There are certain films I saw growing up that left me forever scarred: “The Neverending Story,” “Watership Down,” and “The Last Unicorn,” to name the most memorable.
However, I loved “The Last Unicorn” so much that it didn’t matter that I felt inexplicably saddened by watching it.
Much like “Watership Down” — also not meant for children — the 1982 film was watched by a generation of kids because it was animated.
Naturally, that meant it was safe for children, right? Interestingly, the film, which just turned 40, wasn’t originally intended for kids at all.For one thing, the movie is scary.
Not just obvious terrors like the monstrous Red Bull, but something even more frightening to children: being smothered by the ample bosom of a living tree — if you know, you know.
The film was gorgeously animated by Rankin/Bass, the team that brought us the 1977 version of “The Hobbit.” The screenplay was penned by Peter S.
Beagle,
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