The Black Cauldron DVD Review

Posted 10 years ago by Movies

I love the minor animation releases Disney puts out in between their huge ones like Beauty and the Beast and Snow White. They’re usually some of my favorite Disney movies. Robin Hood, The Aristocats, Three Caballeros, and now The Black Cauldron. To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, Disney has re-released it on DVD (no Blu-ray, sadly), and I got to see it again for the first time in years.

I know it represents a very low period in the history of Disney animation, but it’s a fantasy that’s a bit darker than the usual from Disney, and it has some great moments. It’s based on the “Chronicles of Prydain” book series from Lloyd Alexander and features the awesome John Hurt as the Horned King.

THE BLACK CAULDRON: 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION – The Black Cauldron, Walt Disney Pictures’ 25th animated feature-length film, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Special Edition DVD release September 14 from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Based on Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain books, this mystical, action-packed adventure debuts just in time for Halloween. The film tells the story of Taran, an apprentice pig keeper with dreams of becoming a great warrior, who embarks on a quest to find a magical and powerful Black Cauldron before the evil tyrant Horned King can possess it for his own diabolical purposes. Fantastical characters like the oracular pig Hen Wen, the willful princess Eilonwy, and the droll but annoying Gurgi face witches, elves, magic swords and other obstacles. As they journey through these thrilling escapades, Taran begins to learn the true meaning of what it is to be a hero.

Exciting new bonus features for The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition include a new game and a never-before-seen deleted scene as well as a new digital transfer.

It would have been nice to get this released on Blu-ray and have some of the infamous edits restored, but for the price it’s worth adding another chapter in the history of Disney’s animated films to your collection.

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  • When I was in high school this video was re-released on VHS. I bought it the day it came out, because my memories of the movie were all about armies of undead skeleton warriors. To say I was disappointed was an understatement…