"Uncanny Songs for Uncanny Valley Cats!" -- Great story outline by the way. Has a dreamy, Little Nemo quality to it.
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Evilgidgit's Flicks Fixer-Upper Thread
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"Uncanny Songs for Uncanny Valley Cats!" -- Great story outline by the way. Has a dreamy, Little Nemo quality to it.
DisneyManOne
Well-Known Member
I'll admit, I'm not at all familiar with the plot of Starlight Express and am merely going by the Wikipedia description. But nonetheless, here's how I would stage an animated version of Starlight Express...
Starlight Express
based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe
Layout by DisneyManOne
Late at night, a child -- whom we shall call "Control" -- is playing with her toy trains. She is quite a train fanatic and knows every model down to the last degree. Currently, she is about to hold a big race to decide which one of her trains is the "fastest in the world." But then, who should come along but her mother, advising her to go to bed. Begrudgingly, "Control" gets under the covers and gradually drifts off to sleep ("Prologue -- Starlight Express").
As she falls asleep, her inanimate toy trains come to life...and start to grow. "Control"'s room fades away as the area turns into a full-sized railroad dock. However, just before her room completely disappears, a Union Pacific engine called Greaseball -- who is "Control"'s favorite of all her trains, and who she had at her side as she started to sleep -- dives off the bed and starts rolling around. A mighty fanfare sounds. The race is about to begin! In the "Entry of the National Engines", we are introduced to each of the major competitors, eager to vie for the title of "fastest in the world." Of course, Greaseball -- representing the good ol' USA -- is one of the competitors; and he is joined by Bobo, a French TGV; Espresso, the Italian Rome-to-Milan Express; Ruhrgold, the German Intercity-Express; Turnov, a Russian engine on the Trans-Siberian Railway; Hashamoto, a Japanese Shinkansen; and The Prince of Wales, an Advanced Passenger Train from Great Britain.
Greaseball is a diesel engine, and being "Control"'s favorite, has won more races than any other of the other trains. In fact, when we first hear him talk, he and his entourage are boasting about how diesel is where it's at ("Rolling Stock"). Their revelry is broken by a young, idealistic steam engine called Rusty. Greaseball mocks Rusty, who replies that he will win the championship, despite steam being obsolete compared to diesel. ("Call Me Rusty") Even "Control" pushes Rusty around, ordering him to fetch all the other trains in the marshalling yard. First come the coaches -- Dinah the dining car; Ashley the smoking car; Buffy the buffet car; and the newest arrival to the yard -- a pretty first-class car called Pearl. The coaches express shock that a steam upstart is planning to race. Rusty tries to explain that Pearl offered to race with him, but the other coaches have talked her out of partnering with a loser. ("A Lotta Locomotion")
After this, "Control" orders Rusty to fetch the Freight Train, in order to assemble all the characters so the racing engines can choose their race partners. As the Freight Train arrives, the Coaches taunt and tease them, while Rusty switches between the two trains to try to avoid chaos. Control calls order, and the Freight trucks introduce themselves in turn: The Rockies, who are box cars; Flat-Top, the graffiti-covered punk brick truck; sweet, shy, large Dustin, who would rather avoid the limelight; and the bright, seemingly helpful caboose, C.B. ("Freight")
"Control" is just about to close all entries into her race, when a flashy newcomer enters the scene: the aptly-named electric train, Electra. Accompanied by her five components -- an armaments truck called Krupp, a repair truck called Wrench, a money truck called Purse, a freezer truck called Volta, and a dynamite truck called Joule -- Electra declares that electricity is the future of speed ("AC/DC"). Such a display of boasting automatically makes Electra an enemy of Greaseball ("Coda of Freight"). With all the hopefuls assembled, "Control" explains the rules: The trains will compete in pairs, with an engine pulling a coach. There will be three elimination heats, and the winner of each heat will move on to the finals to decide the fastest train.
The engines start to pick their coaches. Rusty offers to race with Pearl, but she rejects him, explaining that she is waiting for her "dream train". Purse, enters with an invitation from Electra. Even though Electra is not her dream train either, she accepts, leaving Rusty alone. The first heat pits Greaseball and Dinah against Espresso and Buffy, and Hashamoto and C.B.. C.B. sabotages Hashamoto by applying his brakes at key moments in the race. Greaseball and Dinah win comfortably, claiming a place in the finals. After the race, Dinah objects to Greaseball's cheating. In response he abandons her and C.B. comforts Dinah ("There's Me"). Meanwhile, a lonely Rusty has retreated back to the freight yard, where an old steam train called Momma -- a former champion herself -- is singing the blues ("Momma's Blues"). Ever helpful, Momma tries to persuade Rusty to race without Pearl, urging him to have faith in a mythical force she calls the "Starlight Express." When Rusty refuses, Momma introduces him to Belle, an old sleeping car with whom she used to race. Rusty agrees to race with Belle. They compete in the second heat against Electra and Pearl, and Ruhrgold and Joule. Electra and Pearl finish first, securing a place in the finals; Rusty and Belle finish in last.
Already despondent after losing Pearl as his race partner, Rusty loses his last shreds of confidence. Momma decides to step up and prove that steam power is still relevant, despite everyone's misgivings, by racing herself in the third heat. Only Dustin, the heavy aggregate hopper, is willing to race with her. Rusty points out that the race is already full, but suddenly "Control" announces that The Prince of Wales has been scrapped, leaving space for a late entry. Momma interprets this as a sign from the Starlight Express and enters the race. The third heat pits Momma and Dustin against Bobo and Ashley, and Turnov and Wrench. Momma wins the race, securing a place in the finals against Greaseball and Electra, but the effort of outracing the others and pulling the hefty Dustin exhausts her. Now worn out, she asks Rusty to take her place. Rusty refuses at first, but then he notices Pearl with Electra and is jealous. When C.B. offers to race with him, Rusty announces that he will take Momma's place. Alone, Rusty prays to the Starlight Express for help in the finals ("Starlight Express").
The trains debate whether Rusty should be allowed to take Momma's place in the finals, since he's already competed and lost, or whether the place should go instead to Bobo, who finished second in Momma's heat ("The Rap"). They ultimately decide that Momma has the right to choose her replacement; and thus, Rusty is allowed to race. With the race heating up, "Control" offers the engines the chance to change partners. Greaseball, having abandoned Dinah, chooses Pearl to race with him. Dinah expresses her shame at being uncoupled, although she cannot bring herself to say the word itself ("U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D."). The other coaches encourage Dinah to fight back and win the love of her man, encouraging her to team up with Electar. Elsewhere, C.B. hatches a plan. He tells Greaseball he will help him win the championship by sabotaging Rusty. He then tells Electra he will wipe out Greaseball, clearing the way for Electra to win. When Electra expresses his surprise at C.B.'s duplicity, C.B. explains that he has spent a career secretly causing train crashes for fun ("C.B.").
The finals takes place between Electra and Dinah, Greaseball and Pearl, and Rusty and C.B. C.B. sabotages Rusty, slowing him down so he misses a switch on the tracks and cannot finish the race. Electra and Greaseball finish in a dead heat. "Control" announces that there will be another race, with Electra and Greaseball going head-to-head to decide the winner. Rusty complains that he was cheated, but the marshals refuse to listen. Pearl confronts Greaseball, but he warns her to say nothing, as the marshals would consider her complicit and punish her as well. Rusty retreats to the freight yard, where he bumps into the Rockies. They tell him that without luck, he will never win and that he should just give up ("Right Place, Right Time"). The Rockies leave Rusty alone. He appeals again to the mythical Starlight Express for help, and this time, it hears. The Starlight Express appears in front of Rusty, reminding him that whatever strength he needs–the starlight–is within him already ("Starlight Sequence: I Am The Starlight"). The Starlight Express disappears and Rusty finds himself back in the freight yard with Dustin, who says he was just asleep, but felt the starlight's presence. Rusty asks Dustin to race with him in the final. He accepts and they head off together. Meanwhile, Dinah has reached her wit's end regarding the vain Electra. She disconnects Electra, causing her to scramble for a new partner for the big race. Ignoring all her components, Electra calls on C.B. to race with her instead.
It all comes down to this: the final race. At the end of this race, the Champion of the World will be decided. All the pieces have fallen into place: Greaseball is with Pearl, who has learnt how abusive and vain he is, the great Electra has chosen to race with the unreliable C.B., and the zero-to-hero Rusty is racing with Dustin. The race is fast and furious, a determined Rusty keeps a cool head while Greaseball struggles with an unwilling Pearl, and Electra uses all his power to disrupt his opponents. C.B. has revealed himself as unhinged and will do whatever he can to cause chaos. Electra zaps electricity at Greaseball, but misses and injures Pearl. Greaseball, showing no concern, simply disconnects Pearl at full speed. Rusty diverts from the race course just in time to save her, but has set himself back in the race. Meanwhile, Greaseball and Electra fight over C.B., on order to have a partner when crossing the finish line. At the last moment however, Rusty and Dustin catch up and overtake his opponents, and cross the finish line as the others crash in the tunnel. Rusty wins! But what's this? Rusty is leaving the track! He's setting off to find Pearl! "Control" -- obviously upset that her beloved Greaseball emerged the loser -- warns that if Rusty is not found, his victory lap will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, humiliated and infuriated by losing the race, Electra swears she is leaving, never to return ("No Comeback"). At the site of the wreckage, the psychopathic C.B. has been destroyed for good, but Greaseball lives, but in poor condition. Momma enlists his help in trying to find Rusty. Away from the other engines, Pearl fears that she caused Rusty to lose the race. She realizes that of all the trains she's raced with, only Rusty ever acted selflessly towards her ("Only He"). Rusty arrives. He tells Pearl that he won the race and confesses his love for her ("Only You").
The other engines find the two lovers and congratulate Rusty on his victory, ignoring "Control"'s claims that the victory lap is cancelled. Greaseball collapses. Dinah arrives late, and seeing her beloved Greaseball battered and in pain, she can't resist going to him. He -- with full marks for effort, if not for accuracy -- spells out to her his apology. He admits that he was in the wrong, and let his ego get the better of him. Ever the kind one, Momma offers the chance to convert Greaseball from diesel to steam, saying "With steam, you could finally be under your own control!" Such a concept does not sit well with "Control", who, for the first time since falling asleep, shows her face and demands that the engines do what they're told. "Shut up, 'Control'!" is the roared-as-one response from the trains, and immediately thereafter, Momma and Belle lead them towards the "Light at the End of the Tunnel". As the number builds, the trains leap out of "Control"'s window, glide down the gutter and ride on down the street towards the rising sun, symbolizing a new dawn in the wild world of train-racing...
~ ~ ~
What do you think? I've heard many people say that the original West End production had the most coherent version -- and the most heart -- of the story, so I have based this outline on the original production. Also, I tried to cut out most of the songs, because I want this to be more of a spoken film, compared to the "sung-through" nature of the stage show. (Honestly, that's a tricky part about doing any of ALW's shows on film; pretty much all of his shows are sung-through.)
Starlight Express
based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe
Layout by DisneyManOne
Late at night, a child -- whom we shall call "Control" -- is playing with her toy trains. She is quite a train fanatic and knows every model down to the last degree. Currently, she is about to hold a big race to decide which one of her trains is the "fastest in the world." But then, who should come along but her mother, advising her to go to bed. Begrudgingly, "Control" gets under the covers and gradually drifts off to sleep ("Prologue -- Starlight Express").
As she falls asleep, her inanimate toy trains come to life...and start to grow. "Control"'s room fades away as the area turns into a full-sized railroad dock. However, just before her room completely disappears, a Union Pacific engine called Greaseball -- who is "Control"'s favorite of all her trains, and who she had at her side as she started to sleep -- dives off the bed and starts rolling around. A mighty fanfare sounds. The race is about to begin! In the "Entry of the National Engines", we are introduced to each of the major competitors, eager to vie for the title of "fastest in the world." Of course, Greaseball -- representing the good ol' USA -- is one of the competitors; and he is joined by Bobo, a French TGV; Espresso, the Italian Rome-to-Milan Express; Ruhrgold, the German Intercity-Express; Turnov, a Russian engine on the Trans-Siberian Railway; Hashamoto, a Japanese Shinkansen; and The Prince of Wales, an Advanced Passenger Train from Great Britain.
Greaseball is a diesel engine, and being "Control"'s favorite, has won more races than any other of the other trains. In fact, when we first hear him talk, he and his entourage are boasting about how diesel is where it's at ("Rolling Stock"). Their revelry is broken by a young, idealistic steam engine called Rusty. Greaseball mocks Rusty, who replies that he will win the championship, despite steam being obsolete compared to diesel. ("Call Me Rusty") Even "Control" pushes Rusty around, ordering him to fetch all the other trains in the marshalling yard. First come the coaches -- Dinah the dining car; Ashley the smoking car; Buffy the buffet car; and the newest arrival to the yard -- a pretty first-class car called Pearl. The coaches express shock that a steam upstart is planning to race. Rusty tries to explain that Pearl offered to race with him, but the other coaches have talked her out of partnering with a loser. ("A Lotta Locomotion")
After this, "Control" orders Rusty to fetch the Freight Train, in order to assemble all the characters so the racing engines can choose their race partners. As the Freight Train arrives, the Coaches taunt and tease them, while Rusty switches between the two trains to try to avoid chaos. Control calls order, and the Freight trucks introduce themselves in turn: The Rockies, who are box cars; Flat-Top, the graffiti-covered punk brick truck; sweet, shy, large Dustin, who would rather avoid the limelight; and the bright, seemingly helpful caboose, C.B. ("Freight")
"Control" is just about to close all entries into her race, when a flashy newcomer enters the scene: the aptly-named electric train, Electra. Accompanied by her five components -- an armaments truck called Krupp, a repair truck called Wrench, a money truck called Purse, a freezer truck called Volta, and a dynamite truck called Joule -- Electra declares that electricity is the future of speed ("AC/DC"). Such a display of boasting automatically makes Electra an enemy of Greaseball ("Coda of Freight"). With all the hopefuls assembled, "Control" explains the rules: The trains will compete in pairs, with an engine pulling a coach. There will be three elimination heats, and the winner of each heat will move on to the finals to decide the fastest train.
The engines start to pick their coaches. Rusty offers to race with Pearl, but she rejects him, explaining that she is waiting for her "dream train". Purse, enters with an invitation from Electra. Even though Electra is not her dream train either, she accepts, leaving Rusty alone. The first heat pits Greaseball and Dinah against Espresso and Buffy, and Hashamoto and C.B.. C.B. sabotages Hashamoto by applying his brakes at key moments in the race. Greaseball and Dinah win comfortably, claiming a place in the finals. After the race, Dinah objects to Greaseball's cheating. In response he abandons her and C.B. comforts Dinah ("There's Me"). Meanwhile, a lonely Rusty has retreated back to the freight yard, where an old steam train called Momma -- a former champion herself -- is singing the blues ("Momma's Blues"). Ever helpful, Momma tries to persuade Rusty to race without Pearl, urging him to have faith in a mythical force she calls the "Starlight Express." When Rusty refuses, Momma introduces him to Belle, an old sleeping car with whom she used to race. Rusty agrees to race with Belle. They compete in the second heat against Electra and Pearl, and Ruhrgold and Joule. Electra and Pearl finish first, securing a place in the finals; Rusty and Belle finish in last.
Already despondent after losing Pearl as his race partner, Rusty loses his last shreds of confidence. Momma decides to step up and prove that steam power is still relevant, despite everyone's misgivings, by racing herself in the third heat. Only Dustin, the heavy aggregate hopper, is willing to race with her. Rusty points out that the race is already full, but suddenly "Control" announces that The Prince of Wales has been scrapped, leaving space for a late entry. Momma interprets this as a sign from the Starlight Express and enters the race. The third heat pits Momma and Dustin against Bobo and Ashley, and Turnov and Wrench. Momma wins the race, securing a place in the finals against Greaseball and Electra, but the effort of outracing the others and pulling the hefty Dustin exhausts her. Now worn out, she asks Rusty to take her place. Rusty refuses at first, but then he notices Pearl with Electra and is jealous. When C.B. offers to race with him, Rusty announces that he will take Momma's place. Alone, Rusty prays to the Starlight Express for help in the finals ("Starlight Express").
The trains debate whether Rusty should be allowed to take Momma's place in the finals, since he's already competed and lost, or whether the place should go instead to Bobo, who finished second in Momma's heat ("The Rap"). They ultimately decide that Momma has the right to choose her replacement; and thus, Rusty is allowed to race. With the race heating up, "Control" offers the engines the chance to change partners. Greaseball, having abandoned Dinah, chooses Pearl to race with him. Dinah expresses her shame at being uncoupled, although she cannot bring herself to say the word itself ("U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D."). The other coaches encourage Dinah to fight back and win the love of her man, encouraging her to team up with Electar. Elsewhere, C.B. hatches a plan. He tells Greaseball he will help him win the championship by sabotaging Rusty. He then tells Electra he will wipe out Greaseball, clearing the way for Electra to win. When Electra expresses his surprise at C.B.'s duplicity, C.B. explains that he has spent a career secretly causing train crashes for fun ("C.B.").
The finals takes place between Electra and Dinah, Greaseball and Pearl, and Rusty and C.B. C.B. sabotages Rusty, slowing him down so he misses a switch on the tracks and cannot finish the race. Electra and Greaseball finish in a dead heat. "Control" announces that there will be another race, with Electra and Greaseball going head-to-head to decide the winner. Rusty complains that he was cheated, but the marshals refuse to listen. Pearl confronts Greaseball, but he warns her to say nothing, as the marshals would consider her complicit and punish her as well. Rusty retreats to the freight yard, where he bumps into the Rockies. They tell him that without luck, he will never win and that he should just give up ("Right Place, Right Time"). The Rockies leave Rusty alone. He appeals again to the mythical Starlight Express for help, and this time, it hears. The Starlight Express appears in front of Rusty, reminding him that whatever strength he needs–the starlight–is within him already ("Starlight Sequence: I Am The Starlight"). The Starlight Express disappears and Rusty finds himself back in the freight yard with Dustin, who says he was just asleep, but felt the starlight's presence. Rusty asks Dustin to race with him in the final. He accepts and they head off together. Meanwhile, Dinah has reached her wit's end regarding the vain Electra. She disconnects Electra, causing her to scramble for a new partner for the big race. Ignoring all her components, Electra calls on C.B. to race with her instead.
It all comes down to this: the final race. At the end of this race, the Champion of the World will be decided. All the pieces have fallen into place: Greaseball is with Pearl, who has learnt how abusive and vain he is, the great Electra has chosen to race with the unreliable C.B., and the zero-to-hero Rusty is racing with Dustin. The race is fast and furious, a determined Rusty keeps a cool head while Greaseball struggles with an unwilling Pearl, and Electra uses all his power to disrupt his opponents. C.B. has revealed himself as unhinged and will do whatever he can to cause chaos. Electra zaps electricity at Greaseball, but misses and injures Pearl. Greaseball, showing no concern, simply disconnects Pearl at full speed. Rusty diverts from the race course just in time to save her, but has set himself back in the race. Meanwhile, Greaseball and Electra fight over C.B., on order to have a partner when crossing the finish line. At the last moment however, Rusty and Dustin catch up and overtake his opponents, and cross the finish line as the others crash in the tunnel. Rusty wins! But what's this? Rusty is leaving the track! He's setting off to find Pearl! "Control" -- obviously upset that her beloved Greaseball emerged the loser -- warns that if Rusty is not found, his victory lap will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, humiliated and infuriated by losing the race, Electra swears she is leaving, never to return ("No Comeback"). At the site of the wreckage, the psychopathic C.B. has been destroyed for good, but Greaseball lives, but in poor condition. Momma enlists his help in trying to find Rusty. Away from the other engines, Pearl fears that she caused Rusty to lose the race. She realizes that of all the trains she's raced with, only Rusty ever acted selflessly towards her ("Only He"). Rusty arrives. He tells Pearl that he won the race and confesses his love for her ("Only You").
