty and the Beast could be connected to Neverland in some way, maybe all Disney fairies are connected to Pixie Hollow? I'd love to see a Fairies theory video as there's just so many loose ends that Disney never seems to touch on twice with these characters
Hey I just subscribed and I love your videos! They're so thought out and you give such great evidence in you're videos!
Thank you!
If thinking of history The Last Unicorn reminds me of the historic tapestries of unicorns, I've read the book from the library and have the film, but this unicorn has some stuff in common with Sisu. I can visualize this unicorn and Sisu happily following each other they're both a brave heroine.
This is my favorite movie and I love the book as well.
Oh man i was waiting to read the book and watch the movie to watch this. And that was a few months ago.
Could you imagine if they did like they have been doing with so many other movies and made a live-action version of this that was more dedicated to the original story?
I watch this movie a long time ago and i still looks love this movie
I have seen the movie it's good I love unicorns and other mythical creatures
So I read "the last unicorn" and by God it's dark aether
A.i read a book with the same title and totally different book
Or
B.the last unicorns the darkest fucking book in the world
It's a long long time since I read the book, but I do remember there were large sections in it that weren't in the movie. But I didn't remember all of them - thanks for the video!
Great comparison! I always wondered what the book was like, now I have to go check it out.
Very nice and very well done! Thank you for the info and views as well as the insight
Would love to see an Alice in wonderland (1959) theory :)
Honestly the skeleton freaked me out
Elli _(ee-lee)_ is a giantess and the personification of old age in Norse mythology. She is featured as a metaphor in The Utgard-Loki Myth, easily beating Thor in a wrestling match, showing that no one can conquer old age.
My older sister read the book to me when we were kids.
wow i forgot the book completley:D i have to read it again after all these years