The Last UnicornChildhood Regression, Here I Come!

Don’t look at me like that! This was a serious topic of discussion in our work environment today.  Maybe it was the previous references to Playmobil, Floppy Diskettes or possibly Men at Work… I don’t really know. What I do know is that the beast of nostalgia (Nostalgior!) has dug its bedazzled claws into our mental space and insists on regurgitating its hypercolour memories all over our contemporary floor.

Did you happen to catch this early 80’s animated flick?  I was surprised that NONE of my hard working (read: hard drinking) team had!?  I was an ill-tyke at the time enjoying some Superchannel and remember watching The Last Unicorn more times than I would like to admit. I wept tears at the plight of our lead unicorn, I wet pants at the sight of the freakin’ red bull and yes I sung song during the credits.

Speaking of credits this movie boasts a soundtrack by America. AMERICA!  As well for vocal talents we have Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Christopher Lee and Angela Lansbury (Whodunnit Ang? You did… You did!).

This falls into a suite (sweet?) of animated 80’s movies that, though each different, boasted similar qualities in animation style and overall tone.  To this list I would say we have:

• The Last Unicorn
• The Secret of Nimh
• Transformers: The Movie

There’s probably a few more to add to the list. Heavy Metal? Rock & Rule? Hmmm, help me out here people, don’t leave me hanging.

Upon further reflection, could this tale be an allusion for original cultures (the unicorn) struggling against the ruling power’s (King Lir) push to drive them into the melting pot of contemporary society (the ocean), and the ever present fear of becoming the last of their kind? That may be a stretch. I’ll have to watch it again, or, perhaps they’ll produce a live action version someday (currently in the works).

In the meantime, bring on the waterworks…