The other engines find the two lovers and congratulate Rusty on his victory, ignoring "Control"'s claims that the victory lap is cancelled. Greaseball collapses. Dinah arrives late, and seeing her beloved Greaseball battered and in pain, she can't resist going to him. He -- with full marks for effort, if not for accuracy -- spells out to her his apology. He admits that he was in the wrong, and let his ego get the better of him. Ever the kind one, Momma offers the chance to convert Greaseball from diesel to steam, saying "With steam, you could finally be under your own control!" Such a concept does not sit well with "Control", who, for the first time since falling asleep, shows her face and demands that the engines do what they're told. "Shut up, 'Control'!" is the roared-as-one response from the trains, and immediately thereafter, Momma and Belle lead them towards the "Light at the End of the Tunnel". As the number builds, the trains leap out of "Control"'s window, glide down the gutter and ride on down the street towards the rising sun, symbolizing a new dawn in the wild world of train-racing...
~ ~ ~
What do you think? I've heard many people say that the original West End production had the most coherent version -- and the most heart -- of the story, so I have based this outline on the original production. Also, I tried to cut out most of the songs, because I want this to be more of a spoken film, compared to the "sung-through" nature of the stage show. (Honestly, that's a tricky part about doing any of ALW's shows on film; pretty much all of his shows are sung-through.)
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It's back, baby! Just in time for the new year, I decided to dust off this and tackle another movie re-imagineering.
Frozen II is a film that has grown better with each viewing, especially when studying Anna and Elsa's characters, but the movie isn't without problems.
The major problem with Frozen II is it appears to have been the subject of multiple rewrites and became a play-it-safe sequel. It is a little darker than the first, has some truly sad moments, and expands the mythos of Frozen a little further. Yet, despite the plot twists that occur in this movie, there are zero emotional or geo-political consequences to them. Olaf comes back, Arendelle is still standing, Elsa finds her vague purpose, Anna becomes Queen of Arendelle, and everyone gets a perfect happy ending.
Elsa is really the only character who has a decent character arc here, while Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven are reduced to the sidelines. New characters are set up but are also moved out of the way, and the absence of Hans is a little strange; though granted, Hans doesn’t really need to be in a sequel at this moment in time.
One big question was whether or not Elsa would pursue a romantic relationship, which did not happen in the movie. I fully support this progressive move, but apparently Disney either do not, or thought it wasn’t the right time to do it. Frozen II was about Elsa’s quest for knowledge and purpose – but even a tease or a little romantic chemistry wouldn’t have hurt. In a time where representation and acceptance is important, Disney continuously fail to include minorities in their family films, unless it involves straight actors playing implied gay characters, or actually doing a decent job in TV shows.
Anyway, Frozen II does have some interesting ideas, and certainly the most unexpected way to explain why Elsa has ice magic. Pacing, minor retcons, and a clunky script cause the most problems for the film, so we are going to fix them a little, reworking the story, giving the characters a true direction, and trying to add some more emotion to the journey.
…
The story starts the same, with a young Anna and Elsa being told about their grandfather King Runeard’s turbulent relationship with the Northuldran tribesmen, who lived in an enchanted forest north of the kingdom. The people there lived in balance with the elemental spirits, though could not use such magic themselves. Runeard formed a treaty with the Northuldra by building a large stone dam for them. King Agnarr tells his daughters that hostilities broke out, enraging the elementals, who killed Runeard, and set up a thick barrier of mist which no one was able to pass through either way.
Agnarr himself had attended the meetings, though claims to not know what enraged the elementals, escaping the forest with help from a young girl. The daughters quickly guess this was their mother Queen Iduna, though Agnarr remains vague on the details. The girls then go to bed, but Iduna sings her lullaby about Ahtohallan, a magic river to the north which contains memories, but swimming too far down into it would lead to loss.
Cut to Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, set three years after Frozen. It is quite the spectacle as an royal wedding should be, with a revised version of “Some Things Never Change” occurring during the event. Elsa has to deliver a speech as Anna’s sister and maid of honour, which goes rather well, though the queen finds herself a little isolated from the fun due to the expected rigidity of her station.
Anna and Kristoff plan to go on their honeymoon, inviting Elsa and Olaf to come too. Elsa reluctantly declines, since she has a duty to Arendelle. Instead, the group go to a distant, remote beach on the coast for a little family adventure prior to the honeymoon. It is here that Elsa first hears the siren’s song, trying to ignore it at first, but grows increasingly bothered by it. The family get involved in a ball game, but Elsa gets a little carried away, shooting ice across the bay and destroying a rock – revealing their parents’ shipwreck washed up out of sight.
The sisters explore the wreck, finding a hidden, waterproof chamber, where they find a chest with a map in it to Ahtohallan. Iduna has left a scribbled note on the map, which mentions “the northern river; the origins of Elsa’s powers(?); the cure of the curse(?). The group return to Arendelle, putting the honeymoon on hold. Anna and Elsa are curious yet concerned about the map. Elsa theorises their parents were looking for Ahtohallan, potentially the source of Elsa’s magic. Worst still, Elsa assumes the mention of a curse if a reference to her own magic, believing that her parents did see her as a danger after all, but had told her she was born with her icy powers. Anna tries to reason otherwise, but Elsa is becoming anxious and high strung.
With Ahtohallan being a mere legend, Anna, with Kristoff’s help, concludes it must be a real place via research. They consult Grand Pabbie, who confirms Ahtohallan is real, though he truly knows nothing about it, but if it is a lead to discovering why Elsa has magic, then they should pursue. However, Grand Pabbie warns Anna that Elsa may be consumed by her magic, advising Anna to stay close to her sister.
Anna finds Elsa being all mopey, and they share their charming bedroom scene together, falling asleep in comforting each other. Elsa is awoke by the siren song, wishing to ignore it, already bothered by the apparent state that her parents were looking for a curse to her alleged curse, making her feel quite hurt and angry. Still, she is drawn to the siren, performs “Into the Unknown”, developing new magic and experiences the cool vision of Northuldra, before summoning the magic diamonds. This awakens the elemental spirits within the Enchanted Forest.
All hell breaks loose in Arendelle as the elementals’ powers run riot. The chaos is more destructive, ending in a wave of water, resembling a horse, smashing through the bridge to the royal castle, cutting it off from the town. The cityfolk flee to the fjords, but are chased by a wall of bouncing fire. Elsa leaps in to the rescue, taking on the spreading wildfire with her ice magic. Anna watches her sister’s reckless, yet exhilarated combat, and has to rescue her when she is overwhelmed. The Trolls roll in and are able to quell the fire, seeing the chaos unfold.
Elsa and Anna have a little argument, using my favourite lines from the movie:
Elsa -- “You can’t just follow me into fire.”
Anna – “Then don’t run into fire!”
This puts some needed conflict between the sisters: Elsa is becoming more confident in using her powers (curse or not), and is thus believing she is invulnerable to an extent. Anna is heeding Grand Pabbie’s words to stay close to Elsa, but fearing change and losing Elsa, Anna is trying to protect her and create boundaries. There is a little need for control there, trying to not allow Elsa to do anything too dangerous which Anna can’t do herself.
With the kingdom unsafe, the sisters, Kristoff, and the royal council (assuming there is one) discuss what to do. Elsa and Anna realise the elementals come from Northuldra, which is confirmed by Grand Pabbie to be the best way to reach Ahtohallan, possibly to key to solving just what is happening. However, there is a wall of impassable fog or mist. But, Elsa’s magic may allow her to get by it. Elsa wants to immediately set out, but Anna prioritises the people first with setting up a temporary camp until Arendelle can be confirmed safe.
But, Elsa doesn’t wish to wait and makes the rather impulsive decision to set out for Northuldra, taking Olaf and a reluctant Sven along with her. Anna and Kristoff find out the next day and give chase. Elsa, Olaf, and Sven find the wall of fog behind the four ancient runes on the forest’s edge. Elsa is able to pass through with Olaf, telling Sven to wait outside. Sure enough, Anna and Kristoff arrive shortly after. Anna tries to go through the fog, but is rejected. Anna rages at being left behind, trying to figure out how to get through the fog. She reasons Elsa’s magic let her pass through, so perhaps something created from it may also have a similar effect.
Elsa and Olaf explore the Enchanted Forest, finding it in a permanent mix of autumn and winter, but find it beautiful. A harsh wind whips Olaf away, separating him from Elsa. Olaf evades the wind, which he realises is alive in some shape or form, nicknaming it as “Gale”. He performs “When I Am Older”, appearing to attract the elemental spirits to the point they nearly kill him, but Elsa comes to his aid.
They are attacked by Gale again in tornado form, but Elsa is able to overcome it with her magic, taming the wind spirit, which materialises as a large butterfly/Mothra-esque insect, which appears playful once Elsa approaches it in a more gentile manner.
Their encounter attracts the attention of the Northuldran tribe, led by their elder Yelena, as well as a group of now middle-aged Arendelle knights, who dropped their grudge with the tribe long ago. They are led by Matthias, who serves as head of the tribe’s security, and he has a close, trusting relationship with the witty but wise Yelena. The tribe are suspicious of Elsa, until Olaf plays out his hilarious recap of Frozen. Matthias realises Elsa’s identity and pledges to protect her and Anna. Elsa explains what is going on in Arendelle, as well as what became of her mother and father.
The group return to the tribe’s charming village, where they leave simple lives surrounded by an impressive respect for the land, and soaked in tradition. Elsa finds herself strangely at peace in the village rather than all the pomp and circumstance in Arendelle, where she still felt a little isolated. Elsa befriends a pair of siblings: Honeymaren, who is bold, brave, yet kind at heart, and has a reverence for the elementals spirits, and her brother Ryder, a curious soul who breeds reindeer, but wants to see the outside world.
Yelena examines the map, claiming the passage to reach Ahtohallan is treacherous, and blocked off by the territory of the rock giants called the Jotun, the earth spirits. When asked, Yelena explains to Elsa her people’s tales of Ahtohallan, a mythical river said to contain memories of the past, and is the origins of the elemental spirits. Legend says that there is a fifth unnamed spirit residing within Ahtohallan, and will only be awakened if the four others are quelled. Yelena then asks Elsa how she knows about Ahtohallan, to which Elsa recalls her mother’s lullaby. Yelena stares incredulously at Elsa, but before she can ask further questions, the forest trembles – the Jotun are moving.
The tribe scramble for weapons as Elsa behold enormous moving mounds of rock walking through the forest in the distance. Although she hides, Elsa can’t help but feel a little excited. The Jotun’s presence awakens the destructive fire spirit, which threatens to burn down the village. Matthias’ men try to stop it, but are outmatched. Elsa leaps in to the put out the fire, hoping it won’t attract the Jotun. She tries to freeze the fire spirit, discovering it is actually a small salamander named Bruni, managing to calm it down with edible snow, since it lowers it own fiery body heat. Unfortunately, the Jotun are drawn to the flames. In haste, Elsa whips up a fog similar to the one walling off the forest, disorientating the Jotun enough to send them away.
Anna and Kristoff return to Arendelle in a pit stop to gather supplies and weapons. Anna raids her father’s study and the library for books that may have information on the Enchanted Forest and Ahtohallan. Instead, she stumbles across belongings of her grandfather Runeard, finding the original designs for the dam built in Northuldra. She also finds his personal journal, deciding to read it on the way.
Kristoff asks Anna what they will do when they find Elsa, to which Anna says they will help her and then come home. Kristoff then asks what if Elsa does not wish to return. Anna gets angry, Kristoff reasoning that Elsa has been seeking answers for her powers and why she has them. If she finds the answers she wants, they may convince her to start over and fulfil whatever purpose she decides on. Anna is convinced that Elsa will return home with them, answers or not, but the fear of losing her again is obvious in her words. The two sisters are at their strongest when together.
Anna, Kristoff, and Sven set out for Elsa’s mountain castle, recruiting Marshmallow to aid them in breaching the fog. On the way, Anna reads her grandfather’s journal, discovering he has studied the Enchanted Forest, the elements, and Northuldran people with great detail, but also with great distrust and concern. The book reveals how Runeard distrusts magic and the power of nature, finding it unpredictable and dangerous, as are those who are able to live with the elemental spirits. This fills Anna with dread, suggesting that her grandfather’s reasons for building the dam may not have been as benevolent as they appeared. With Marshmallow on hand, they head for the forest.
The next day is bright, Ryder introducing Elsa to his herd of reindeer, several of which they will use to travel through the forest. Yelena tells Elsa that the Dark Sea lies between the forest and Ahtohallan, guarded by the water spirit. Elsa, Olaf, Honeymaren, and Ryder set off on reindeer. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Marshmallow are able to successfully breach the fog and enter Northuldra.
Marshmallow’s presence quickly disturbs the elementals, as well as attracting the Northuldran. Anna is eager to go after Elsa, but since she lacks magic, her own journey wouldn’t be as easy. Matthias pledges allegiance Anna as he did to Elsa, escorting her to inspect the dam. She shares her findings with Matthias, asking him if her grandfather had any ill will towards the Northuldran. Matthias was a young guard and Agnarr’s personal attendant at the time when the negotiations between kingdoms went wrong.
Runeard was thrown off a cliff to his death by the wind spirit, while a lot of people disappeared in the mayhem. However, the chief of the Northuldran, Beiard, was found dead – with signs he had been struck down with a sword. This only further worries Anna. She decides to head after Elsa with Kristoff.
Elsa’s group travel through the forest, tailed by Gale and Bruni, but enter the Jotun’s domain. A couple are drawn to them, so Ryder guides the reindeer away to lure off the giants. Elsa creates an ice canoe for her, Honeymaren, and Olaf to use to travel down a river, since it will likely lead to the Dark Ocean. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Matthias, and Marshmallow head across the forest and encounter the Jotun. Marshmallow has a clash of the titans with the Jotun, while Kristoff aids Ryder. Anna manages to steer Marshmallow away from the Jotun to continue after Elsa.
On their own journey, Elsa and Honeymaren bond, Elsa happy to have someone who encourages her to embrace her gifts, curse or not. However, Honeymaren turns out to be a little reckless, pushing Elsa to use her magic a little too haphazardly. This causes Elsa to awaken all of the sleeping Jotun, sending their ice boat tumbling down a waterfall. They wash up into the mouth of a cave, navigating their way through it to find the exit and reach the Dark Sea. Bruni provides fire for a torch.
Elsa and Honeymaren discuss the former’s life in Arendelle, and how she suppressed her powers for years through her parents’ advice. Honeymaren questions Agnarr and Iduna’s actions, but while this upsets Elsa, she fears she was cursed with her magic when born. Honeymaren comments that people fear what they don’t understand, suggesting Elsa might be happier living in Northuldra, getting the impression she finds being queen uncomfortable. Elsa contemplates such an offer, but couldn’t leave Anna behind. Almost as if being summoned, Anna herself stumbles out of the caves in search of her sister.
The sisters are thrilled to see each other and begin following Anna out the caves. Elsa apologises for running off, but while a little cranky, Anna doesn’t blame her sister; she probably would have done the same thing. While the aim is to reach Ahtohallan, Anna brings up her suspicions about Runeard. She skims to the back of his journal, but finds the last pages have been damaged by spilt ink, aside from half a message reading, “The dam is the answer.” Elsa begins to dread Runeard deliberately built the dam to cause trouble. Recalling that Ahtohallan carries memories, Elsa proposes going there for answers beyond why she has magic. Or perhaps they even are all connected. Olaf makes the optimistic comment that a place called the Dark Sea can’t be that bad.
Cut to the gang standing on a shore in front of the most unforgiving ocean imaginable. Elsa decides to cross it anyway, leading to an argument with Anna. It becomes clear that Anna is afraid of losing Elsa again, and be unable to follow her to a place she may not come back from. Elsa, though kind, tells Anna there are some places she can’t go, but promises to return, leaving Olaf, Honeymaren, and Marshmallow with her.
Elsa crosses the sea and tames the Nokken water spirit. This, of course, leads to “Show Yourself”, which plays out mostly the same. However, there is a break before the final verse, where Elsa combines the four elemental runes together and unlocks Ahtohallan’s memories. It is here that she hears the siren song, discovering it comes from her mother as a girl, revealing she is Northuldran. Ahtohallan takes the form of Iduna, leading to the finale of the song, changing Elsa’s look, identifying her as the personification of the fifth element.
Elsa discovers the floor has become like a giant mirror and dives in, wandering through a series of icy vignettes, that play out before her. Elsa learns Runeard did indeed fear and distrust the Northuldran and the forest, believing their magic was a threat to his power. The dam was built to cut off Northuldra, with the intention to their poison their rivers, and take their land by force. Runeard then assassinated Beiard to insight a war, slaughter the tribe, and take their land, blaming them for the attack. But, the elements knew the truth and attacked Runeard, killing him and his co-conspirators, before summoning the wall of fog to protect the forest.
A young Agnarr was caught up in the mayhem, being knocked unconscious. Iduna, a Northuldran with an affinity to Gale, rescued him and smuggled the young king out of the forest before the wall of fog descended.
Elsa continues to delve deeper and deeper, but hears Ahtohallan call to her that she will drown if she goes too deep. She begins to panic as she is drawn down into darkness, launching herself out using her powers, shattering the mirror. Through a mix of Elsa’s despair, and a combination of her magic and Ahtohallan’s, a flurry cloud materialises above Northuldra, causing it to snow miniature crystals, almost like shards of ice. In a nod to The Snow Queen, these shards float down into the eyes of everyone, allowing them to relive the memories Elsa witnessed. Everyone now knows the truth. The Northuldran and the Arendelle knights threaten to turn on each other as accusations run wild.
Elsa finds her deep dive has come at another cost – her magic has been taken as the price for her desires for knowledge. Without her magic, this causes both Olaf and Marshmallow to fade away. Honeymaren races off to check on her brother and people, leaving Anna alone on the beach in misery, both upset and enraged at what her grandfather did, and the loss of her friends. “The Next Right Thing” is performed, but is now a duet shared by Anna and Elsa. Both separately conclude that they have to destroy the dam.
Anna finds Kristoff, who is singing “Reindeer Are Better Than People”, disturbed by what has unfolded. Nevertheless, he remains devoted to her and agrees to help attract the Jotun to demolish the dam. Elsa sits alone in Ahtohallan, powerless and feeling hopeless. A fluttering of flurry enters, guiding Elsa to a lingering diamond. She picks it up. It shows her parents getting married, giving birth to her, and then Anna. A happy family.
The memory turns to Agnarr and Iduna having a conversation about Elsa’s magic and Ahtohallan. Iduna theorises that their daughters may be the key to revealing the truth and saving Northuldra. Elsa was never cursed, but rather the forest was, the dam needing to be destroyed to lift it, and it is up to Anna and Elsa to do so – they are the bridge linking both kingdoms together. Elsa was born with the magic of Northuldra, while Anna has none like the people of Arendelle. Together, they can save all. Encouraged, Elsa steps outside and calls for the Nokken using the siren song, setting off across the sea.
Anna, Kristoff and Sven return to the Northuldran, finding them in stand-off with Matthias and co. Through some explaining, Anna manages to bring everyone back into a union, aided by Honeymaren and Ryder, vowing to set them free by destroying the dam. Yelena drops the delightful bombshell that Iduna was her daughter, making her Anna and Elsa’s grandmother. She had assumed her daughter had been killed, unaware of her union with Agnarr.
Elsa rides Nokken through the forest’s river, deliberately irritating the Jotun to get them moving, chasing her towards the dam and hurling boulders at her. Anna, Kristoff, and the Northuldran join the effort to lure the Jotun to the dam, which is destroyed soon after. The wall of fog vanishes, Anna and Elsa witnessing the roaring torrent released from the dam barrelling down the fjords towards Arendelle. Elsa races after it on Nokken hoping to stop it. But, Anna stops her, since she lacks the ability to do so. Neither of them can stop it.
The sisters watch as the flood washes away Arendelle, or rather, the royal castle, but takes much of the town with it. They cry together, but accept their loss, viewing it as a chance to start anew. Elsa miraculously gets her magic back, as payment for the sacrifice the sisters made, and they decide to act as a bridge between both peoples.
Public apologies and ceremonies are made between Arendelle and Northuldra, but since few people knew the truth, all is forgiven, though it will take time for trust to be rebuilt. Anna and Elsa rebuild Olaf, allowing his resurrection, while Elsa revives Marshmallow too.
Elsa decides she feels more comfortable in Northuldra, as it is where she feels most comfortable. Anna is upset, but understands, loving her sister too much to not try to fence her in. Love is an open door after all. Anna becomes the new Queen of Arendelle, which is slowly being rebuilt, as better relations are built between Arendelle and Northuldra. Elsa moves into her own home in the forest, and is approached by Honeymaren if she is interested in going for a walk, offering a hand, which Elsa takes.
