The Last Unicorn 4K

(1982)

A lonely unicorn searches for like-minded people in a mystical land full of talking cats and enchanting wizards. On her search for other unicorns, the last unicorn meets a host of adorable characters, but also dangers she could never have imagined. During the fantastic adventure, she learns about friendship, love and, above all, her true self.

More information about The Last Unicorn 4K and the 4K Blu-ray release of The Last Unicorn, see Neil Lumbard’s review of The Last Unicorn 4K Blu-ray from August 16, 2024, which reviews this Blu-ray release 4.0 from 5.

Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr.

Author: Peter S. Beagle

Actor: Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury

Producers: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr.


» See the full cast and crew

Review of “The Last Unicorn” 4K Blu-ray

Reviewed by Neil Lumbard, August 16, 2024

The Last Unicorn is considered a classic of hand-drawn animation. The feature film is an American production in collaboration with Japanese animation companies. The Last Unicorn is produced by Rankin/Bass Productions with Topcraft and ITC Films.
The Last Unicorn is based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle. The original North American release was on November 19^th1982. Produced by Jules Bass (The Hobbit – 1977, Thundercats) and Arthur Rankin Jr. (The Hobbit – 1977, The last dinosaur), The Last Unicorn combines beautiful animation and artistry with incredible songs by the rock group America. The songs are an integral part of the production. Executive producer is Martin Starger (The Muppet Movie, Nashville) with associate producer Michael Chase Walker (The Gladiator), The Last Unicorn The voice cast includes Mia Farrow, Christopher Lee, Alan Arkin, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury, Keenan Wynn and Paul Frees.

The female unicorn (Mia Farrow) is a beautiful and elegant creature. The stunning unicorn radiates both beauty and splendor. When she meets a group of hunters, the unicorn is surprised to learn that she may be the last unicorn in the entire land. What would a world without unicorns look like?

The unicorns are dying out one by one and this is due to the evil intentions of the evil Red Bull. The Red Bull wants to rid the land of all unicorns. The Red Bull is also supported in his plan by the nefarious King Haggard (Christopher Lee). In order to protect the last unicorn from being destroyed by the Red Bull, a special spell is cast to transform the female unicorn into a young and beautiful woman in disguise. The young woman in question is Lady Amalthea (Mia Farrow).

Being a young woman is certainly a very different experience than being a unicorn. With the spell cast upon her, Lady Amalthea has a wealth of new thoughts and feelings. Could Lady Amalthea fall in love with Prince Lir (Jeff Bridges)? Can Lady Amalthea remember her true self as the last unicorn under the spell? Can Red Bull and King Haggard, along with their clumsy friends Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes), be dissuaded from their goal of destroying all unicorns?

The Last Unicorn has an enchanting cast of animated characters. The character of the Last Unicorn is a particularly enchanting character for the children’s fairytale and audiences can be drawn into her story as she moves through the world around her in a fight for survival.

Schmendrick is a funny wizard who fights to help the unicorn at every possible opportunity. Although Schmendrick is a somewhat distant character in some ways, he wants to do his best to help the last unicorn despite some of his own problems. King Haggard is a convincing villain (as is the Red Bull). The voice performances work exceptionally well and the cast of actors adds greatly to the production. Mia Farrow is great as the last unicorn and her human counterpart Lady Amalthea. Christopher Lee is top notch as King Haggard. Alan Arkin provides some light comedic moments as Schmendrick.

The Last Unicorn features beautiful hand-drawn animations. The Last Unicorn has animation from Japanese anime studio Topcraft (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, The adventures of the little koala). The animated film showcases the artistry of Topcraft and the animation production of Rankin/Bass Productions. Topcraft has brought something undeniably special to the table and The Last Unicorn displays a beautiful, striking and surreal aesthetic that is completely captivating.

