The Black Cauldron: Disney's Forgotten Stepchild

By Svetlana Fedotov

Disney has always been a solid go-to for feel-good times and sing-a-longs about ice and snow and love or some junk. Bright-eyed princesses solving all the world’s problems with equally bright-eyed forest creatures skipping around their toes like the black plague of happiness has made the animation giant its own world power, with theme parks and merchandise stores dotting the global landscape as far as the eye can see. But despite its overwhelming success, even the Magic Kingdom has more than a couple of movies that disappeared into obscurity as soon as they hit the market, of which the most famous (or infamous) is The Black Cauldron. Squished between the super bummer of Fox and the Hound and the high-spirited adventures of The Great Mouse Detective, the 1985 movie was considered a box office flop thanks to its dark-hearted nature and a down-right terrifying villain, netting it a PG rating to the horror of parents everywhere. Yet now, almost thirty years later, perhaps it’s time to revisit this forgotten classic and see why a whole generation of kids have repressed ever experiencing it.

For those who haven’t seen it, the movie revolves around the rare male lead named Taran, a young assistant pig keeper who lives with a wizard and dreams of being a knight. Unbeknownst to him, the pig he has been watching is a very special creature, one capable of seeing the future – and she has seen a future most grim. The Horned King has risen once again and is searching the land for the Black Cauldron, a magical item that can create an unlimited army of soldiers, also known as the Cauldron Born. Entrusted with the pig’s safety, Taran is forced to flee his cottage and embarks on a hero’s journey full of strange creatures, beautiful and headstrong princesses, and the most devious of witches. Along the way, Taran must truly examine his worth as a soldier and how much he is willing to sacrifice for those worth saving.


As stated, one of the most glaring differences between the Black Cauldron and other Disney films is the overall dark and mostly serious atmosphere of the movie. There are no musical numbers, no bright color palate, but a high fantasy look popular for the Dungeons and Dragons-type audience that was so abundant in the 1980’s. In fact, it’s no surprise that it movie ran as risqué as it did considering Disney was aiming to attract to teenagers following United Artist Studio’s success with The Secret of NIMH in 1982. Along with the dark tone, there is also a very noticeable shift in animation styles, most notably the first use of CGI in Disney animation. Blending real world effects such as bubbles and steam into the animation, the movie managed to create an otherworldly feeling that worked beautifully with the larger theme. Though a bit dated in terms of what we’re seeing today, it was a landmark accomplishment for a studio looking for a fresh start almost two decades after Walt Disney’s death.

Unfortunately, it might be the animation that was the main plus side to this movie (and I’m including the choppy editing and the slow deterioration of character animation quality after a series of animator strikes). Don’t get me wrong, the story itself is fantastic. With its menacing villain and unique secondary princess character, along with the smart fantasy take, the film managed to break away from the childlike atmosphere of its predecessors. Also, if you’re a soundtrack buff, the music is top notch! That being said, not all the characters got the special treatment of being treated like adults. The fuzzy, cuddly character dubbed Gurgi was perhaps the most annoying character to ever tread proper animation. A failed attempt at comedy relief, he came off as the Jar-Jar Binks of the movie and though he is a regular staple in the The Chronicles of Prydain, the book series that the movie is based off, I hate him and he can go die. Also, there is a group of fairy characters (adorably voiced by actual children) who I’m pretty sure were made to sell fictional merchandise as their design lacks any semblance of originality. Imagine floating smurfs and you get the gist.

But for all its flaws, we can’t put the blame on the shoulders of sloppy book adaption or poor cuts. In reality, there was a series of last minute changes and underlying tensions inside the Disney company itself that unraveled onto the Black Cauldron. Frequent animator, over-seer, and management changes bogged down the animation process, leaving the movie to basically survive on its own. In hindsight, it wasn’t a bad idea, it just came at the wrong time, like a giggle at a funeral. It marked a time of high tension in the studio and its incomplete look was a glaring reminder that Disney didn’t quite have everything figured out. Honestly, give Black Cauldron a watch and determine for yourself. Perhaps a new audience, powered by the internet and nostalgia, is all this movie classic really needs.