Although the two sisters are now separated, they are closer than ever, visiting each other often.
FROZEN II
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Frozen II is a film that has grown better with each viewing, especially when studying Anna and Elsa's characters, but the movie isn't without problems.
The major problem with Frozen II is it appears to have been the subject of multiple rewrites and became a play-it-safe sequel. It is a little darker than the first, has some truly sad moments, and expands the mythos of Frozen a little further. Yet, despite the plot twists that occur in this movie, there are zero emotional or geo-political consequences to them. Olaf comes back, Arendelle is still standing, Elsa finds her vague purpose, Anna becomes Queen of Arendelle, and everyone gets a perfect happy ending.
Elsa is really the only character who has a decent character arc here, while Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven are reduced to the sidelines. New characters are set up but are also moved out of the way, and the absence of Hans is a little strange; though granted, Hans doesn’t really need to be in a sequel at this moment in time.
One big question was whether or not Elsa would pursue a romantic relationship, which did not happen in the movie. I fully support this progressive move, but apparently Disney either do not, or thought it wasn’t the right time to do it. Frozen II was about Elsa’s quest for knowledge and purpose – but even a tease or a little romantic chemistry wouldn’t have hurt. In a time where representation and acceptance is important, Disney continuously fail to include minorities in their family films, unless it involves straight actors playing implied gay characters, or actually doing a decent job in TV shows.
Anyway, Frozen II does have some interesting ideas, and certainly the most unexpected way to explain why Elsa has ice magic. Pacing, minor retcons, and a clunky script cause the most problems for the film, so we are going to fix them a little, reworking the story, giving the characters a true direction, and trying to add some more emotion to the journey.
…
The story starts the same, with a young Anna and Elsa being told about their grandfather King Runeard’s turbulent relationship with the Northuldran tribesmen, who lived in an enchanted forest north of the kingdom. The people there lived in balance with the elemental spirits, though could not use such magic themselves. Runeard formed a treaty with the Northuldra by building a large stone dam for them. King Agnarr tells his daughters that hostilities broke out, enraging the elementals, who killed Runeard, and set up a thick barrier of mist which no one was able to pass through either way.
Agnarr himself had attended the meetings, though claims to not know what enraged the elementals, escaping the forest with help from a young girl. The daughters quickly guess this was their mother Queen Iduna, though Agnarr remains vague on the details. The girls then go to bed, but Iduna sings her lullaby about Ahtohallan, a magic river to the north which contains memories, but swimming too far down into it would lead to loss.
Cut to Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, set three years after Frozen. It is quite the spectacle as an royal wedding should be, with a revised version of “Some Things Never Change” occurring during the event. Elsa has to deliver a speech as Anna’s sister and maid of honour, which goes rather well, though the queen finds herself a little isolated from the fun due to the expected rigidity of her station.
Anna and Kristoff plan to go on their honeymoon, inviting Elsa and Olaf to come too. Elsa reluctantly declines, since she has a duty to Arendelle. Instead, the group go to a distant, remote beach on the coast for a little family adventure prior to the honeymoon. It is here that Elsa first hears the siren’s song, trying to ignore it at first, but grows increasingly bothered by it. The family get involved in a ball game, but Elsa gets a little carried away, shooting ice across the bay and destroying a rock – revealing their parents’ shipwreck washed up out of sight.
The sisters explore the wreck, finding a hidden, waterproof chamber, where they find a chest with a map in it to Ahtohallan. Iduna has left a scribbled note on the map, which mentions “the northern river; the origins of Elsa’s powers(?); the cure of the curse(?). The group return to Arendelle, putting the honeymoon on hold. Anna and Elsa are curious yet concerned about the map. Elsa theorises their parents were looking for Ahtohallan, potentially the source of Elsa’s magic. Worst still, Elsa assumes the mention of a curse if a reference to her own magic, believing that her parents did see her as a danger after all, but had told her she was born with her icy powers. Anna tries to reason otherwise, but Elsa is becoming anxious and high strung.
With Ahtohallan being a mere legend, Anna, with Kristoff’s help, concludes it must be a real place via research. They consult Grand Pabbie, who confirms Ahtohallan is real, though he truly knows nothing about it, but if it is a lead to discovering why Elsa has magic, then they should pursue. However, Grand Pabbie warns Anna that Elsa may be consumed by her magic, advising Anna to stay close to her sister.
Anna finds Elsa being all mopey, and they share their charming bedroom scene together, falling asleep in comforting each other. Elsa is awoke by the siren song, wishing to ignore it, already bothered by the apparent state that her parents were looking for a curse to her alleged curse, making her feel quite hurt and angry. Still, she is drawn to the siren, performs “Into the Unknown”, developing new magic and experiences the cool vision of Northuldra, before summoning the magic diamonds. This awakens the elemental spirits within the Enchanted Forest.
All hell breaks loose in Arendelle as the elementals’ powers run riot. The chaos is more destructive, ending in a wave of water, resembling a horse, smashing through the bridge to the royal castle, cutting it off from the town. The cityfolk flee to the fjords, but are chased by a wall of bouncing fire. Elsa leaps in to the rescue, taking on the spreading wildfire with her ice magic. Anna watches her sister’s reckless, yet exhilarated combat, and has to rescue her when she is overwhelmed. The Trolls roll in and are able to quell the fire, seeing the chaos unfold.
Elsa and Anna have a little argument, using my favourite lines from the movie:
Elsa -- “You can’t just follow me into fire.”
Anna – “Then don’t run into fire!”
This puts some needed conflict between the sisters: Elsa is becoming more confident in using her powers (curse or not), and is thus believing she is invulnerable to an extent. Anna is heeding Grand Pabbie’s words to stay close to Elsa, but fearing change and losing Elsa, Anna is trying to protect her and create boundaries. There is a little need for control there, trying to not allow Elsa to do anything too dangerous which Anna can’t do herself.
With the kingdom unsafe, the sisters, Kristoff, and the royal council (assuming there is one) discuss what to do. Elsa and Anna realise the elementals come from Northuldra, which is confirmed by Grand Pabbie to be the best way to reach Ahtohallan, possibly to key to solving just what is happening. However, there is a wall of impassable fog or mist. But, Elsa’s magic may allow her to get by it. Elsa wants to immediately set out, but Anna prioritises the people first with setting up a temporary camp until Arendelle can be confirmed safe.
But, Elsa doesn’t wish to wait and makes the rather impulsive decision to set out for Northuldra, taking Olaf and a reluctant Sven along with her. Anna and Kristoff find out the next day and give chase. Elsa, Olaf, and Sven find the wall of fog behind the four ancient runes on the forest’s edge. Elsa is able to pass through with Olaf, telling Sven to wait outside. Sure enough, Anna and Kristoff arrive shortly after. Anna tries to go through the fog, but is rejected. Anna rages at being left behind, trying to figure out how to get through the fog. She reasons Elsa’s magic let her pass through, so perhaps something created from it may also have a similar effect.
Elsa and Olaf explore the Enchanted Forest, finding it in a permanent mix of autumn and winter, but find it beautiful. A harsh wind whips Olaf away, separating him from Elsa. Olaf evades the wind, which he realises is alive in some shape or form, nicknaming it as “Gale”. He performs “When I Am Older”, appearing to attract the elemental spirits to the point they nearly kill him, but Elsa comes to his aid.
They are attacked by Gale again in tornado form, but Elsa is able to overcome it with her magic, taming the wind spirit, which materialises as a large butterfly/Mothra-esque insect, which appears playful once Elsa approaches it in a more gentile manner.
Their encounter attracts the attention of the Northuldran tribe, led by their elder Yelena, as well as a group of now middle-aged Arendelle knights, who dropped their grudge with the tribe long ago. They are led by Matthias, who serves as head of the tribe’s security, and he has a close, trusting relationship with the witty but wise Yelena. The tribe are suspicious of Elsa, until Olaf plays out his hilarious recap of Frozen. Matthias realises Elsa’s identity and pledges to protect her and Anna. Elsa explains what is going on in Arendelle, as well as what became of her mother and father.
The group return to the tribe’s charming village, where they leave simple lives surrounded by an impressive respect for the land, and soaked in tradition. Elsa finds herself strangely at peace in the village rather than all the pomp and circumstance in Arendelle, where she still felt a little isolated. Elsa befriends a pair of siblings: Honeymaren, who is bold, brave, yet kind at heart, and has a reverence for the elementals spirits, and her brother Ryder, a curious soul who breeds reindeer, but wants to see the outside world.
Yelena examines the map, claiming the passage to reach Ahtohallan is treacherous, and blocked off by the territory of the rock giants called the Jotun, the earth spirits. When asked, Yelena explains to Elsa her people’s tales of Ahtohallan, a mythical river said to contain memories of the past, and is the origins of the elemental spirits. Legend says that there is a fifth unnamed spirit residing within Ahtohallan, and will only be awakened if the four others are quelled. Yelena then asks Elsa how she knows about Ahtohallan, to which Elsa recalls her mother’s lullaby. Yelena stares incredulously at Elsa, but before she can ask further questions, the forest trembles – the Jotun are moving.
The tribe scramble for weapons as Elsa behold enormous moving mounds of rock walking through the forest in the distance. Although she hides, Elsa can’t help but feel a little excited. The Jotun’s presence awakens the destructive fire spirit, which threatens to burn down the village. Matthias’ men try to stop it, but are outmatched. Elsa leaps in to the put out the fire, hoping it won’t attract the Jotun. She tries to freeze the fire spirit, discovering it is actually a small salamander named Bruni, managing to calm it down with edible snow, since it lowers it own fiery body heat. Unfortunately, the Jotun are drawn to the flames. In haste, Elsa whips up a fog similar to the one walling off the forest, disorientating the Jotun enough to send them away.
Anna and Kristoff return to Arendelle in a pit stop to gather supplies and weapons. Anna raids her father’s study and the library for books that may have information on the Enchanted Forest and Ahtohallan. Instead, she stumbles across belongings of her grandfather Runeard, finding the original designs for the dam built in Northuldra. She also finds his personal journal, deciding to read it on the way.
Kristoff asks Anna what they will do when they find Elsa, to which Anna says they will help her and then come home. Kristoff then asks what if Elsa does not wish to return. Anna gets angry, Kristoff reasoning that Elsa has been seeking answers for her powers and why she has them. If she finds the answers she wants, they may convince her to start over and fulfil whatever purpose she decides on. Anna is convinced that Elsa will return home with them, answers or not, but the fear of losing her again is obvious in her words. The two sisters are at their strongest when together.
Anna, Kristoff, and Sven set out for Elsa’s mountain castle, recruiting Marshmallow to aid them in breaching the fog. On the way, Anna reads her grandfather’s journal, discovering he has studied the Enchanted Forest, the elements, and Northuldran people with great detail, but also with great distrust and concern. The book reveals how Runeard distrusts magic and the power of nature, finding it unpredictable and dangerous, as are those who are able to live with the elemental spirits. This fills Anna with dread, suggesting that her grandfather’s reasons for building the dam may not have been as benevolent as they appeared. With Marshmallow on hand, they head for the forest.
The next day is bright, Ryder introducing Elsa to his herd of reindeer, several of which they will use to travel through the forest. Yelena tells Elsa that the Dark Sea lies between the forest and Ahtohallan, guarded by the water spirit. Elsa, Olaf, Honeymaren, and Ryder set off on reindeer. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Marshmallow are able to successfully breach the fog and enter Northuldra.
Marshmallow’s presence quickly disturbs the elementals, as well as attracting the Northuldran. Anna is eager to go after Elsa, but since she lacks magic, her own journey wouldn’t be as easy. Matthias pledges allegiance Anna as he did to Elsa, escorting her to inspect the dam. She shares her findings with Matthias, asking him if her grandfather had any ill will towards the Northuldran. Matthias was a young guard and Agnarr’s personal attendant at the time when the negotiations between kingdoms went wrong.
Runeard was thrown off a cliff to his death by the wind spirit, while a lot of people disappeared in the mayhem. However, the chief of the Northuldran, Beiard, was found dead – with signs he had been struck down with a sword. This only further worries Anna. She decides to head after Elsa with Kristoff.
Elsa’s group travel through the forest, tailed by Gale and Bruni, but enter the Jotun’s domain. A couple are drawn to them, so Ryder guides the reindeer away to lure off the giants. Elsa creates an ice canoe for her, Honeymaren, and Olaf to use to travel down a river, since it will likely lead to the Dark Ocean. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Matthias, and Marshmallow head across the forest and encounter the Jotun. Marshmallow has a clash of the titans with the Jotun, while Kristoff aids Ryder. Anna manages to steer Marshmallow away from the Jotun to continue after Elsa.
On their own journey, Elsa and Honeymaren bond, Elsa happy to have someone who encourages her to embrace her gifts, curse or not. However, Honeymaren turns out to be a little reckless, pushing Elsa to use her magic a little too haphazardly. This causes Elsa to awaken all of the sleeping Jotun, sending their ice boat tumbling down a waterfall. They wash up into the mouth of a cave, navigating their way through it to find the exit and reach the Dark Sea. Bruni provides fire for a torch.
Elsa and Honeymaren discuss the former’s life in Arendelle, and how she suppressed her powers for years through her parents’ advice. Honeymaren questions Agnarr and Iduna’s actions, but while this upsets Elsa, she fears she was cursed with her magic when born. Honeymaren comments that people fear what they don’t understand, suggesting Elsa might be happier living in Northuldra, getting the impression she finds being queen uncomfortable. Elsa contemplates such an offer, but couldn’t leave Anna behind. Almost as if being summoned, Anna herself stumbles out of the caves in search of her sister.
The sisters are thrilled to see each other and begin following Anna out the caves. Elsa apologises for running off, but while a little cranky, Anna doesn’t blame her sister; she probably would have done the same thing. While the aim is to reach Ahtohallan, Anna brings up her suspicions about Runeard. She skims to the back of his journal, but finds the last pages have been damaged by spilt ink, aside from half a message reading, “The dam is the answer.” Elsa begins to dread Runeard deliberately built the dam to cause trouble. Recalling that Ahtohallan carries memories, Elsa proposes going there for answers beyond why she has magic. Or perhaps they even are all connected. Olaf makes the optimistic comment that a place called the Dark Sea can’t be that bad.
Cut to the gang standing on a shore in front of the most unforgiving ocean imaginable. Elsa decides to cross it anyway, leading to an argument with Anna. It becomes clear that Anna is afraid of losing Elsa again, and be unable to follow her to a place she may not come back from. Elsa, though kind, tells Anna there are some places she can’t go, but promises to return, leaving Olaf, Honeymaren, and Marshmallow with her.
Elsa crosses the sea and tames the Nokken water spirit. This, of course, leads to “Show Yourself”, which plays out mostly the same. However, there is a break before the final verse, where Elsa combines the four elemental runes together and unlocks Ahtohallan’s memories. It is here that she hears the siren song, discovering it comes from her mother as a girl, revealing she is Northuldran. Ahtohallan takes the form of Iduna, leading to the finale of the song, changing Elsa’s look, identifying her as the personification of the fifth element.
Elsa discovers the floor has become like a giant mirror and dives in, wandering through a series of icy vignettes, that play out before her. Elsa learns Runeard did indeed fear and distrust the Northuldran and the forest, believing their magic was a threat to his power. The dam was built to cut off Northuldra, with the intention to their poison their rivers, and take their land by force. Runeard then assassinated Beiard to insight a war, slaughter the tribe, and take their land, blaming them for the attack. But, the elements knew the truth and attacked Runeard, killing him and his co-conspirators, before summoning the wall of fog to protect the forest.
A young Agnarr was caught up in the mayhem, being knocked unconscious. Iduna, a Northuldran with an affinity to Gale, rescued him and smuggled the young king out of the forest before the wall of fog descended.
Elsa continues to delve deeper and deeper, but hears Ahtohallan call to her that she will drown if she goes too deep. She begins to panic as she is drawn down into darkness, launching herself out using her powers, shattering the mirror. Through a mix of Elsa’s despair, and a combination of her magic and Ahtohallan’s, a flurry cloud materialises above Northuldra, causing it to snow miniature crystals, almost like shards of ice. In a nod to The Snow Queen, these shards float down into the eyes of everyone, allowing them to relive the memories Elsa witnessed. Everyone now knows the truth. The Northuldran and the Arendelle knights threaten to turn on each other as accusations run wild.
Elsa finds her deep dive has come at another cost – her magic has been taken as the price for her desires for knowledge. Without her magic, this causes both Olaf and Marshmallow to fade away. Honeymaren races off to check on her brother and people, leaving Anna alone on the beach in misery, both upset and enraged at what her grandfather did, and the loss of her friends. “The Next Right Thing” is performed, but is now a duet shared by Anna and Elsa. Both separately conclude that they have to destroy the dam.
Anna finds Kristoff, who is singing “Reindeer Are Better Than People”, disturbed by what has unfolded. Nevertheless, he remains devoted to her and agrees to help attract the Jotun to demolish the dam. Elsa sits alone in Ahtohallan, powerless and feeling hopeless. A fluttering of flurry enters, guiding Elsa to a lingering diamond. She picks it up. It shows her parents getting married, giving birth to her, and then Anna. A happy family.
The memory turns to Agnarr and Iduna having a conversation about Elsa’s magic and Ahtohallan. Iduna theorises that their daughters may be the key to revealing the truth and saving Northuldra. Elsa was never cursed, but rather the forest was, the dam needing to be destroyed to lift it, and it is up to Anna and Elsa to do so – they are the bridge linking both kingdoms together. Elsa was born with the magic of Northuldra, while Anna has none like the people of Arendelle. Together, they can save all. Encouraged, Elsa steps outside and calls for the Nokken using the siren song, setting off across the sea.
Anna, Kristoff and Sven return to the Northuldran, finding them in stand-off with Matthias and co. Through some explaining, Anna manages to bring everyone back into a union, aided by Honeymaren and Ryder, vowing to set them free by destroying the dam. Yelena drops the delightful bombshell that Iduna was her daughter, making her Anna and Elsa’s grandmother. She had assumed her daughter had been killed, unaware of her union with Agnarr.
Elsa rides Nokken through the forest’s river, deliberately irritating the Jotun to get them moving, chasing her towards the dam and hurling boulders at her. Anna, Kristoff, and the Northuldran join the effort to lure the Jotun to the dam, which is destroyed soon after. The wall of fog vanishes, Anna and Elsa witnessing the roaring torrent released from the dam barrelling down the fjords towards Arendelle. Elsa races after it on Nokken hoping to stop it. But, Anna stops her, since she lacks the ability to do so. Neither of them can stop it.
The sisters watch as the flood washes away Arendelle, or rather, the royal castle, but takes much of the town with it. They cry together, but accept their loss, viewing it as a chance to start anew. Elsa miraculously gets her magic back, as payment for the sacrifice the sisters made, and they decide to act as a bridge between both peoples.
Public apologies and ceremonies are made between Arendelle and Northuldra, but since few people knew the truth, all is forgiven, though it will take time for trust to be rebuilt. Anna and Elsa rebuild Olaf, allowing his resurrection, while Elsa revives Marshmallow too.
Elsa decides she feels more comfortable in Northuldra, as it is where she feels most comfortable. Anna is upset, but understands, loving her sister too much to not try to fence her in. Love is an open door after all. Anna becomes the new Queen of Arendelle, which is slowly being rebuilt, as better relations are built between Arendelle and Northuldra. Elsa moves into her own home in the forest, and is approached by Honeymaren if she is interested in going for a walk, offering a hand, which Elsa takes.
Although the two sisters are now separated, they are closer than ever, visiting each other often.
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Suchomimus
Well-Known Member
It's back, baby! Just in time for the new year, I decided to dust off this and tackle another movie re-imagineering.
FROZEN II
Frozen II is a movie I heavily enjoyed upon first viewing, but after some thinking, its impact, beyond the gorgeous animation and most of the songs, has dwindled. Don’t get me wrong. It’s now awful, just a somewhat mediocre but acceptable sequel and movie. Maybe it is just a victim of the weighty reputation, popularity, and expectations created through the Frozen brand. The first film didn’t really need a sequel in some respects, other than to explain why Elsa has magic, and whether or not she will explore an LGTB romance. Still, the characters have a huge fanbase, we wanted to see where their lives would go next, and Disney needed to milk their most profitable franchise.