One of the best things about The Last Unicorn is that it is an American production, but it also employed Japanese animation artists abroad to bring together the haunting and surrealistic animation. The animators involved The Last Unicorn were taught by Toru Hara, a former Toei Animation animator who helped assemble a team of animators who were eventually selected by Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki as some of the key contributing artists for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Although Studio Ghibli does not work with every animator from The Last Unicornthe fact that several important artists involved in the production of The Last Unicorn The segue into early works by Studio Ghibli makes the film a must-see for fans of classic anime and enthusiasts who want to gain a more comprehensive knowledge of early pre-Ghibli works. There is much to appreciate about these elements of the film and the way Japanese animation plays a central role in storytelling.

Edited by Tomoko Kida (The Flight of the Dragons, Only yesterday), The Last Unicorn is a well-rounded production with a solid editing style. The pacing and flow of the production is something that enhances the storytelling. The editing is a key element of the film and there are no scenes that feel too long or drag. The storytelling has more energy and style thanks to Kida’s solid editing work.

Production design by Arthur Rankin Jr. (Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, Santa Claus is coming to town) also contributes to the aesthetics of the production. Rankin Jr. was an important animation pioneer – someone with great knowledge of production design. Rankin Jr., along with cinematographer Hiroyasu Omoto (), provided some notable elements.Jarinko Chie, The Flight of the Dragons). The film has an impressive cinematographic style and these visual qualities also help to showcase Japanese animation at its best.

The music for The Last Unicorn is one of the most beautiful components of the film. The Last Unicorn offers music selections from the rock band America. America is one of the best rock bands of all time. Anyone who calls themselves a fan of America will want to see The Last Unicorn for the entertaining performance of their music throughout the film. It brings a special quality to the storytelling that is undeniably charming and hypnotic. The film score composed by Jimmy Webb (The Naked Monkey, ‘Physician’) also plays a significant role in the feature film and the surrealist quality that the film achieves. The music includes contributions from the London Symphony Orchestra.

Written by Peter S. Beagle (The Lord of the Rings – 1978, The biggest thing that almost happened),
The Last Unicorn is a successful adaptation of the screenwriter’s own work. The screenplay has many entertaining qualities and the script handles the fantasy elements of the story extremely well. The story was written by children but can easily be enjoyed by adults as well. The narrative is impressive and captivating. The fantasy story is reminiscent of the works of JRR Tolkien and other great fantasy authors.

Director: Jules Bass (The Flight of the Dragons, Santa Claus is coming to town) and Arthur Rankin Jr. (The little drummer, The year without Santa Claus), The Last Unicorn is an animation classic. Fans of classic hand-drawn animation will appreciate the film’s excellent animation qualities and everything about the thrilling filmmaking. The direction is top-notch and both Bass and Rankin Jr. provide surrealism and fantasy galore. The Last Unicorn is a wonderful jewel.

The Last Unicorn 4K Blu-ray, video quality 4K

1080p

Released on 4K UHD by Shout Factory, The Last Unicorn is presented in HEVC/H.265 in the original cinema format of 1.85:1. The 4K UHD release offers a 4K scan of the original 35mm interpositive. The 4K presentation has outstanding qualities that are well worth it.

The presentation impresses with a high-quality 4K scan, providing the animation with crisp line drawings and background animations. The High Dynamic Range (HDR) presentation is another exceptional aspect of the release. The release offers both an HDR10 (standard) and Dolby Vision option. The HDR is subtle, but hugely effective in bringing out some of the animation’s stunning qualities. The result is a more engaging presentation.

The presentation is not technically flawless and there are some issues with the scan. The scan shows occasional smudges on the print and minor wear. The interpositive 4K scan shows some slight PQ imperfections that prevent the 4K restoration from receiving a perfect five-star rating. Despite this, the presentation is nearly perfect and the improved clarity and detail (along with the subtle but hugely effective HDR implementation) make it a stunning presentation nonetheless.

One of the joys of the 4K UHD presentation is the preserved film grain. The naturally filmic presentation is superior to previous home media presentations – some of which had DNR. The film grain shows all the details in the animation. The interpositive 4K scan should be the best option for enthusiasts seeking the most cinematic transfer.

The Last Unicorn: Other Editions

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