Swords, sorcery, adventure, and magic abound in Disney’s The Black Cauldron. Based on the second book in the The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, the film takes us into a world fraught with danger, excitement, and plenty of Disney touches.
When the evil Horned King sets his sights on possessing the mysterious Black Cauldron, it becomes the mission of a young boy, Taran, to stop him at any cost. With the help of a future-seeing pig, a courageous princess, and a comical minstrel, Taran and company battle the forces of evil in order to save the world from the Horned King.
The Black Cauldron was released in 1985, four years before Disney stepped into what would be considered its “Golden Age” of animation with films like The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991). You can definitely see the difference in animation style and the overall presentation of the story when compared to these later films.
Cauldron takes a while to get going, but once it does there’s plenty of fun to be had as Taran and the gang fight their way to the ultimate battle between good and evil.
Special Features for this 25th Anniversary Edition include: The Witches’ Challenge Game; Deleted Scene: The Fairfolk; Animated Short: “Trick Or Treat” with Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie; and a Still Frame Gallery.
For a look back at Disney’s pre-Golden Age animated features, check out The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary edition DVD.
The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Edition is available NOW on DVD!