The major problem with Frozen II is it appears to have been the subject of multiple rewrites and become a play-it-safe sequel. It is a little darker than the first, has some truly sad moments, and expands the mythos of Frozen a little further. Yet, despite the plot twists that occur in this movie, there are zero emotional or geo-political consequences to them. Olaf comes back, Arendelle is still standing, Elsa finds her vague purpose, Anna becomes Queen of Arendelle, and everyone gets a perfect happy ending.
Elsa is really the only character who has a decent character arc here, while Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven are reduced to the sidelines. New characters are set up but are also moved out of the way, and the absence of Hans is a little strange; though granted, Hans doesn’t really need to be in a sequel at this moment in time.
One big question was whether or not Elsa would pursue a romantic relationship, which did not happen in the movie. I fully support this progressive move, but apparently Disney either do not, or thought it wasn’t the right time to do it. Frozen II was about Elsa’s quest for knowledge and purpose – but even a tease or a little romantic chemistry wouldn’t have hurt. In a time where representation and acceptance is important, Disney continuously fail to include minorities in their family films, unless it involves straight actors playing implied gay characters, or actually doing a decent job in TV shows.
Anyway, Frozen II does have some interesting ideas, and certainly the most unexpected way to explain why Elsa has ice magic. Pacing, minor retcons, and a clunky script cause the most problems for the film, so we are going to fix them a little, reworking the story, giving the characters a true direction, and trying to add some more emotion to the journey.
…
The story starts the same, with a young Anna and Elsa being told about their grandfather King Runeard’s turbulent relationship with the Northuldran tribesmen, who lived in an enchanted forest north of the kingdom. The people there lived in balance with the elemental spirits, though could not use such magic themselves. Runeard formed a treaty with the Northuldra by building a large stone dam for them. King Agnarr tells his daughters that hostilities broke out, enraging the elementals, who killed Runeard, and set up a thick barrier of mist which no one was able to pass through either way.
Agnarr himself had attended the meetings, though claims to not know what enraged the elementals, escaping the forest with help from a young girl. The daughters quickly guess this was their mother Queen Iduna, though Agnarr remains vague on the details. The girls then go to bed, but Iduna sings her lullaby about Ahtohallan, a magic river to the north which contains memories, but swimming too far down into it would lead to loss.
Cut to Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, set three years after Frozen. It is quite the spectacle as an royal wedding should be, with a revised version of “Some Things Never Change” occurring during the event. Elsa has to deliver a speech as Anna’s sister and maid of honour, which goes rather well, though the queen finds herself a little isolated from the fun due to the expected rigidity of her station.
Anna and Kristoff plan to go on their honeymoon, inviting Elsa and Olaf to come too. Elsa reluctantly declines, since she has a duty to Arendelle. Instead, the group go to a distant, remote beach on the coast for a little family adventure prior to the honeymoon. It is here that Elsa first hears the siren’s song, trying to ignore it at first, but grows increasingly bothered by it. The family get involved in a ball game, but Elsa gets a little carried away, shooting ice across the bay and destroying a rock – revealing their parents’ shipwreck washed up out of sight.
The sisters explore the wreck, finding a hidden, waterproof chamber, where they find a chest with a map in it to Ahtohallan. Iduna has left a scribbled note on the map, which mentions “the northern river; the origins of Elsa’s powers(?); the cure of the curse(?). The group return to Arendelle, putting the honeymoon on hold. Anna and Elsa are curious yet concerned about the map. Elsa theorises their parents were looking for Ahtohallan, potentially the source of Elsa’s magic. Worst still, Elsa assumes the mention of a curse if a reference to her own magic, believing that her parents did see her as a danger after all, but had told her she was born with her icy powers. Anna tries to reason otherwise, but Elsa is becoming anxious and high strung.
With Ahtohallan being a mere legend, Anna, with Kristoff’s help, concludes it must be a real place via research. They consult Grand Pabbie, who confirms Ahtohallan is real, though he truly knows nothing about it, but if it is a lead to discovering why Elsa has magic, then they should pursue. However, Grand Pabbie warns Anna that Elsa may be consumed by her magic, advising Anna to stay close to her sister.
Anna finds Elsa being all mopey, and they share their charming bedroom scene together, falling asleep in comforting each other. Elsa is awoke by the siren song, wishing to ignore it, already bothered by the apparent state that her parents were looking for a curse to her alleged curse, making her feel quite hurt and angry. Still, she is drawn to the siren, performs “Into the Unknown”, developing new magic and experiences the cool vision of Northuldra, before summoning the magic diamonds. This awakens the elemental spirits within the Enchanted Forest.
All hell breaks loose in Arendelle as the elementals’ powers run riot. The chaos is more destructive, ending in a wave of water, resembling a horse, smashing through the bridge to the royal castle, cutting it off from the town. The cityfolk flee to the fjords, but are chased by a wall of bouncing fire. Elsa leaps in to the rescue, taking on the spreading wildfire with her ice magic. Anna watches her sister’s reckless, yet exhilarated combat, and has to rescue her when she is overwhelmed. The Trolls roll in and are able to quell the fire, seeing the chaos unfold.
Elsa and Anna have a little argument, using my favourite lines from the movie:
Elsa -- “You can’t just follow me into fire.”
Anna – “Then don’t run into fire!”
This puts some needed conflict between the sisters: Elsa is becoming more confident in using her powers (curse or not), and is thus believing she is invulnerable to an extent. Anna is heeding Grand Pabbie’s words to stay close to Elsa, but fearing change and losing Elsa, Anna is trying to protect her and create boundaries. There is a little need for control there, trying to not allow Elsa to do anything too dangerous which Anna can’t do herself.
With the kingdom unsafe, the sisters, Kristoff, and the royal council (assuming there is one) discuss what to do. Elsa and Anna realise the elementals come from Northuldra, which is confirmed by Grand Pabbie to be the best way to reach Ahtohallan, possibly to key to solving just what is happening. However, there is a wall of impassable fog or mist. But, Elsa’s magic may allow her to get by it. Elsa wants to immediately set out, but Anna prioritises the people first with setting up a temporary camp until Arendelle can be confirmed safe.
But, Elsa doesn’t wish to wait and makes the rather impulsive decision to set out for Northuldra, taking Olaf and a reluctant Sven along with her. Anna and Kristoff find out the next day and give chase. Elsa, Olaf, and Sven find the wall of fog behind the four ancient runes on the forest’s edge. Elsa is able to pass through with Olaf, telling Sven to wait outside. Sure enough, Anna and Kristoff arrive shortly after. Anna tries to go through the fog, but is rejected. Anna rages at being left behind, trying to figure out how to get through the fog. She reasons Elsa’s magic let her pass through, so perhaps something created from it may also have a similar effect.
Elsa and Olaf explore the Enchanted Forest, finding it in a permanent mix of autumn and winter, but find it beautiful. A harsh wind whips Olaf away, separating him from Elsa. Olaf evades the wind, which he realises is alive in some shape or form, nicknaming it as “Gale”. He performs “When I Am Older”, appearing to attract the elemental spirits to the point they nearly kill him, but Elsa comes to his aid.
They are attacked by Gale again in tornado form, but Elsa is able to overcome it with her magic, taming the wind spirit, which materialises as a large butterfly/Mothra-esque insect, which appears playful once Elsa approaches it in a more gentile manner.
Their encounter attracts the attention of the Northuldran tribe, led by their elder Yelena, as well as a group of now middle-aged Arendelle knights, who dropped their grudge with the tribe long ago. They are led by Matthias, who serves as head of the tribe’s security, and he has a close, trusting relationship with the witty but wise Yelena. The tribe are suspicious of Elsa, until Olaf plays out his hilarious recap of Frozen. Matthias realises Elsa’s identity and pledges to protect her and Anna. Elsa explains what is going on in Arendelle, as well as what became of her mother and father.
The group return to the tribe’s charming village, where they leave simple lives surrounded by an impressive respect for the land, and soaked in tradition. Elsa finds herself strangely at peace in the village rather than all the pomp and circumstance in Arendelle, where she still felt a little isolated. Elsa befriends a pair of siblings: Honeymaren, who is bold, brave, yet kind at heart, and has a reverence for the elementals spirits, and her brother Ryder, a curious soul who breeds reindeer, but wants to see the outside world.
Yelena examines the map, claiming the passage to reach Ahtohallan is treacherous, and blocked off by the territory of the rock giants called the Jotun, the earth spirits. When asked, Yelena explains to Elsa her people’s tales of Ahtohallan, a mythical river said to contain memories of the past, and is the origins of the elemental spirits. Legend says that there is a fifth unnamed spirit residing within Ahtohallan, and will only be awakened if the four others are quelled. Yelena then asks Elsa how she knows about Ahtohallan, to which Elsa recalls her mother’s lullaby. Yelena stares incredulously at Elsa, but before she can ask further questions, the forest trembles – the Jotun are moving.
The tribe scramble for weapons as Elsa behold enormous moving mounds of rock walking through the forest in the distance. Although she hides, Elsa can’t help but feel a little excited. The Jotun’s presence awakens the destructive fire spirit, which threatens to burn down the village. Matthias’ men try to stop it, but are outmatched. Elsa leaps in to the put out the fire, hoping it won’t attract the Jotun. She tries to freeze the fire spirit, discovering it is actually a small salamander named Bruni, managing to calm it down with edible snow, since it lowers it own fiery body heat. Unfortunately, the Jotun are drawn to the flames. In haste, Elsa whips up a fog similar to the one walling off the forest, disorientating the Jotun enough to send them away.
Anna and Kristoff return to Arendelle in a pit stop to gather supplies and weapons. Anna raids her father’s study and the library for books that may have information on the Enchanted Forest and Ahtohallan. Instead, she stumbles across belongings of her grandfather Runeard, finding the original designs for the dam built in Northuldra. She also finds his personal journal, deciding to read it on the way.
Kristoff asks Anna what they will do when they find Elsa, to which Anna says they will help her and then come home. Kristoff then asks what if Elsa does not wish to return. Anna gets angry, Kristoff reasoning that Elsa has been seeking answers for her powers and why she has them. If she finds the answers she wants, they may convince her to start over and fulfil whatever purpose she decides on. Anna is convinced that Elsa will return home with them, answers or not, but the fear of losing her again is obvious in her words. The two sisters are at their strongest when together.
Anna, Kristoff, and Sven set out for Elsa’s mountain castle, recruiting Marshmallow to aid them in breaching the fog. On the way, Anna reads her grandfather’s journal, discovering he has studied the Enchanted Forest, the elements, and Northuldran people with great detail, but also with great distrust and concern. The book reveals how Runeard distrusts magic and the power of nature, finding it unpredictable and dangerous, as are those who are able to live with the elemental spirits. This fills Anna with dread, suggesting that her grandfather’s reasons for building the dam may not have been as benevolent as they appeared. With Marshmallow on hand, they head for the forest.
The next day is bright, Ryder introducing Elsa to his herd of reindeer, several of which they will use to travel through the forest. Yelena tells Elsa that the Dark Sea lies between the forest and Ahtohallan, guarded by the water spirit. Elsa, Olaf, Honeymaren, and Ryder set off on reindeer. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Marshmallow are able to successfully breach the fog and enter Northuldra.
Marshmallow’s presence quickly disturbs the elementals, as well as attracting the Northuldran. Anna is eager to go after Elsa, but since she lacks magic, her own journey wouldn’t be as easy. Matthias pledges allegiance Anna as he did to Elsa, escorting her to inspect the dam. She shares her findings with Matthias, asking him if her grandfather had any ill will towards the Northuldran. Matthias was a young guard and Agnarr’s personal attendant at the time when the negotiations between kingdoms went wrong.
Runeard was thrown off a cliff to his death by the wind spirit, while a lot of people disappeared in the mayhem. However, the chief of the Northuldran, Beiard, was found dead – with signs he had been struck down with a sword. This only further worries Anna. She decides to head after Elsa with Kristoff.
Elsa’s group travel through the forest, tailed by Gale and Bruni, but enter the Jotun’s domain. A couple are drawn to them, so Ryder guides the reindeer away to lure off the giants. Elsa creates an ice canoe for her, Honeymaren, and Olaf to use to travel down a river, since it will likely lead to the Dark Ocean. At the same time, Anna, Kristoff, Matthias, and Marshmallow head across the forest and encounter the Jotun. Marshmallow has a clash of the titans with the Jotun, while Kristoff aids Ryder. Anna manages to steer Marshmallow away from the Jotun to continue after Elsa.
On their own journey, Elsa and Honeymaren bond, Elsa happy to have someone who encourages her to embrace her gifts, curse or not. However, Honeymaren turns out to be a little reckless, pushing Elsa to use her magic a little too haphazardly. This causes Elsa to awaken all of the sleeping Jotun, sending their ice boat tumbling down a waterfall. They wash up into the mouth of a cave, navigating their way through it to find the exit and reach the Dark Sea. Bruni provides fire for a torch.
Elsa and Honeymaren discuss the former’s life in Arendelle, and how she suppressed her powers for years through her parents’ advice. Honeymaren questions Agnarr and Iduna’s actions, but while this upsets Elsa, she fears she was cursed with her magic when born. Honeymaren comments that people fear what they don’t understand, suggesting Elsa might be happier living in Northuldra, getting the impression she finds being queen uncomfortable. Elsa contemplates such an offer, but couldn’t leave Anna behind. Almost as if being summoned, Anna herself stumbles out of the caves in search of her sister.
The sisters are thrilled to see each other and begin following Anna out the caves. Elsa apologises for running off, but while a little cranky, Anna doesn’t blame her sister; she probably would have done the same thing. While the aim is to reach Ahtohallan, Anna brings up her suspicions about Runeard. She skims to the back of his journal, but finds the last pages have been damaged by spilt ink, aside from half a message reading, “The dam is the answer.” Elsa begins to dread Runeard deliberately built the dam to cause trouble. Recalling that Ahtohallan carries memories, Elsa proposes going there for answers beyond why she has magic. Or perhaps they even are all connected. Olaf makes the optimistic comment that a place called the Dark Sea can’t be that bad.
Cut to the gang standing on a shore in front of the most unforgiving ocean imaginable. Elsa decides to cross it anyway, leading to an argument with Anna. It becomes clear that Anna is afraid of losing Elsa again, and be unable to follow her to a place she may not come back from. Elsa, though kind, tells Anna there are some places she can’t go, but promises to return, leaving Olaf, Honeymaren, and Marshmallow with her.
Elsa crosses the sea and tames the Nokken water spirit. This, of course, leads to “Show Yourself”, which plays out mostly the same. However, there is a break before the final verse, where Elsa combines the four elemental runes together and unlocks Ahtohallan’s memories. It is here that she hears the siren song, discovering it comes from her mother as a girl, revealing she is Northuldran. Ahtohallan takes the form of Iduna, leading to the finale of the song, changing Elsa’s look, identifying her as the personification of the fifth element.
Elsa discovers the floor has become like a giant mirror and dives in, wandering through a series of icy vignettes, that play out before her. Elsa learns Runeard did indeed fear and distrust the Northuldran and the forest, believing their magic was a threat to his power. The dam was built to cut off Northuldra, with the intention to their poison their rivers, and take their land by force. Runeard then assassinated Beiard to insight a war, slaughter the tribe, and take their land, blaming them for the attack. But, the elements knew the truth and attacked Runeard, killing him and his co-conspirators, before summoning the wall of fog to protect the forest.
A young Agnarr was caught up in the mayhem, being knocked unconscious. Iduna, a Northuldran with an affinity to Gale, rescued him and smuggled the young king out of the forest before the wall of fog descended.
Elsa continues to delve deeper and deeper, but hears Ahtohallan call to her that she will drown if she goes too deep. She begins to panic as she is drawn down into darkness, launching herself out using her powers, shattering the mirror. Through a mix of Elsa’s despair, and a combination of her magic and Ahtohallan’s, a flurry cloud materialises above Northuldra, causing it to snow miniature crystals, almost like shards of ice. In a nod to The Snow Queen, these shards float down into the eyes of everyone, allowing them to relive the memories Elsa witnessed. Everyone now knows the truth. The Northuldran and the Arendelle knights threaten to turn on each other as accusations run wild.
Elsa finds her deep dive has come at another cost – her magic has been taken as the price for her desires for knowledge. Without her magic, this causes both Olaf and Marshmallow to fade away. Honeymaren races off to check on her brother and people, leaving Anna alone on the beach in misery, both upset and enraged at what her grandfather did, and the loss of her friends. “The Next Right Thing” is performed, but is now a duet shared by Anna and Elsa. Both separately conclude that they have to destroy the dam.
Anna finds Kristoff, who is singing “Reindeer Are Better Than People”, disturbed by what has unfolded. Nevertheless, he remains devoted to her and agrees to help attract the Jotun to demolish the dam. Elsa sits alone in Ahtohallan, powerless and feeling hopeless. A fluttering of flurry enters, guiding Elsa to a lingering diamond. She picks it up. It shows her parents getting married, giving birth to her, and then Anna. A happy family.
The memory turns to Agnarr and Iduna having a conversation about Elsa’s magic and Ahtohallan. Iduna theorises that their daughters may be the key to revealing the truth and saving Northuldra. Elsa was never cursed, but rather the forest was, the dam needing to be destroyed to lift it, and it is up to Anna and Elsa to do so – they are the bridge linking both kingdoms together. Elsa was born with the magic of Northuldra, while Anna has none like the people of Arendelle. Together, they can save all. Encouraged, Elsa steps outside and calls for the Nokken using the siren song, setting off across the sea.
Anna, Kristoff and Sven return to the Northuldran, finding them in stand-off with Matthias and co. Through some explaining, Anna manages to bring everyone back into a union, aided by Honeymaren and Ryder, vowing to set them free by destroying the dam. Yelena drops the delightful bombshell that Iduna was her daughter, making her Anna and Elsa’s grandmother. She had assumed her daughter had been killed, unaware of her union with Agnarr.
Elsa rides Nokken through the forest’s river, deliberately irritating the Jotun to get them moving, chasing her towards the dam and hurling boulders at her. Anna, Kristoff, and the Northuldran join the effort to lure the Jotun to the dam, which is destroyed soon after. The wall of fog vanishes, Anna and Elsa witnessing the roaring torrent released from the dam barrelling down the fjords towards Arendelle. Elsa races after it on Nokken hoping to stop it. But, Anna stops her, since she lacks the ability to do so. Neither of them can stop it.
The sisters watch as the flood washes away Arendelle, or rather, the royal castle, but takes much of the town with it. They cry together, but accept their loss, viewing it as a chance to start anew. Elsa miraculously gets her magic back, as payment for the sacrifice the sisters made, and they decide to act as a bridge between both peoples.
Public apologies and ceremonies are made between Arendelle and Northuldra, but since few people knew the truth, all is forgiven, though it will take time for trust to be rebuilt. Anna and Elsa rebuild Olaf, allowing his resurrection, while Elsa revives Marshmallow too.
Elsa decides she feels more comfortable in Northuldra, as it is where she feels most comfortable. Anna is upset, but understands, loving her sister too much to not try to fence her in. Love is an open door after all. Anna becomes the new Queen of Arendelle, which is slowly being rebuilt, as better relations are built between Arendelle and Northuldra. Elsa moves into her own home in the forest, and is approached by Honeymaren if she is interested in going for a walk, offering a hand, which Elsa takes.
Although the two sisters are now separated, they are closer than ever, visiting each other often.
mickeyfan5534
Well-Known Member
I was on board until this. Remove this Or at least adjust the framing to be more friendly than romantic and I’m here for it all.
I’m all for fabulous lesbians, but I feel Elsa works so well not having a romantic partner, happy on her own with her family. An aromantic asexual Elsa who surrounds herself not with the company of romance but the company of her most trusted friends and family feels like the most fully formed Elsa. Imo, Elsa going from isolated and alone to being surrounded by a massive family is a far more fitting happy ending for her than being shoved into a romance.
It can be interpreted in a manner of ways. It can be viewed as romantic, it can be viewed as a simple gesture of an invitation, or a physical interaction between friends. But, no, I won't be removing it.
mickeyfan5534
Well-Known Member
Fair enough.
