The Black Cauldron

Episode SummaryIn an episode bubbling over with Disney history, Erin and Rachel dive into The Black Cauldron (1985), also known as, “the film that almost killed Disney animation.” Amid corporate restructuring, another animator’s strike, and increasing competition at the box office, The Black Cauldron totally flopped. Erin and Rachel liked this film about as much as 1985 audiences did, and not just because of the misogyny and white-washed cast. Even innovative animation technology couldn’t save the meandering script and annoying characters.Episode BibliographyBerman, T., & Rich, R. (Directors). (1985). The Black Cauldron [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.The Black Cauldron. (1996, November 1). Filmtracks. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/black_cauldron.htmlThe Black Cauldron (film). (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 7, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Cauldron_(film)Black Cauldron, The (film). (2015, September 6). D23. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://web.archive.org/web/20150906012122/https://d23.com/a-to-z/black-cauldron-the-film/Butler, O. (1993). Parable of the sower. Four Walls Eight Windows.Champlin, C. (1985, July 27). 'Cauldron': Words Away from the Pot of Gold. The Los Angeles Times.The Chronicles of Prydain. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 7, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_PrydainDeja, A. (2013, February 9). Milt Kahl's Black Cauldron. Deja View. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2013/02/milt-kahls-black-cauldron.htmlDiehl, B. (1985, June 15). Disney Pictures back to basics with fully-animated features. Ottawa Citizen, C6.Ebert, R. (1985, July 24). The Black Cauldron. RogerEbert.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-black-cauldron-1985Fierce, R. (2015). Isn't it romantic? Sacrificing agency for romance in The Chronicles Of Prydain. Mythlore, (33) 2, 2015, p. 75.Goodman, W. (1985, July 26). Screen: Disney's 'Black Cauldron'. The New York Times, C5.Gregory, J. (2019, February 25). Ron Miller helped modernize Disney. So why do his successors get all the credit? Theme Park Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.themeparktribune.com/ron-miller-helped-modernize-disney-so-why-do-his-successors-get-all-the-credit/Hahn, D., Schneider, P., Pacheco, P., & Bacon, C. (Directors). (2010). Waking Sleeping Beauty [Film; Disney+]. Buena Vista Home Entertainment.Harmetz, A. (1978, August 10). Disney film far behind schedule. The Register-Guard, 9C.Hill, J. (2006, February 9). "The Black Cauldron": What went wrong. Jim Hill Media. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/02/10/712.aspxHill, J. (2010, September 10). Why For did Disney's "The Black Cauldron" fail to connect with audiences back in 1985? Jim Hill Media. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2010/09/10/why-for-did-quot-the-black-cauldron-quot-fail-at-the-box-office.aspxHulett, S. (2014, August 29). ‘Mouse in Transition’: Rodent Detectives and Studio Strikes (Chapter 11). Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from https://www.cartoonbrew.com/promote-article/mouse-in-transition-rodent-detectives-and-studio-strikes-chapter-11-103143.htmlKenton, W. (2020, January 30). Corporate Raider. Investopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporate-raider.asp#:~:text=A%20corporate%20raider%20is%20an,the%20company's%20leadership%20and%20management.Kois, D. (2010, October 19). The Black Cauldron: Is the movie that almost killed Disney animation really that bad? Slate. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/dvdextras/2010/10/the_black_cauldron.single.htmlLloyd Alexander Interview Transcript. (n.d.). Scholastic. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/lloyd-alexander-interview-transcript/Mallory, M. (2012, September 7). John and Ron Mention 'The Unmentionable'. Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.animationmagazine.net/top-stories/john-and-ron-mention-the-unmentionable/Ness, M. (2015, October 8). A Demoralizing Disaster: Disney's The Black Cauldron. Tor.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021, from https://www.tor.com/2015/10/08/a-demoralizing-disaster-disneys-the-black-cauldron/Peraza, M. (2010, September 9). Cauldron of Chaos. Ink and Paint Club. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/Black%20CauldronRon W. Miller. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_W._MillerSito, T. (n.d.). The '50s Through the '90s. The Animation Guild. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from https://animationguild.org/about-the-guild/the50s-the90s/Solomon, C. (1985, July 27). 'Cauldron' a Treat for Kidvid-Sore Eyes. The Los Angeles Times, 44.