ASTRO BOY
Hey, everyone. I'm digging up my old thread with the new film reimagining. This is a rewrite of the 2009 animated film Astro Boy, based on the manga by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese manga and anime. The film is an enjoyable romp, but its emotional core is lost somewhere after the first act, unsure of what type of story it wants to tell. This is my take on the story, which has pretty much become its own concept, with only a handful of connections to the 2009 film. A lot of inspiration is taken from the 2004 Astro Boy anime.
...
Based on the manga (“Mighty Atom”) by Osamu Tezuka.
The year is 2108 and the world has changed. A new society was born, tossing aside old rivalries to improve the lives of humanity. The mass research and production of technology, particularly in robotics, at first used solely for combat, expanded out to just about every category imaginable – with help from modern robotics and science, mankind landed on Mars in 2089, travelled to the deepest depths of the ocean, and even had their first successful subterranean expedition beneath Earth’s crust. But their biggest achievement was the successful creation of artificial intelligence, producing intelligent, sentient machines to help humanity and serve them, protected from harm by the programmed Laws of Robotics inserted into every robot upon their first activation.
To mark the 22nd Century, the United Nations wanted to celebrate the unity of mankind with the creation of a multinational city-state, owned by all of humanity – Metro City, a futuristic cosmopolitan funded through technology and science. A dream imagined decades ago by great authors, inventors, and philosophers, now brought to life through both human and machine ingenuity. Metro City quickly grew into a grand city of Gehry architecture and skyways for flying cars, and at its centre is the Ministry of Science, a large white and blue building and the central hub of all research and development for the city.
A key pioneer in the development of the Age of Intelligence is Dr. Balthus Tenma, who is the Director of the Ministry of Science. A Japanese-American, Dr. Tenma proved to be a genius and a prodigy from a young age, tinkering with his father’s car and improving on toys he had as a child. By the age of nineteen, Tenma had become a renowned figure in the science community, but early contracts with military officials to weaponise his creations led him to develop a quiet resentment for humanity’s darker nature, desiring an urge for freedom to create a world of unity and perfection.
He found these desires through his robots, finding their simplicity and lack of emotions to be preferable in his life, and could be upgraded or replaced if they malfunctioned, unlike delicate humans. With the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Packadermus J. Elefun, and assistance from friend and fellow roboticist, Simon “Hamegg” Sakely, Tenma brought about the revolutionary progress of robots, and made Metro City the paradise it is.
However, Dr. Tenma, despite being surrounded by his creations, found himself a family, marrying a young assistant in the Ministry named Hope Ashimoff, and together they had a son Toby Tenma. However, Hope’s pregnancy proved to be a difficult one for the couple, and she died during childbirth. Heartbroken, Tenma buried himself in his work, but attempted to raise his newborn son Toby, with some difficulty. Tenma built a nanny robot, named “Roberta”, to care for Toby when he had to work all-nighters on new projects.
As Toby grew older, he developed a similar IQ and love of robotics like his father, but also an idealistic mindset and a sense of fun, adventure, and mischief. But Tenma only saw the potential in his son, at first sharing their love for technology, but he began spending more time at the Ministry than at the family home, leaving Toby at home alone. Tenma’s awkward, restrained personality and focus on robots kept him from understanding his son, only encouraging him to do his best in his grades and studying through their old family motto: “Onward and upward.”
Twelve years on, Toby is a child prodigy and top student like his father, and while popular in class, he has a hidden loneliness when at home, with only Roberta for company, as the closest thing he has to a maternal figure. Occasionally, whenever his dad would come home, the routine would kick in – inspecting work updates in the five minutes between work and home, asking Toby for progress reports on his studies (the closest thing the two did to spending time together), and then isolating himself in his study to continue his work. On one or two occasions, Toby had managed to crack his father’s ID code and snuck into the office to inspect Tenma’s work, but dropped the habit when nearly caught. Despite their fragmented relationship, Toby is devoted to his father, rarely getting into trouble or going out to do something dangerous.
When Toby’s twelfth birthday arrives, he learns his father is unavailable to come (as told via a recorded hologram) due to commitment to a “Project Atom”. Understanding but disappointed, Toby goes to school, but spends the day in a daydream. Noting Toby’s behaviour, his teacher Albert Mustachio suggests he spends time with his friends for once rather than going home to wait for Dr. Tenma to come home. Toby’s friends Kennedy, Alejo, and Abercrombie take Toby to Alejo’s personalised garage where he unveils his own invention – an aerial bicycle nicknamed the “Skyrider”.
Following some slight tinkering by Toby, and needing a fifth man to get the bike up and flying, the group recruit their friend and neighbour Daichi Tokogawa, a vocal, opinionated guy who Toby finds a kindred spirit with. Daichi’s father, Rufus Tokogawa, is a business magnate and overseeing the construction of the Moon’s first on-surface colony base. Because of this, Daichi is neglected like Toby, but goes on wild ventures and causes chaos to get his father’s attention, not that it achieves much. Unfortunately, Daichi decides to go one of his infamous benders using the Skyrider, hijacking the bike and taking his friends on a wild ride through Metro City at night, nearly getting them all killed when they hurtle onto a skyway, but Toby’s quick thinking grounds the vehicle and the boys are apprehended by the cops.
Toby and his friends are taken to Metro City Police HQ, which is shaped like a police dog, where they are scolded by the no-nonsense Inspector Gumshoe, but he lets them off with a warning. The boys are picked up one-by-one and scolded by their respective parents, until Toby and Daichi are left alone in the reception. Daichi openly apologises to Toby, expressing his frustration towards his father and advises Toby to be more vocal with Tenma or he’ll spend his whole life “as a ghost”. The two bond over their love of technology, though Daichi reveals his interests in “ancient” tech – namely the Apollo 11 mission. He shares with Toby the promise his father made to him as a child, that they would walk on the Moon’s surface together when the colony is completed. Just as the two start to trade jokes, a limousine pulls up and one of Tokogawa’s guards escorts Daichi to face his father’s wrath.
Toby remains in the station, Inspector Gumshoe expecting Dr. Tenma to appear, but when an hour passes, Gumshoe offers to call the Ministry of Science. At the Ministry, Tenma is focused on Project Atom but argues with Hamegg, head of advanced robotics, who is in charge of the technology-side of the project. Their bickering over who owns the creative control of their prototype is disrupted by Dr. Elefun who informs Tenma of Toby’s adventure, baffling his colleague. Hamegg asks Tenma a series of basic questions about Toby’s hobbies and friends, but Tenma is unable to answer. Unsure of how to react, Tenma takes Elefun with him to pick up Toby, confused by his son’s bizarre behaviour.
After a silent awkward drive home, Tenma attempts a heart-to-heart chat with his son, but while scolding him for his actions, is surprised and even impressed when he mentions how he stopped the Skyrider safely (much to Elefun’s disbelief). Tenma then realises he missed his son’s birthday and turns to Elefun for help, who suggests he makes amends by giving Toby a slightly delayed present. Confident in redeeming himself, Tenma glances at the aging Roberta and gets an idea.
Two weeks later, Tenma invites Toby to the annual Metro City Science Expo, a trip they used to take when Toby was younger, with the promise of a surprise. Taking Toby into his office, Tenma unveils his present – a brand new nanny robot to replace Roberta, since she is rusting and starting to slow down. To Tenma’s surprise, Toby is horrified at the thought of replacing Roberta, regarding her as family. However, Tenma, not realising how much Toby views Roberta as a parental substitute, tries to convince his son of the upgrades and improvements Roberta’s replacement will have but their argument falls on deaf ears.
Toby, close to tears and furious, berates his father’s absence, and nerve to take away the one family member that is there for him. Tenma is completely taken aback by Toby’s outburst, but just as it dawns on him of Toby’s relation to “a common robot”, their talk is disrupted by an aide who reminds Tenma of the presentation of Project Atom to a crowd of investors and tech fans.
Tenma gives Toby a front row seat for Project Atom’s demonstration and promises to discuss things over with him afterwards. Because of this, Tenma sits out of the presentation, leaving Dr. Elefun and Hamegg to run the show, much to Hamegg’s pleasure, who has spent a lot of his career as Tenma’s PR guy and has natural showmanship skills.
First, Dr. Elefun unveils a brand new energy source harnessed from countless experiments with remains of a meteorite – creating the Blue Core and the Red Core, made purely out of positive and negative energy respectively. Hamegg takes the stage, presenting a unique prototype robot designed to be compatible with the Blue Core, and will be used for numerous purposes considered too hazardous for humans to handle. Hamegg inserts the Blue Core in the Atom prototype, which reacts to it and displays unique abilities like rocket boosters in its feet and enhanced sensory skills.
A person in the crowd, implied to have been placed there deliberately, asks what the Red Core does. Hamegg obliges and explains that the Red Core is unstable and dangerous, and will not react well with normal robots. He brings in an old robot model to demonstrate, which brings Toby’s worst nightmare to life – the robot is Roberta. Toby immediately turns to his guilt-stricken father, who admits that he had Roberta brought to the demonstration with the purpose of using the Red Core on her, but his attempts to alert Hamegg to stop the demonstration fail. The ambitious Hamegg inserts the Red Core into Roberta.
Before Toby’s eyes, his beloved nanny is destroyed from the inside out as the Red Core rejects her old frame, with her head cruelly launched at his feet. Tenma, Dr. Elefun and Hamegg are too slow to realise what has happened, Toby angrily accusing them all of treating robots as things to be thrown away, finally commenting to his father that he is used to doing that. Toby runs out, Tenma going to chase him, ignoring Hamegg’s attempts to apologise.
Toby blindly runs out of the Ministry into the rainy street, slips on the road, directly into the path of an oncoming car. Dr. Tenma runs out into the rain, discovering it is too late. His son is gone. After the funeral, Tenma locks himself away in his home, learning Hamegg has resigned from the Ministry and left the city. Daichi visits the house, giving Tenma a book titled “Atlas”, a book which Toby once lent him in class, telling Tenma to not let Toby become a memory. Tenma finds a strand of Toby’s hair, taking Daichi’s words to heart and comes up with an idea.
Six months later, hauled up in his laboratory at the Ministry, Tenma calls Dr. Elefun out of the blue and asks him to bring the Blue Core. Elefun finds an exhausted, possibly insane Tenma in his lab, having altered Project Atom – revealing the Atom robot is now a carbon copy of Toby. Using the hair strand, Tenma has copied all of Toby’s memories into the robot, but has left some out or altered them to ensure his son does not remember what happened at the expo. Using the Blue Core, Tenma and Elefun activate the robot, who believes it is the actual Toby, oblivious to the fact it is a machine. Tenma takes Toby home, hoping to rejuvenate their relationship, but becomes increasingly weary of anything that could expose the truth, and thus keeps Toby from going outside.
However, Toby begins to suspect something is wrong when he notices Roberta (replaced by the newer model) is not acting normal, though Dr. Tenma dismisses it as a slight glitch. Tenma attempts to bond with Toby over studying, but soon witnesses his son’s mischievous side for the first time, and mistakes it for a malfunction, sending a confused Toby to his bedroom. Tenma ends up rewinding and secludes himself in his study, this time trying to understand what went wrong. Bored and fed up with the return to normality, Toby goes to speak with his father but discovers Roberta’s secret when she takes a wrong step and falls down the stairs, Toby discovering her manufacturing date. Toby attempts to get his dad’s attention, unaware his father has fallen into a long sleep from exhaustion.
Frustrated and angered, Toby follows Daichi’s example and attempts something daring to get his father’s attention, climbing out of his window to reach his study. However, two window cleaning robots shout at him, causing Toby to lose his grip and fall from the ledge. As Toby falls to the ground, his hidden robotic defences kick in, and he is hoisted into the air by rocket boosters that emerge from his boots, shocking both Toby and the cleaning robots. With some clumsy, chaotic steering, Toby gets a hand of his newfound ability to fly and zooms across Metro City, briefly catching the attention of Dr. Elefun, and then Inspector Gumshoe, who attempts to chase him down but finds he is outmatched. While Toby discovers more abilities, including his superhuman strength, enhanced sensors, and headlights in his eyes, Dr. Elefun races to Tenma’s house, informing his colleague of Toby’s flight. Tenma despairs at his failure to replicate his son, claiming the robot is nothing like Toby, though Elefun tries to explain that Tenma is only seeing what he wants to see.
By happenstance, Toby is flying home and overhears his father and Elefun talking, discovering the truth. Upon crashlanding through Tenma’s window in a rage, Tenma reveals the truth to Toby, and concludes that his presence just reminds him of that his real son is gone. While Elefun tries to defuse the situation with kind words, Toby angrily shouts at Tenma for lying to him. In his rage, a flashing alarm system flashes in Toby’s vision, his arms transform into laser cannons and blow a hole through the wall. Terrified, angry, and confused, Toby flies out of the house, leaving Tenma to his grief. Elefun decides to go after Toby, but quickly loses track of him.
Meanwhile, Daichi speaks with his father Tokogawa about the promise they made to each other, but his father fails to recall such a promise. Upset, Daichi storms outside and decides to up the ante and go to the Moon himself. Racing away for Metro City’s space port on his old custom motorbike, Daichi runs into Toby, alarmed to see him alive but is quickly told the truth. Bonded by their loss and lack of father figures, the two decide to “borrow” a spacecraft and travel to the Moon. Daichi asks Toby what he will do since he is now orphaned and a robot, suggesting to start over and even give himself a new name. Thinking on the spot, Daichi suggests “Astro”, claiming it is from the golden space age. The two are spotted by the authorities and the security robots attempt to break into the shuttle.
Toby’s defensive systems kick in uncontrollably and blast the robots, setting off a chain reaction of explosions that wrecks the space port. Toby attempts to rescue an injured Daichi, but a fireball sends him flying away and he assumes Daichi is dead. Toby rockets away, fleeing Metro City and disappears out into the more barren outlands dubbed the Wastes. Daichi did in fact survive, but with severe burns. Tokogawa races his son to hospital but learns his conditions may make him inoperable unless cybernetic augmentation is enforced. Tokogawa agrees, but learns only a few scientists are capable of performing a full-body augmentation – one of which is Dr. Tenma.
Tokogawa turns to Tenma for help but discovers he has withdrawn into himself and left the Ministry of Science to Dr. Elefun. Sympathising with Tokogawa, Elefun explains what Tenma did for Toby using the Blue Core, but tries to dissuade the idea of using the Red Core. Ignoring Elefun’s warnings, Tokogawa decides to “acquire” the Red Orb. He turns to his colleague Dr. Emil Gorsky for help, who deploys a robot named Denku, a robot who can use thermo-optic camouflage to turn invisible and bypass security systems. A playful, childlike robot, Denku considers the break in at the Ministry as a game, stealing the Red Orb and downloading the schematics for the Atom robot.
Tokogawa’s scientists replicate the Atom technology, building a more leaner, taller, armoured version of Toby’s body. To Tokogawa’s surprise, Dr. Tenma arrives out of the blue, looking unhinged, but offers to revive Daichi, so at least “one of [them] can have a son.” The men test the Red Core on the new Daichi robot, which at first looks like it will backfire only to begin to stabilise.
Astro, as he is now calling himself, flies through the Wastes, discovering slum towns but finding the people relatively content. He learns from an old age hippie that people come to the Wastes to find themselves or escape their pasts, Astro finding both of these appealing. He comes across a large junkyard of discarded robots, finding some of them still active, including a legless robot that he nicknames Franken. Franken is a chauffeur robot who was chucked out by his masters. Taking pity on Franken, Astro rebuilds Franken with new legs. As they exit the junkyard, they are attacked by junk pirates, intent on capturing the two robots, dismantling them and selling off the best parts. Astro fights them off but is damaged by a large magnet. He flies off with Franken in tow but his wounds cause him to crash and black out.
Astro awakens in a workshop being repaired by a fellow robot named Cobalt, who has also given Franken an improved body. They are in the Robot Carnival, a popular destination in the Wastes, Astro finding a vast slum where people “go to forget” according to Cobalt. Cobalt introduces Astro and Franken to his master – revealed to be Hamegg, now living as a simple repairman and host of the Robot Games. Hamegg is shocked to see Astro but calms down when all is explained, quickly guessing he is Project Atom and powered by the Blue Core. Hamegg takes on a fatherly role for Astro, inviting him and Franken to go looking for spare parts around the Wastes and discusses his situation. Hamegg takes the opportunity to apologise for destroying Roberta, believing he may have caused Toby’s death.
Astro, Hamegg, and Franken go searching for salvage parts, Hamegg informing Astro of Tenma’s past and preference for robots to humans, though Astro is sceptical considering his father’s past treatment of machines. They come across a huge robot named Pluto in a field that Hamegg comments is a first generation war robot, hoping to reactivate it so he could participate in the games. Eager to help, Astro steps into the robot’s interior, learning it is named Pluto, and successfully reactivates him by sharing his Blue Core energy.
Pluto expresses gratefulness but immediately challenges Astro to a fight. Though a little anxious about hurting Pluto just after fixing him, Astro agrees to test his abilities. Their battle is short and sweet, Hamegg observing Astro’s speed but lack of experience and Pluto’s power but raw destruction. It ends in a tie, something which Hamegg plots to unbalance.
In Metro City, Dr. Elefun turns to Inspect Gumshoe to help find Astro. Meanwhile, the revived Daichi adjusts to his new body but is enraged when Tokogawa has forgotten their promise, instead believing it was to make Daichi his successor to run his company. The Red Core activates, stripping away Daichi’s human shell and revealing his weaponised, armoured body beneath and he goes on a rampage, trashing one of Tokogawa’s power stations. Astro senses the Red Core but is unsure how to respond.
Astro visits Cobalt, discovering he is fixing a number of robots in poor condition, and reveals the Robot Games are gladiatorial death matches between robots and it is his job to repair the survivors. Astro goes to confront Hamegg, but he, Cobalt, and Franken are all paralyzed with stun cannons. Cobalt is put back to work or face being forced into the ring himself, whilst both Astro and Franken are forced into the games. Astro awakens in the Robot Games, a large open stadium where people cheer and hold up signs for robots to be scrapped. Hamegg, in a top hat and overcoat, presents Astro to the arena and even managed to hook up a live televised feed for the “match of the century”.
Astro refuses to fight and tries to fly away, but finds an electrical forcefield covers the roof to prevent escape. Hamegg deploys a number of gladiatorial robots against Astro, who he all defeats without reducing them to scrap metal. Franken is thrown into the ring, but refuses to fight Astro. With the audience begging for more, Hamegg deploys his ultimate warrior: Pluto. Now armed with new armour and weapons. Astro refuses to fight Pluto, who regards as a friend. Pluto is more interested in fighting. To provoke Astro, Pluto destroys Franken with a laser cannon. Enraged, Astro battles Pluto, nearly taking him apart, but realises the spectators could get hurt, not that they really care. Picking up Pluto, Astro throws him into the electrified barrier.
Pluto crashes to the ground but Astro refuses to finish him, instead convincing him to fight another day, forgiving him for killing Franken. An enraged Hamegg strikes them with a lethal taser. Cobalt tackles Hamegg to stop the onslaught, but Hamegg fires the repair robot’s circuits. Tired of Hamegg’s cruelty, Astro turns on Hamegg, willing to blast him with his energy cannons – until Dr. Elefun and Inspector Gumshoe appear, having tracked him down after crossing paths with the junk pirates.
Dr. Elefun convinces Astro to back down, and do better, but Astro angrily obliterates a wall as he vents his frustrations at humanity’s mistreatment of robots. Gumshoe sends away Hamegg, unable to arrest him since there are no laws about abusing robots, much to Astro’s anger. Astro and Elefun repair Cobalt, who expresses his desire to fight for robot rights. Astro then gifts Cobalt with part of his Blue Core’s energy, allowing him to develop a metallic body that can regenerate.
Gumshoe receives word about Daichi’s rampage, Elefun guessing he is empowered by the Red Core, confirmed by Astro’s senses. Astro is shocked by what has happened. Leaving Pluto behind to take control of the Robot Carnival, Astro departs back to Metro City with Elefun and Gumshoe. In the city, Daichi continues his vendetta against his father, crashing a business conference where he identifies himself as “Atlas”. Tokogawa scolds his son, who responds by vapourising the office. Amongst the wreckage is a holographic map of the world, giving Atlas pause. He informs Tokogawa of their broken promise, intending on destroying the Mon colony.
Astro enters and engages Atlas in a fight, trying to calm him down and reason with him, addressing him as Daichi. When they get too close, their respective cores cause a violent reaction, sending Astro crashing into the city bay while an injured Atlas flies away, intent on going to the moon. Elefun recovers Astro, confirming that if the Blue and Red Cores interact, they will cancel each other out. Gumshoe interrogates Tokogawa, asking why Atlas is like Astro, to which Tokogawa spills the beans.
Learning his father was involved, Astro flies to confront Dr. Tenma, who he finds at home in a stupor. Tenma admits he believes he failed to save Toby and hoped saving Daichi would get him redemption. The two argue, Astro not understanding Tenma’s rejection of him when he wasn’t even close to knowing Toby to begin with, enraging Tenma who claims a copy has no right to scold him, but Astro counters him, having every right to: “I may not be Toby, but I am your son. And now you’ve lost both of us.” He leaves Tenma to his grief once again.
Atlas commandeers a rocket and flies to the Moon, pursued by Astro, Dr. Elefun, Gumshoe, and Tokogawa. Elefun is reluctant to let Astro face Atlas again, but Astro convinces him, hoping to calm Atlas down. Atlas trashes the Moon colony, destroying a statue of his father, bitter at being treated like nothing. Astro arrives and argues with Atlas, reminding him of his own relationship with Dr. Tenma and points out how far Tokogawa went to saving him. Atlas is stunned, never considering this.
The room’s gravity suddenly increases, pinning both robots to the floor. Tokogawa enters, having altered the room’s magnetism, armed with a laser rifle, intending on destroying his son, rather than see him live on as a monster. Astro confronts Tokogawa, blaming him for his mistreatment and disrespect towards Daichi, and forgetting his promise. Atlas overcomes the gravity and grabs his father, slamming him against a wall, venting his anger out at him and accidentally blasts a hole through the wall, causing a space vacuum.
Tokogawa is nearly dragged out, and Astro finds himself pinned down by rubble. Atlas is stunned, seeing the view of the Earth, recalling happier days with his father. In a split second decision, Atlas grabs Tokogawa and pulls him back in, reminding him of their promise to see the Earth together from the Moon. Atlas passes his father to Astro, only to be blindsided by a piece of debry, damaging his body. Astro reaches for Atlas, but finds the cores are close and start to react violently. Unwilling to let his friend be destroyed by the Red Core, Atlas throws himself through the hole and is sucked away into space towards Earth. The colony’s protective defences kick in late, Astro glimpsing Atlas burning up in Earth’s atmosphere before the hole is closed. Astro breaks down in grief and is comforted by Dr. Elefun. Astro returns home, but finds it is empty aside from the new Roberta, with no sign of where Dr. Tenma has gone. Dr. Elefun invites Astro and Roberta to move in with him at the Ministry of Science.
Hi, guys. My next reimagining is of one of my favourite Disney animated films of all-time, as a live action remake.
It is only a matter of time before Disney decide to do a live action remake of Hercules. Well, it is already in the works, and will be produced by the Russo Brothers! Perhaps there is some hope for it. Anyway, this my own pitch for how a remake could be written. It’d keep it a musical comedy, songs and all, but incorporate elements of the myths closer to the originals without crossing the line, altering some parts of the story.
The story begins with our introduction to the Muses (Calliope, Thalia, Melpomene, Clio, Terpsichore), the goddesses of arts, who deliver the Gospel Truth of how the world came to be.
Long ago, Greece was ruled by the ancient Titans, who had many children. The second generation, the Children of Olympus, were born from Chronos. When the time came for the new gods to rule as a prophecy suggests, the Giants rebelled. Being the first offspring of the Titans, the Giants reasoned that the world was theirs to rule. Thus, the Titanomachy began between the Children of Olympus against the Giants, with the Titans choosing sides or refusing to fight in the war.
Zeus, god of gods, used his lightning bolts to defeat the Giants one by one, then imprisoned them deep beneath the earth in Tartarus for all eternity. Zeus and his siblings became rulers of Greece, ruling from Mount Olympus, having their own children and created mankind. Zeus became king of the skies, assigning his siblings and children with domains to rule. His brother Hades was given the duty to rule over the dead in the depressing Underworld, after drawing lots with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon. However, Hades hated such a miserable domain, growing to resent his brothers and the other gods as they grew indolent in their power and praise.
Years later, another prophecy was foreseen by the Oracle of Delphi. In eighteen years time, a planetary alignment would signal the escape of the Giants from Tartarus, and they would march on Mount Olympus to conquer the gods. However, a great hero, a child of the gods, would arise to stop them, but only if he succeeded in achieving twelve impossible labours and become a hero. For the gods, prophecies were of great importance. For Hades, it would be a perfect opportunity to strike back against his family. He would destroy this hero, free the Giants, and become the new ruler of all. In the Underworld, Hades consulted the three Fates on the prophecy. They rationalised that the hero would likely be a son of Zeus. To destroy the child, it would have to be robbed of its immortality. The only way to do that would be to expose the baby to the river Styx, which could rob a god of their powers if submerged in its deathly waters long enough.
The son of Zeus is born to great praise. Zeus and his wife Hera named the boy Hercules, who possessed impressive superhuman strength. Proud parents, Zeus and Hera announce he must be the child who will fulfil the prophecy, though the gods note Zeus carries a saddened tone in his words, which Hera snidely dismisses. As the gods offer gifts to baby Hercules, Poseidon presents his son Pegasus, a winged horse, to be Hercules’ companion.
Then, Hades shows up, horrifying the gods. Zeus had not seen his brother in centuries, finding he had become ghostly, fatigued and has fire for hair. Hades hides his spite, embracing his new nephew, though makes a hasty exit when Zeus cracks some jokes at his expense (“Slow down, or you’ll work yourself to death.”)
Hades returns to the Underworld, assigning his flunkies Pain and Panic to kidnap Hercules and feed him a potion made from the Styx’s water, which will drain his immortality and powers. The two imps succeed, escaping Olympus to avoid Zeus’ stormy wrath. They crashland on the outskirts of an old farm, giving Hercules the river water in the form of a milk bottle, stealing his immortality. But, a shout frightens the imps, causing them to drop the bottle, breaking it, leaving a single drop left inside.
Hercules is found by the farm’s owners Amphitryon and Alcmene, who decide to adopt him as a son. Pain and Panic transform into snakes and attack, but Hercules ties them in knots and sends them flying, much to his parents’ shock. The imps decide to lie to Hades and tell him that Hercules is dead. Hades, being quite confident in his success and deception, never considers checking the Underworld for his nephew’s soul.
The gods search for Hercules, eventually finding him, Zeus and Hera surprised that Hercules has wound up in the care of Amphitryon and Alcmene, wondering if it is destiny. Hera is particularly angered by this, but does not intervene. The farmers raise Hercules as their own, trying to at first suppress and hide his strength, but it became obvious this was impossible. Hercules himself grew up to be a strapping young man, but was afraid of his own strength. He is a wide-eyed goofball, very kind, and wishes to help out others, but his clumsiness only makes him an outcast in his community. That, and his rare angry outbursts are destructive to say the least.
Hercules was made aware from a young age that he was adopted, though did not know why he had such power. His parents had lost their firstborn, Iphicles, who went off to do great things, but died, though they do not go into details about how. Hercules does his darndest to live up to his parents’ love and affection, but his strength keeps causing trouble. His latest blunder levels an entire agora, enraging the neighbours. Pondering once again why he has such troubling powers, Hercules wanders off to sing “Go the Distance”.
Upon returning to his home, Hercules learns how he was found by his parents, who give him a golden medallion with a symbol of Zeus’ lightning bolt, a relic they found with him. Hercules sets off to the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. Before Hercules’ eyes, a bolt of lightning strike the enormous statue of Zeus, bringing him to life. There, Hercules learns of his true parentage and about his apparent destiny. Zeus believes Hercules can regain his godhood if he becomes what is considered a “true hero”, and must complete twelve labours. Zeus re-introduces Hercules to Pegasus to serve as his friend and steed, instructing his son to seek out Philoctetes, a trainer of heroes.
Hercules flies off on Pegasus, travelling to Rhodes where he meets Philoctetes, or Phil for short, a nymph-chasing satyr who seems to have no such cred as a hero trainer. To preserve the chronology of the myths, Phil hasn’t trained any of the big heroes, but rather tried and failed to do so. He met Perseus only once, and then hoped to find some success with another would-be hero.
No, not Achilles, but Iphicles!
When Hercules reveals his half-relation to Iphicles, Phil explains he was training Iphicles as the hero to fulfil the prophecy, but he died in his first attempted labour. Phil gave up afterwards, but had a dream that he would train a hero so great that the gods would create a new constellation, and refer to this hero as “Phil’s boy”. Hercules shows off his strength, explaining his parentage, convincing Phil to train him. Cue training montage to “One Last Hope”, Hercules staying with Phil for a couple of years, getting even more buff and confident, though never loses his good nature.
Finally, Hercules is ready to become a hero. Phil starts to figure out what impossible tasks could be done. A little concerned about Hercules dying, Phil decides to try something that shouldn’t be too hard. Cut to Hercules chasing down the golden Ceryneian Hind, a rare deer that moves like lightning, and is sacred to Artemis. Hercules tries chasing it on foot, fails, and resorts to flying after it on Pegasus. However, Hercules is distracted by a shrill scream.
Enter Meg, our beloved snarky damsel-in-distress, being harassed by the centaur Nessus. Herc puts on a brave face, but Meg shoots him down, unimpressed with his attempted heroics. That is until he beats the horseshoes off Nessus whilst still maintaining his goofy bravado. Meg flirts with the bewildered Hercules, taking a shine to his innocent farmboy routine, referring to him as “Wonder Boy”. Just then, the Ceryneian Hind appears from the woods, drawn to the fight. Rather than give chase, Hercules instead gently invites it to approach, with a little help from Meg. He successfully pets it, joking to Phil that he caught it as a labour. He then lets the deer go, much to Phil’s frustration. Meg departs, offering to spread the word that Hercules was able to catch the hind. Phil distrusts Meg, believing having a woman around would distract Hercules from his mission.
Meg wanders through the woods on her way to Thebes, until the earth splits open into a staircase. Meg reluctantly steps down into the Underworld, meeting Hades, who she is indebted to. Upon learning Hercules is alive, Hades freaks out, but plots to use this to his advantage, deciding Hercules should die in his labours.
Meanwhile, Hercules, Phil, and Pegasus are on their second labour, which is a bit more challenging. Hercules is to take on the Nemean Lion, an enormous beast that is said to be invulnerable to harm. Hercules charges into its lair, finding his sword is useless against its impenetrable skin. Realising it can be harmed on the inside, Hercules throws rocks into its mouth, picks the stunned lion up, and buries it under rubble, defeating it.
The trio fly to Thebes, but find the downtrodden citizens are unimpressed with Hercules’ claims, asking for physical evidence. Just then, Meg shows up, claiming two boys are trapped under rubble in an empty riverbed. She backs up Hercules’ heroics, having witnessed his first labour herself. Hercules leads a crowd to the riverbed, where he rescues the boys using his strength, earning him a mild round of applause from the spectators. The two boys turn out to be Pain and Panic, who return to Hades, who sent Meg to deliberately lure Hercules to the riverbed.
The riverbed is the home of the Hydra. Hercules chops its head off, but discovers it just grows new heads everytime he slices and dices. The Hydra eventually pins Hercules to a cliff, but he smashes it apart with his fists, crushing the Hydra under rubble. Hercules survives, met with adulation by the crowd, who declare him a hero. Meg is quietly thrilled, whilst Hades is not so pleased.
We then fly into a montage to “Zero To Hero”, following Hercules as he achieves more labours, becoming increasingly famous across Greece. We swap the labours around in order. As much as I’d love to see set pieces for each labour, most are featured here for the sake of pacing. Hercules catches the rampaging Erymanthian Boar, wrestles with the Cretan Bull, kills the menacing Stymphalian Birds, wrangles the Cattle of Geryon, and tames the carnivorous Mares of Diomedes.
Hercules successfully acquires the Girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, in his ninth labour, before returning to his hometown to be presented an award for his heroism. He reunites with his parents, even making peace with those who once ostracized him. Hercules has a chat with his parents about Iphicles, where Phil apologises for getting their son killed. Alcmene forgives Phil, who claims everything is her responsibility, but remains quiet on what she means. Amphitryon privately tells Hercules that he should speak to Zeus for the truth.
Hades, meanwhile, is irate that Hercules keeps surviving the trials, having actually been manipulating them to kill Herc. With time running out til the planets align, Hades is looking for a new way to find out what Hercules’ weakness is. He asks Meg to seduce Hercules to find out his flaw. Meg is uncomfortable with such a task, til Hades reminds her that why she serves him: She sold her soul to Hades to save her lover Canthus from a terrible death. He was spared, only to abandon her for another woman. Reluctantly, Meg agrees to Hades’ request in exchange for her freedom.
Hercules visits his father’s temple, learning that while he is doing good, he has yet to fully understand what it means to be a true hero, which is something he must learn for himself. Hercules asks about Iphicles, upsetting Zeus. But, the king of god relents. He explains that he feared the return of the Giants and wished to have a hero ready for their return. Iphicles is in fact his son, having been unfaithful to Hera, impregnating Alcmene. After Iphicles died in battle, Hercules was born to act as a substitute. It is implied Hera may have played a role in Iphicles’ demise to punish Zeus. Hercules is devastated by this revelation, discovering the gods aren’t as perfect as he thought, questioning his own path.
Falling into depression, Hercules assumes Phil knew the truth about Iphicles and starts to disobey him as the satyr grows increasingly demanding. For his tenth labour, Hercules has to clean out the filthy stables of King Augeas. This proves to be a messy affair, as Hercules becomes increasingly frustrated, demanding to know if Phil knew the truth, though Phil denies this. Their fight nearly dismantles the stables, enraging Hercules so much that he stomps the ground, causing an underwater river to spew up like a geyser. Phil had no such knowledge of Iphicles’ true parentage, but legitimately believes that Hercules can go the distance, regardless of his own godhood. Together, they and Pegasus use the river to wash out the stables, completing the tenth labour.
Whilst training, Hercules meets Meg again. Just about being the only person who treats him like a normally, Hercules and Meg sneak out for a fun night out together in Thebes. Meg starts to open up to Hercules, unwilling to get close due to being hurt, remaining vague about her past relationship. Just as they are about to kiss, Phil and Pegasus crash their date to prepare Hercules for his eleventh labour. Meg tries to deny her feelings to the Muses (“I Won’t Say I’m In Love”), before Hades shows up to learn of Hercules’ weakness, realising that Meg herself is.
In a stadium, Hercules is confronted by Hades, who he vaguely remembers as a baby. Hades at first taunts Hercules about how his family are a bunch of liars, but the demigod is unmoved. That is until Hades reveals he has taken Meg prisoner. He will set her free if Hercules gives up his strength for 24 hours until Hades’ plan is complete. Reluctantly, Hercules agrees, losing the last vestiges of his godhood in a pact handshake with his uncle.
Considering himself a good sport, Hades challenges Hercules to complete his eleventh labour without powers. He must venture into the Garden of the Hesperides and steal their golden apples, which will restore his strength if eaten. The apple tree is guarded by a great dragon. No one has ever entered the garden without being killed. Before leaving, Hades reveals that Meg has been working for him the whole time, leaving Hercules devastated. Phil and Pegasus, who were distracted by Pain and Panic, return to find Hercules weakened and Meg in tears.
Just as the planets align, Hades ventures into Tartarus, using cosmic energy to free the Giants, encouraging them to climb Mount Olympus to crush the gods. The Giants include: Porphyrion, Polybotes, Alyconeus, Enceladus, Damysus, Ephialtes, Gration, Mimas, Pallas, Hippolytus, Thoas, and Asterius. Remembering Hercules could survive, Hades sends Asterius to kill his nephew, while the other Giants storm Mount Olympus. The gods see their older siblings coming, engaging them in a spectacular battle at the peak of the mountain. The Giants, being creatures of Gaia, have superior elemental powers and begin to overwhelm the gods.
A downtrodden, depressed Hercules arrives outside the Garden of the Hesperides, accompanied by Phil, Pegasus, and a guilt-stricken Meg. Before Hercules scales the garden wall, Meg explains her background, servitude to Hades, and unwillingness to trust another man. Hercules, though sympathetic, is more dejected by her deceit. When she tries to stop him from going into the garden out of fear he will die, Hercules merely replies, “There are worse things.” Inside, he finds the golden apple tree, guarded by the enormous serpentine Ladon. His attempts to beat up the dragon fail and is injured.
Just then, Asterius vaults over the wall and starts beating up Hercules. Meg, Phil, and Pegasus charge into the garden to distract Asterius so Hercules can seize the apples from the tree. During this, Meg protects Hercules from a sneak attack by the giant, and is crushed under a collapsing pillar. Hercules abandons his fight for the apples, attempting to save Meg by lifting the pillar. This causes his strength to return, as if Meg was injured, Hades’ deal would break. Hercules saves Meg, punches out Ladon, and throws the irritating Asterius into orbit. Hercules tries to give Meg a golden apple, but Phil warns that the apples only cause chaos and strife – the labour was designed by Hades to be impossible to complete. Still, Phil declares it a win, meaning there is one labour left to go.
Learning the gods are under siege, Hercules leaves Meg in Phil’s care, and takes off on Pegasus to save his family. On Mount Olympus, the Giants are winning against the gods. Most are trapped under molten rock, Poseidon is frozen in place, Ares loses his taste for war when his mother Hera and lover Aphrodite are injured, and even the fast-paced Hermes is taken down. Only Zeus is left fighting, until he is incapacitated by Porphyrion.
Hades appears on a chariot, declaring his victory over the Olympians. Zeus rages at his brother, but Hades is unfazed, cursing Zeus for damning him to the Underworld. Zeus reasons that their draw for domains was completely random, but Hades disbelieves him. Hades intends to banish the gods to the Underworld, whilst he and the Giants rule the world. However, Porphyrion declares that he will rule the world, crushing Zeus and Hades underfoot. Hercules soars in on Pegasus as the prophecy foretold, frees his fellow gods, and begins destroying the Giants one by one. The battle ends with Hercules throwing Porphyrion skyward, allowing Zeus to obliterate the giant with a magnificent lightning bolt. Hades slinks away to lick his wounds, claiming that Hercules has yet to become a true hero, having failed to complete his labours or save Meg.
Cut to Meg’s thread of life being cut by the Fates. Hercules arrives to late, but decides he will go to the Underworld to retrieve Meg’s soul. Unsure how to get there, Hermes appears, opening a portal for Hercules to use. Journeying through the depths of the Underworld, Hercules comes across the Elysian Fields, home to many great Greek heroes. Here, he finally meets Iphicles, his half brother, who is at peace with his death. The fact that he is in Elysium proves he is a hero, telling Hercules that he only has to “take the leap” to regain what he has lost.
Hercules’ presence attracts Cerberus. Hercules wrestles with the three-headed dog, but is able to playfully tame the mighty dog. Riding Cerberus like a horse, Hercules storms into Hades’ lair, declaring he has completed his final labour. Ever the smooth talker, Hades guides Hercules to the Styx, where they spot Meg’s soul floating by. Hades warns Hercules that Meg will be drawn into one of the Underworld’s other woeful rivers. Hercules makes a deal with Hades to retrieve Meg’s soul at the cost of him own; Hades finds it to tempting and agrees.
Diving into the Styx, Hercules rapidly ages and is on the verge of death as he swims after Meg’s soul. At the same time, the Fates get ready to cut Hercules’ own thread of life. Then, when they cut it, it turns gold, as the Fates realise the prophecy has been fulfilled. Hades watches in horror as Hercules rises from the river with Meg, now a true god and hero. When Hades tries to justify his actions and even barter with Hercules, the death god is sucker punched into the Styx, dragged down into the river by the souls of the dead. Pain and Panic watch in excitement, as Hades vanishes into the depths of Tartarus.
Hercules returns to the living world, reviving Meg. The two apologise to each other, but ultimately came together by choosing to sacrifice themselves for one another. They kiss just as Zeus uses a cloud to summon the four companions to Mount Olympus, where Hercules is met with praise from his parents and family. Zeus laments his past fickleness, wondering if Hades’ resentment was due to his treatment of him in the past. He tells Hercules that a true hero’s power comes from the strength of his heart. However, Hercules chooses not to join the gods on Olympus, but to stay a mortal so he can be with Meg. Though a little stunned by his son’s modesty, Zeus agrees to Hercules’ decision.
In the closing scenes, Hercules and co. return to the demigod’s hometown where he reunites with his foster parents, telling them that Iphicles is at peace. At night, the characters watch in awe as the gods create a new constellation for Hercules, which people start addressing as “Phil’s boy”, reducing the trainer of heroes to tears. During all this, “A Star is Born” is performed by the Muses, bringing this epic tale of Hercules to a triumphant end.
...
I'm surprised no one has tried to make a Greek mythological movie franchise, since there are so many tales to tell. Disney could have a go, but maybe cut down on the more adult, raunchier stuff (PG-13 films could work nicely). It is a little hard to retell Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts again, but there's always room for adaptations. Another idea is a film based around Atalanta, a Greek heroine and Argonaut, who could very easily be featured in a strong film about empowerment and identity. I might outline that one next.
HERCULES
It is only a matter of time before Disney decide to do a live action remake of Hercules. Well, it is already in the works, and will be produced by the Russo Brothers! Perhaps there is some hope for it. Anyway, this my own pitch for how a remake could be written. It’d keep it a musical comedy, songs and all, but incorporate elements of the myths closer to the originals without crossing the line, altering some parts of the story.
The story begins with our introduction to the Muses (Calliope, Thalia, Melpomene, Clio, Terpsichore), the goddesses of arts, who deliver the Gospel Truth of how the world came to be.
Long ago, Greece was ruled by the ancient Titans, who had many children. The second generation, the Children of Olympus, were born from Chronos. When the time came for the new gods to rule as a prophecy suggests, the Giants rebelled. Being the first offspring of the Titans, the Giants reasoned that the world was theirs to rule. Thus, the Titanomachy began between the Children of Olympus against the Giants, with the Titans choosing sides or refusing to fight in the war.
Zeus, god of gods, used his lightning bolts to defeat the Giants one by one, then imprisoned them deep beneath the earth in Tartarus for all eternity. Zeus and his siblings became rulers of Greece, ruling from Mount Olympus, having their own children and created mankind. Zeus became king of the skies, assigning his siblings and children with domains to rule. His brother Hades was given the duty to rule over the dead in the depressing Underworld, after drawing lots with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon. However, Hades hated such a miserable domain, growing to resent his brothers and the other gods as they grew indolent in their power and praise.
Years later, another prophecy was foreseen by the Oracle of Delphi. In eighteen years time, a planetary alignment would signal the escape of the Giants from Tartarus, and they would march on Mount Olympus to conquer the gods. However, a great hero, a child of the gods, would arise to stop them, but only if he succeeded in achieving twelve impossible labours and become a hero. For the gods, prophecies were of great importance. For Hades, it would be a perfect opportunity to strike back against his family. He would destroy this hero, free the Giants, and become the new ruler of all. In the Underworld, Hades consulted the three Fates on the prophecy. They rationalised that the hero would likely be a son of Zeus. To destroy the child, it would have to be robbed of its immortality. The only way to do that would be to expose the baby to the river Styx, which could rob a god of their powers if submerged in its deathly waters long enough.
The son of Zeus is born to great praise. Zeus and his wife Hera named the boy Hercules, who possessed impressive superhuman strength. Proud parents, Zeus and Hera announce he must be the child who will fulfil the prophecy, though the gods note Zeus carries a saddened tone in his words, which Hera snidely dismisses. As the gods offer gifts to baby Hercules, Poseidon presents his son Pegasus, a winged horse, to be Hercules’ companion.
Then, Hades shows up, horrifying the gods. Zeus had not seen his brother in centuries, finding he had become ghostly, fatigued and has fire for hair. Hades hides his spite, embracing his new nephew, though makes a hasty exit when Zeus cracks some jokes at his expense (“Slow down, or you’ll work yourself to death.”)
Hades returns to the Underworld, assigning his flunkies Pain and Panic to kidnap Hercules and feed him a potion made from the Styx’s water, which will drain his immortality and powers. The two imps succeed, escaping Olympus to avoid Zeus’ stormy wrath. They crashland on the outskirts of an old farm, giving Hercules the river water in the form of a milk bottle, stealing his immortality. But, a shout frightens the imps, causing them to drop the bottle, breaking it, leaving a single drop left inside.
Hercules is found by the farm’s owners Amphitryon and Alcmene, who decide to adopt him as a son. Pain and Panic transform into snakes and attack, but Hercules ties them in knots and sends them flying, much to his parents’ shock. The imps decide to lie to Hades and tell him that Hercules is dead. Hades, being quite confident in his success and deception, never considers checking the Underworld for his nephew’s soul.
The gods search for Hercules, eventually finding him, Zeus and Hera surprised that Hercules has wound up in the care of Amphitryon and Alcmene, wondering if it is destiny. Hera is particularly angered by this, but does not intervene. The farmers raise Hercules as their own, trying to at first suppress and hide his strength, but it became obvious this was impossible. Hercules himself grew up to be a strapping young man, but was afraid of his own strength. He is a wide-eyed goofball, very kind, and wishes to help out others, but his clumsiness only makes him an outcast in his community. That, and his rare angry outbursts are destructive to say the least.
Hercules was made aware from a young age that he was adopted, though did not know why he had such power. His parents had lost their firstborn, Iphicles, who went off to do great things, but died, though they do not go into details about how. Hercules does his darndest to live up to his parents’ love and affection, but his strength keeps causing trouble. His latest blunder levels an entire agora, enraging the neighbours. Pondering once again why he has such troubling powers, Hercules wanders off to sing “Go the Distance”.
Upon returning to his home, Hercules learns how he was found by his parents, who give him a golden medallion with a symbol of Zeus’ lightning bolt, a relic they found with him. Hercules sets off to the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. Before Hercules’ eyes, a bolt of lightning strike the enormous statue of Zeus, bringing him to life. There, Hercules learns of his true parentage and about his apparent destiny. Zeus believes Hercules can regain his godhood if he becomes what is considered a “true hero”, and must complete twelve labours. Zeus re-introduces Hercules to Pegasus to serve as his friend and steed, instructing his son to seek out Philoctetes, a trainer of heroes.
Hercules flies off on Pegasus, travelling to Rhodes where he meets Philoctetes, or Phil for short, a nymph-chasing satyr who seems to have no such cred as a hero trainer. To preserve the chronology of the myths, Phil hasn’t trained any of the big heroes, but rather tried and failed to do so. He met Perseus only once, and then hoped to find some success with another would-be hero.
No, not Achilles, but Iphicles!
When Hercules reveals his half-relation to Iphicles, Phil explains he was training Iphicles as the hero to fulfil the prophecy, but he died in his first attempted labour. Phil gave up afterwards, but had a dream that he would train a hero so great that the gods would create a new constellation, and refer to this hero as “Phil’s boy”. Hercules shows off his strength, explaining his parentage, convincing Phil to train him. Cue training montage to “One Last Hope”, Hercules staying with Phil for a couple of years, getting even more buff and confident, though never loses his good nature.
Finally, Hercules is ready to become a hero. Phil starts to figure out what impossible tasks could be done. A little concerned about Hercules dying, Phil decides to try something that shouldn’t be too hard. Cut to Hercules chasing down the golden Ceryneian Hind, a rare deer that moves like lightning, and is sacred to Artemis. Hercules tries chasing it on foot, fails, and resorts to flying after it on Pegasus. However, Hercules is distracted by a shrill scream.
Enter Meg, our beloved snarky damsel-in-distress, being harassed by the centaur Nessus. Herc puts on a brave face, but Meg shoots him down, unimpressed with his attempted heroics. That is until he beats the horseshoes off Nessus whilst still maintaining his goofy bravado. Meg flirts with the bewildered Hercules, taking a shine to his innocent farmboy routine, referring to him as “Wonder Boy”. Just then, the Ceryneian Hind appears from the woods, drawn to the fight. Rather than give chase, Hercules instead gently invites it to approach, with a little help from Meg. He successfully pets it, joking to Phil that he caught it as a labour. He then lets the deer go, much to Phil’s frustration. Meg departs, offering to spread the word that Hercules was able to catch the hind. Phil distrusts Meg, believing having a woman around would distract Hercules from his mission.
Meg wanders through the woods on her way to Thebes, until the earth splits open into a staircase. Meg reluctantly steps down into the Underworld, meeting Hades, who she is indebted to. Upon learning Hercules is alive, Hades freaks out, but plots to use this to his advantage, deciding Hercules should die in his labours.
Meanwhile, Hercules, Phil, and Pegasus are on their second labour, which is a bit more challenging. Hercules is to take on the Nemean Lion, an enormous beast that is said to be invulnerable to harm. Hercules charges into its lair, finding his sword is useless against its impenetrable skin. Realising it can be harmed on the inside, Hercules throws rocks into its mouth, picks the stunned lion up, and buries it under rubble, defeating it.
The trio fly to Thebes, but find the downtrodden citizens are unimpressed with Hercules’ claims, asking for physical evidence. Just then, Meg shows up, claiming two boys are trapped under rubble in an empty riverbed. She backs up Hercules’ heroics, having witnessed his first labour herself. Hercules leads a crowd to the riverbed, where he rescues the boys using his strength, earning him a mild round of applause from the spectators. The two boys turn out to be Pain and Panic, who return to Hades, who sent Meg to deliberately lure Hercules to the riverbed.
The riverbed is the home of the Hydra. Hercules chops its head off, but discovers it just grows new heads everytime he slices and dices. The Hydra eventually pins Hercules to a cliff, but he smashes it apart with his fists, crushing the Hydra under rubble. Hercules survives, met with adulation by the crowd, who declare him a hero. Meg is quietly thrilled, whilst Hades is not so pleased.
We then fly into a montage to “Zero To Hero”, following Hercules as he achieves more labours, becoming increasingly famous across Greece. We swap the labours around in order. As much as I’d love to see set pieces for each labour, most are featured here for the sake of pacing. Hercules catches the rampaging Erymanthian Boar, wrestles with the Cretan Bull, kills the menacing Stymphalian Birds, wrangles the Cattle of Geryon, and tames the carnivorous Mares of Diomedes.
Hercules successfully acquires the Girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, in his ninth labour, before returning to his hometown to be presented an award for his heroism. He reunites with his parents, even making peace with those who once ostracized him. Hercules has a chat with his parents about Iphicles, where Phil apologises for getting their son killed. Alcmene forgives Phil, who claims everything is her responsibility, but remains quiet on what she means. Amphitryon privately tells Hercules that he should speak to Zeus for the truth.
Hades, meanwhile, is irate that Hercules keeps surviving the trials, having actually been manipulating them to kill Herc. With time running out til the planets align, Hades is looking for a new way to find out what Hercules’ weakness is. He asks Meg to seduce Hercules to find out his flaw. Meg is uncomfortable with such a task, til Hades reminds her that why she serves him: She sold her soul to Hades to save her lover Canthus from a terrible death. He was spared, only to abandon her for another woman. Reluctantly, Meg agrees to Hades’ request in exchange for her freedom.
Hercules visits his father’s temple, learning that while he is doing good, he has yet to fully understand what it means to be a true hero, which is something he must learn for himself. Hercules asks about Iphicles, upsetting Zeus. But, the king of god relents. He explains that he feared the return of the Giants and wished to have a hero ready for their return. Iphicles is in fact his son, having been unfaithful to Hera, impregnating Alcmene. After Iphicles died in battle, Hercules was born to act as a substitute. It is implied Hera may have played a role in Iphicles’ demise to punish Zeus. Hercules is devastated by this revelation, discovering the gods aren’t as perfect as he thought, questioning his own path.
Falling into depression, Hercules assumes Phil knew the truth about Iphicles and starts to disobey him as the satyr grows increasingly demanding. For his tenth labour, Hercules has to clean out the filthy stables of King Augeas. This proves to be a messy affair, as Hercules becomes increasingly frustrated, demanding to know if Phil knew the truth, though Phil denies this. Their fight nearly dismantles the stables, enraging Hercules so much that he stomps the ground, causing an underwater river to spew up like a geyser. Phil had no such knowledge of Iphicles’ true parentage, but legitimately believes that Hercules can go the distance, regardless of his own godhood. Together, they and Pegasus use the river to wash out the stables, completing the tenth labour.
Whilst training, Hercules meets Meg again. Just about being the only person who treats him like a normally, Hercules and Meg sneak out for a fun night out together in Thebes. Meg starts to open up to Hercules, unwilling to get close due to being hurt, remaining vague about her past relationship. Just as they are about to kiss, Phil and Pegasus crash their date to prepare Hercules for his eleventh labour. Meg tries to deny her feelings to the Muses (“I Won’t Say I’m In Love”), before Hades shows up to learn of Hercules’ weakness, realising that Meg herself is.
In a stadium, Hercules is confronted by Hades, who he vaguely remembers as a baby. Hades at first taunts Hercules about how his family are a bunch of liars, but the demigod is unmoved. That is until Hades reveals he has taken Meg prisoner. He will set her free if Hercules gives up his strength for 24 hours until Hades’ plan is complete. Reluctantly, Hercules agrees, losing the last vestiges of his godhood in a pact handshake with his uncle.
Considering himself a good sport, Hades challenges Hercules to complete his eleventh labour without powers. He must venture into the Garden of the Hesperides and steal their golden apples, which will restore his strength if eaten. The apple tree is guarded by a great dragon. No one has ever entered the garden without being killed. Before leaving, Hades reveals that Meg has been working for him the whole time, leaving Hercules devastated. Phil and Pegasus, who were distracted by Pain and Panic, return to find Hercules weakened and Meg in tears.
Just as the planets align, Hades ventures into Tartarus, using cosmic energy to free the Giants, encouraging them to climb Mount Olympus to crush the gods. The Giants include: Porphyrion, Polybotes, Alyconeus, Enceladus, Damysus, Ephialtes, Gration, Mimas, Pallas, Hippolytus, Thoas, and Asterius. Remembering Hercules could survive, Hades sends Asterius to kill his nephew, while the other Giants storm Mount Olympus. The gods see their older siblings coming, engaging them in a spectacular battle at the peak of the mountain. The Giants, being creatures of Gaia, have superior elemental powers and begin to overwhelm the gods.
A downtrodden, depressed Hercules arrives outside the Garden of the Hesperides, accompanied by Phil, Pegasus, and a guilt-stricken Meg. Before Hercules scales the garden wall, Meg explains her background, servitude to Hades, and unwillingness to trust another man. Hercules, though sympathetic, is more dejected by her deceit. When she tries to stop him from going into the garden out of fear he will die, Hercules merely replies, “There are worse things.” Inside, he finds the golden apple tree, guarded by the enormous serpentine Ladon. His attempts to beat up the dragon fail and is injured.
Just then, Asterius vaults over the wall and starts beating up Hercules. Meg, Phil, and Pegasus charge into the garden to distract Asterius so Hercules can seize the apples from the tree. During this, Meg protects Hercules from a sneak attack by the giant, and is crushed under a collapsing pillar. Hercules abandons his fight for the apples, attempting to save Meg by lifting the pillar. This causes his strength to return, as if Meg was injured, Hades’ deal would break. Hercules saves Meg, punches out Ladon, and throws the irritating Asterius into orbit. Hercules tries to give Meg a golden apple, but Phil warns that the apples only cause chaos and strife – the labour was designed by Hades to be impossible to complete. Still, Phil declares it a win, meaning there is one labour left to go.
Learning the gods are under siege, Hercules leaves Meg in Phil’s care, and takes off on Pegasus to save his family. On Mount Olympus, the Giants are winning against the gods. Most are trapped under molten rock, Poseidon is frozen in place, Ares loses his taste for war when his mother Hera and lover Aphrodite are injured, and even the fast-paced Hermes is taken down. Only Zeus is left fighting, until he is incapacitated by Porphyrion.
Hades appears on a chariot, declaring his victory over the Olympians. Zeus rages at his brother, but Hades is unfazed, cursing Zeus for damning him to the Underworld. Zeus reasons that their draw for domains was completely random, but Hades disbelieves him. Hades intends to banish the gods to the Underworld, whilst he and the Giants rule the world. However, Porphyrion declares that he will rule the world, crushing Zeus and Hades underfoot. Hercules soars in on Pegasus as the prophecy foretold, frees his fellow gods, and begins destroying the Giants one by one. The battle ends with Hercules throwing Porphyrion skyward, allowing Zeus to obliterate the giant with a magnificent lightning bolt. Hades slinks away to lick his wounds, claiming that Hercules has yet to become a true hero, having failed to complete his labours or save Meg.
Cut to Meg’s thread of life being cut by the Fates. Hercules arrives to late, but decides he will go to the Underworld to retrieve Meg’s soul. Unsure how to get there, Hermes appears, opening a portal for Hercules to use. Journeying through the depths of the Underworld, Hercules comes across the Elysian Fields, home to many great Greek heroes. Here, he finally meets Iphicles, his half brother, who is at peace with his death. The fact that he is in Elysium proves he is a hero, telling Hercules that he only has to “take the leap” to regain what he has lost.
Hercules’ presence attracts Cerberus. Hercules wrestles with the three-headed dog, but is able to playfully tame the mighty dog. Riding Cerberus like a horse, Hercules storms into Hades’ lair, declaring he has completed his final labour. Ever the smooth talker, Hades guides Hercules to the Styx, where they spot Meg’s soul floating by. Hades warns Hercules that Meg will be drawn into one of the Underworld’s other woeful rivers. Hercules makes a deal with Hades to retrieve Meg’s soul at the cost of him own; Hades finds it to tempting and agrees.
Diving into the Styx, Hercules rapidly ages and is on the verge of death as he swims after Meg’s soul. At the same time, the Fates get ready to cut Hercules’ own thread of life. Then, when they cut it, it turns gold, as the Fates realise the prophecy has been fulfilled. Hades watches in horror as Hercules rises from the river with Meg, now a true god and hero. When Hades tries to justify his actions and even barter with Hercules, the death god is sucker punched into the Styx, dragged down into the river by the souls of the dead. Pain and Panic watch in excitement, as Hades vanishes into the depths of Tartarus.
Hercules returns to the living world, reviving Meg. The two apologise to each other, but ultimately came together by choosing to sacrifice themselves for one another. They kiss just as Zeus uses a cloud to summon the four companions to Mount Olympus, where Hercules is met with praise from his parents and family. Zeus laments his past fickleness, wondering if Hades’ resentment was due to his treatment of him in the past. He tells Hercules that a true hero’s power comes from the strength of his heart. However, Hercules chooses not to join the gods on Olympus, but to stay a mortal so he can be with Meg. Though a little stunned by his son’s modesty, Zeus agrees to Hercules’ decision.
In the closing scenes, Hercules and co. return to the demigod’s hometown where he reunites with his foster parents, telling them that Iphicles is at peace. At night, the characters watch in awe as the gods create a new constellation for Hercules, which people start addressing as “Phil’s boy”, reducing the trainer of heroes to tears. During all this, “A Star is Born” is performed by the Muses, bringing this epic tale of Hercules to a triumphant end.
...
I'm surprised no one has tried to make a Greek mythological movie franchise, since there are so many tales to tell. Disney could have a go, but maybe cut down on the more adult, raunchier stuff (PG-13 films could work nicely). It is a little hard to retell Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts again, but there's always room for adaptations. Another idea is a film based around Atalanta, a Greek heroine and Argonaut, who could very easily be featured in a strong film about empowerment and identity. I might outline that one next.
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Twilight_Roxas
Well-Known Member
Cool. Bet you that the next one you plan is a Walt Disney Animation Studios adaptation of The Witches.
Nope. I've only watched the original film once and it frightened me, and I can't be bothered to watch the remake.
Twilight_Roxas
Well-Known Member
That’s why I said a Disney animated adaptation that would make the 2020 version be in the wasteland lol.
DisneyManOne
Well-Known Member
Does anyone mind if I share something I've been thinking about for quite some time? You see, I've been thinking a lot about the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda, and how it could be translated as an animated film. A live-action film is in development, yes, but I think it could work much more as an animated film. Here's what I have in mind...
A Narrator does some ruminating on parenting. He claims that there are two kinds of awful parenting. The first is the kind where parents overcoddle their children and overlook their flaws, thinking they can do no wrong, a viewpoint best expressed as a host of children at a birthday party boast of the way their parents look upon them ("Miracle"). The second is the kind where parents couldn't care less about their parents, a viewpoint best expressed by looking at a perfect case: Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood. These two are self-absorbed twits who couldn't seem to care about anything beyond their own egos. Mr. Wormwood is a brash, used-car salesman who utilizes underhanded deeds to make a sale, and Mrs. Wormwood is a competitive dancer who seems more concerned with missing her latest contest than with the fact that she's pregnant. The due date arrives, and of course, the Wormwoods couldn't care. Mr. Wormwood is firmly convinced that the baby is a boy, and is shocked to discover it's a girl. Mrs. Wormwood, of course, is still upset that she missed her contest. The Doctor's attempts to make them recognize their daughter fall upon deaf ears.
Time passes. The Narrator tells us that the child -- whom they named "Matilda" -- was quite advanced for her age. She could speak fluently at one and taught herself to read at three. But of course, the Wormwoods, prizing ignorance and mindless television above all else, treat Matilda's smarts as a burden, rather than a gift. Our story proper begins when Matilda is five. For all her life, she has been the victim of belittlement and abuse at the hands of her vapid parents. Her older brother, Michael, is rather dim-witted, so the Wormwoods prefer him more. And Mr. Wormwood has always called her "boy", still unable to accept that he has a daughter. For most of her life, Matilda has always been the scapegoat for her parents' problems. She finally stands up for herself, telling her father off and saying the way he treats her is "not right". He brushes off those concerns by claiming that "When a person is bad, then they should be punished", and sending her to her room. The Narrator informs us that he meant to say "When a child is bad", but the word choice made Matilda come up with a clever idea. Matilda has decided to enact a little revenge on her father by pulling a practical joke on him -- namely, filling a bottle of her father's favorite hair tonic with her mother's hair dye ("Naughty"). And when Mr. Wormwood applies the tonic, he realizes that his hair has turned green!
Satisfied with her work, Matilda takes her daily stroll to the library, where she tells a story to the librarian, a kindly Jamaican lady named Mrs. Phelps. The story is about an Acrobat and an Escapologist (who just so happens to sound just like the Narrator...weird, right?), a married couple who were the greatest performers the world had ever known. But although they had it all, they were still sad because there was one thing that didn't have: a child. And that aching void made them dig deeper and deeper into their work, until one day, they announced their most dangerous stunt yet: "The Burning Woman Hurling Through the Air, with Dynamite in Her Hair, Over Sharks and Spiky Objects, Caught by the Man Locked in a Cage."
Soon, it comes time for Matilda's first day at school. The school is known as Crunchem Hall, and you'd be forgiven for assuming at first glance that it was a prison. The Older Students warn Matilda's class that life at Crunchem Hall is a living nightmare, and it's all because of the school's cruel headmistress: Agatha Trunchbull ("The School Song"). And oddly enough, even mentioning how horrible she is is enough to get our Narrator riled up! Catching himself, he lets us see Matilda's first day of school, where we meet her gentle and kind teacher: Miss Jennifer Honey. Miss Honey is impressed with Matilda's rampant knowledge, and goes to the office of the Trunchbull to tell her about her prowess. The Trunchbull is a formidable lady, a competition-obsessed woman who is still living in the past; specifically, her glory days winning the gold hammer-throwing for Britain in the Olympics. To this end, she has stressed discipline and rigidity into Crunchem Hall, and woe betide those who try to step outside the line ("The Hammer"). Naturally, Miss Honey's claims of Matilda's genius fall upon deaf ears, and the Trunchbull reminds her of how the school treats children. Yeah, it's not good at all. Even the school motto showcases how horribly children are treated: "Bambinatum est maggitum", or in plain English, "Children are maggots."
Back at home, Mr. Wormwood is upset about losing a deal with some Russians, so naturally, he takes it out on Matilda and destroys one of her books ... and she retaliates by lining the rim of his hat in Superglue. The next day, Matilda learns firsthand about some of the Trunchbull's disciplinary methods when one of her classmates, Nigel Hicks, is accused of pouring Golden Syrup on the Trunchbull's chair. The Older Students, led by a girl named Hortensia, explain that the Trunchbull doesn't care whether or not someone actually did something. She just loves to find ways to make children's lives miserable. They warn Matilda and Nigel of the Trunchbull's specialty punishment: "The Chokey", a closet whose walls are lined with wooden spikes and broken glass, so you have to stand perfectly at attention or risk getting cut or poked. What's more, try doing that for hours on end! Thinking quickly, Matilda rallies all the Students to help her convince the Trunchbull that Nigel couldn't have done the Syrup job, given that he is narcoleptic. However, the victory is pyrrhic, as the Trunchbull instead punishes another student, Amanda Thripp, for having pigtails by using her hammer skills to throw her far away.
One night, Miss Honey goes to see the Wormwoods -- Mrs. Wormwood in the middle of a rehearsal with her dance partner, Rudolpho -- to tell them of Matilda's success in school. Surprise, surprise, they refuse to listen, even going so far as to belittle her for choosing "books" over "looks". Miss Honey is appalled to see how these two dolts favor ignorance, but nonetheless swears to herself that she will work as hard as she can to give Matilda the recognition she deserves. Meanwhile, Matilda is resuming her story with Mrs. Phelps. The day of the stunt arrived. However, the couple announce that they will not go through with it, as the Acrobat is pregnant. This pleases everyone...except for the Acrobat's Sister. The Acrobat's Sister is a woman cruel to the bone, a woman who has no love in her heart and bears hatred for her sister and the love she shares with her husband, a woman who loves nothing more than inflicting cruelty and torture, especially upon children. She reveals that the two signed a contract specifically stating that they would perform the act, and threatens them with jail if they do not comply.
At school, Miss Honey offers supplemental books for Matilda to read, as she normally zips straight through the work and needs something to occupy her time. The sweet moment is interrupted by the Trunchbull, with yet another false allegation. She accuses Matilda of stealing a slice of chocolate cake that was meant solely for her, claiming the accusation is solid because it happened before school. Suddenly, a rather rotund child named Bruce Bogtrotter reveals that he's the culprit, and was considering confessing, but was having trouble with his stomach. A monstrous, chocolate-scented burp reveals the true culprit to the Trunchbull, and she forces him to eat the rest of the cake as a punishment. The other children watch in shock and awe, eventually becoming convinced that he will eat the whole thing, which he does ("Bruce"). Naturally, the Trunchbull cannot handle losing, so she decides to throw him in the Chokey, ignoring Miss Honey and Matilda's protests.
After school, Matilda heads back to the library. The third part of the story begins. The Acrobat and the Escapologist, wearing a special silver scarf that the Acrobat gave him, perform their trick. Astonishingly, the trick goes over smoothly...until the very end. For some reason or another, the Acrobat's hand slips from the Escapologist's, and she suffers a fatal fall, living long enough to give birth to the child she had yearned for for so long: a beautiful baby girl. Rumors spread around that the only reason the Acrobat's Sister forced the couple to perform the act was because the woman's hatred for her sister was so great, she set things up so that the Acrobat would be killed. But the Escapologist, ever with kindness and love in his heart, dismissed such rumors and allowed the Acrobat's Sister to move in. However, the Acrobat's Sister made her hatred for children well-known and mistreated the daughter. This alarms Mrs. Phelps, who is more than ready to call the police, only for Matilda to remind her that it's just a story. Mrs. Phelps praises Matilda, claiming that her parents must be proud of her. Matilda hesitates...then lies that they are.
Mr. Wormwood calls a family meeting, declaring that he has made the family rich by cheating the Russians. You see, he used an automatic drill to roll back the odometer, making it look like it had less miles on it. Appalled, Matilda rips into her family, calling them out for their horribleness and ignorance. Mr. Wormwood rips right back, threatening to have Mrs. Phelps arrested if Matilda dares step back inside the library. He drags her to her room, throws her inside and locks the door. Alone, and with her anger at her father rising, Matilda imagines herself as the Acrobat's daughter. As she tells of how the Acrobat's Sister only mistreated the daughter in private, so as not to arouse suspicion from the Escapologist, the shadows on her bedroom wall instead depict Mr. Wormwood in the place of the Acrobat's Sister. As she tells of how the cruelty reached a boiling point when the Sister beat her and called her nasty things, the voice of the Sister is mixed with that of Mr. Wormwood. As she tells of how this cruelty climaxed when the Acrobat's Sister threw her in the basement and locked the door, she flings herself off her bed! Suddenly, the Escapologist appears before her, begging forgiveness ("I'm Here"). Matilda narrates that the Escapologist, declaring the Sister's abuse a betrayal to his late wife, sets off to find her and enact revenge...but he never came home.
The next day at school, a grueling physical-education lesson -- which the Trunchbull claims will stop the children from rebelling against her -- is interrupted when Lavender, one of Matilda's classmates, puts a newt in the Trunchbull's cup. For this, she blames a kid named Eric Ink, and punishes him by stretching his ears, once again ignoring Miss Honey's pleas. Matilda, once again enraged, bellows forth: "Leave him alone, you big...fat...bully!!!" The Trunchbull proceeds to rant and rave at Matilda, but as the rant goes on, it slowly fades away, as we hear Matilda's inner monologue trying to make sense of all the thoughts filling her head. Suddenly, everything goes "Quiet" and Matilda feels at ease. It is then that Matilda realizes that she possesses telekinetic powers, which she uses to tip over the cup, which sends the newt scampering up the Trunchbull's leg. Taking advantage of the Trunchbull running off, Miss Honey dismisses the class and Matilda reveals her powers. Miss Honey decides to invite Matilda over to her house for tea.
Along the way, Matilda tells of how her father mistreats her, a mistreatment Miss Honey compares to the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of her aunt. She claims that when she became a teacher, her aunt gave her a bill with everything that she had provided for her in childhood, and forced her to sign a contract -- gee, why does that sound familiar? -- saying that she would pay it back. Naturally, she wanted to escape this lousy life, so she discovered an old farm shed, where she still lives to this day. Matilda is shocked, claiming that her home is her right, and that she should fight her aunt and take it back. But, Miss Honey doesn't care. She loves it there ("My House").
Suddenly, Matilda notices that Miss Honey has a silver scarf hanging on one of her drawers. She asks of its origin, and Miss Honey claims it belonged to her father, Magnus, a famous escapologist. Matilda realizes that the story of the Acrobat and the Escapologist is that of Miss Honey's childhood, and that means Magnus was, indeed, murdered at the hands of the Acrobat's Sister! Matilda demands to know who the Acrobat's Sister was, when suddenly, the voice of the Acrobat's Sister, the voice we heard in the story, comes through...this time, much clearer...and much more familiar. Yes, the Acrobat's Sister is none other than the Trunchbull! Matilda is taken aback by this revelation, and she tells Miss Honey she has to return home immediately. But before she goes, she turns to Miss Honey to ask three questions: "Your father's name was Magnus, correct?" (The answer is "yes"); "What did he call Miss Trunchbull?" (Agatha) and "What did he call you?" (Jenny).
As the sun rises on a new day at Crunchem Hall, the Trunchbull forces Matilda's class to take part in a spelling test, where any wrong answer will spend the speller to the Chokey. When Lavender trips up on a deliberately hard word, the other children rebel by deliberately misspelling words, claiming the Trunchbull can't throw them all into the Chokey. But the Trunchbull has another idea up her sleeve... She presses a button, and the walls shift, revealing Chokey upon Chokey upon Chokey! It is clear that the Trunchbull's cruelty and competitive nature have finally overtaken her sanity, and her gloats of "victory" are interrupted by a shocking revelation: A piece of chalk is moving all by itself! All the children, Miss Honey and the Trunchbull stare in shock ... except Matilda, who is sitting stock-still, her eyes laser-focused towards the board. The chalk writes out this message:
Noticing that the Trunchbull is scared stiff by this message, the students take up the repetition of "RUN!" and turn it into a deafening chant, as they chase the Trunchbull out of the classroom. The chant is taken up by hundreds upon hundreds of the Trunchbull's victims. The whole school rises up to send the Trunchbull away! At last, the Trunchbull runs as fast as her legs can carry her off school property, and the children, led by Bruce, celebrate! ("Revolting Children")
The Narrator sums up what happened shortly thereafter: The Trunchbull did leave for good, and the house was rightfully given over to Miss Honey, who became the new principal of Crunchem Hall, while a kind gentleman named Mr. Trilby took her place as teacher. Among her first acts as principal were to destroy every last Chokey and to move Matilda into the top-most class, where she wowed her new teacher, Miss Plimsoll. Matilda became a frequent visitor to Miss Honey's house. In one particular conversation they had in one particular visit, Matilda tells Miss Honey that she has lost her telekinetic powers, which Miss Honey surmises is the result of her brain being challenged more. As the two walk back to Matilda's house, the Narrator notes that Matilda is still stuck with horrendous parents of her own, and that "...sometimes, stories don't have happy endings."
The Narrator's musings are interrupted by what Matilda and Miss Honey see before them. The Wormwoods and Rudolpho are hastily throwing baggage into a getaway car bound for Spain! Apparently, those Russians Mr. Wormwood cheated were members of the Russian Mafia! As Mr. Wormwood forces Matilda to get ready, Miss Honey -- having grown her spine back in the interim -- speaks: "Let her stay with me!" The Wormwoods are stunned to hear this, but before things can continue further, the Mafia descends upon the house. The leader, Sergei, speaks of Wormwood's stupidity, and Matilda agrees, telling Sergei of how her father has mistreated her all these years. She even impresses Sergei by speaking Russian, which she claims she taught herself how to do in order to fully enjoy Dostoyevsky. Sergei offers to rough Mr. Wormwood up not only as revenge for the Russians, but for Matilda, as well. Matilda thinks it over, and declines, saying "I've had enough of revenge." Sergei takes this in good graces, and bids her farewell. As a token of gratitude, Mr. Wormwood allows Matilda to stay with Miss Honey. The Wormwoods and Rudolpho leave (with Michael waving goodbye) for Spain, and the Narrator sums things up:
"And Matilda leapt into Miss Honey's arms and hugged her, and Miss Honey hugged her back. They hardly noticed as the Wormwoods and Rudolpho sped away forever into the distance, because they had finally found what they had been looking for all their lives: a loving family."
And there we have it: the way I'd write Matilda the Musical as a film! And if you're wondering where "When I Grow Up" is, although it's the most popular song from the show, it doesn't really add much to the story, so I left it out. However, in this idea, the song is performed over the credits by Tim Minchin himself, so fans of the show will still get to hear it.
Oh, and by the way, I should tell you that one of the biggest fan theories regarding this specific adaptation of Matilda is that Matilda's powers were the result of her being possessed by Magnus, hence why Matilda was able to learn the story of Miss Honey's parentage, and why her telekinetic powers suddenly disappeared after the Trunchbull left and Miss Honey got the house back. This is why some of the things about this layout are the way they are -- for example, the biggest implication here is that Magnus himself is narrating this story, hence why the Escapologist and the Narrator have the same voice.
I also added in some elements from the 1996 film adaptation, specifically the exchange that leads to Matilda deciding to pull the hair tonic prank.
Matilda
Layout by DisneyManOne
Adapted from the story by Roald Dahl
and the musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly
Layout by DisneyManOne
Adapted from the story by Roald Dahl
and the musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly
A Narrator does some ruminating on parenting. He claims that there are two kinds of awful parenting. The first is the kind where parents overcoddle their children and overlook their flaws, thinking they can do no wrong, a viewpoint best expressed as a host of children at a birthday party boast of the way their parents look upon them ("Miracle"). The second is the kind where parents couldn't care less about their parents, a viewpoint best expressed by looking at a perfect case: Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood. These two are self-absorbed twits who couldn't seem to care about anything beyond their own egos. Mr. Wormwood is a brash, used-car salesman who utilizes underhanded deeds to make a sale, and Mrs. Wormwood is a competitive dancer who seems more concerned with missing her latest contest than with the fact that she's pregnant. The due date arrives, and of course, the Wormwoods couldn't care. Mr. Wormwood is firmly convinced that the baby is a boy, and is shocked to discover it's a girl. Mrs. Wormwood, of course, is still upset that she missed her contest. The Doctor's attempts to make them recognize their daughter fall upon deaf ears.
Time passes. The Narrator tells us that the child -- whom they named "Matilda" -- was quite advanced for her age. She could speak fluently at one and taught herself to read at three. But of course, the Wormwoods, prizing ignorance and mindless television above all else, treat Matilda's smarts as a burden, rather than a gift. Our story proper begins when Matilda is five. For all her life, she has been the victim of belittlement and abuse at the hands of her vapid parents. Her older brother, Michael, is rather dim-witted, so the Wormwoods prefer him more. And Mr. Wormwood has always called her "boy", still unable to accept that he has a daughter. For most of her life, Matilda has always been the scapegoat for her parents' problems. She finally stands up for herself, telling her father off and saying the way he treats her is "not right". He brushes off those concerns by claiming that "When a person is bad, then they should be punished", and sending her to her room. The Narrator informs us that he meant to say "When a child is bad", but the word choice made Matilda come up with a clever idea. Matilda has decided to enact a little revenge on her father by pulling a practical joke on him -- namely, filling a bottle of her father's favorite hair tonic with her mother's hair dye ("Naughty"). And when Mr. Wormwood applies the tonic, he realizes that his hair has turned green!
Satisfied with her work, Matilda takes her daily stroll to the library, where she tells a story to the librarian, a kindly Jamaican lady named Mrs. Phelps. The story is about an Acrobat and an Escapologist (who just so happens to sound just like the Narrator...weird, right?), a married couple who were the greatest performers the world had ever known. But although they had it all, they were still sad because there was one thing that didn't have: a child. And that aching void made them dig deeper and deeper into their work, until one day, they announced their most dangerous stunt yet: "The Burning Woman Hurling Through the Air, with Dynamite in Her Hair, Over Sharks and Spiky Objects, Caught by the Man Locked in a Cage."
Soon, it comes time for Matilda's first day at school. The school is known as Crunchem Hall, and you'd be forgiven for assuming at first glance that it was a prison. The Older Students warn Matilda's class that life at Crunchem Hall is a living nightmare, and it's all because of the school's cruel headmistress: Agatha Trunchbull ("The School Song"). And oddly enough, even mentioning how horrible she is is enough to get our Narrator riled up! Catching himself, he lets us see Matilda's first day of school, where we meet her gentle and kind teacher: Miss Jennifer Honey. Miss Honey is impressed with Matilda's rampant knowledge, and goes to the office of the Trunchbull to tell her about her prowess. The Trunchbull is a formidable lady, a competition-obsessed woman who is still living in the past; specifically, her glory days winning the gold hammer-throwing for Britain in the Olympics. To this end, she has stressed discipline and rigidity into Crunchem Hall, and woe betide those who try to step outside the line ("The Hammer"). Naturally, Miss Honey's claims of Matilda's genius fall upon deaf ears, and the Trunchbull reminds her of how the school treats children. Yeah, it's not good at all. Even the school motto showcases how horribly children are treated: "Bambinatum est maggitum", or in plain English, "Children are maggots."
Back at home, Mr. Wormwood is upset about losing a deal with some Russians, so naturally, he takes it out on Matilda and destroys one of her books ... and she retaliates by lining the rim of his hat in Superglue. The next day, Matilda learns firsthand about some of the Trunchbull's disciplinary methods when one of her classmates, Nigel Hicks, is accused of pouring Golden Syrup on the Trunchbull's chair. The Older Students, led by a girl named Hortensia, explain that the Trunchbull doesn't care whether or not someone actually did something. She just loves to find ways to make children's lives miserable. They warn Matilda and Nigel of the Trunchbull's specialty punishment: "The Chokey", a closet whose walls are lined with wooden spikes and broken glass, so you have to stand perfectly at attention or risk getting cut or poked. What's more, try doing that for hours on end! Thinking quickly, Matilda rallies all the Students to help her convince the Trunchbull that Nigel couldn't have done the Syrup job, given that he is narcoleptic. However, the victory is pyrrhic, as the Trunchbull instead punishes another student, Amanda Thripp, for having pigtails by using her hammer skills to throw her far away.
One night, Miss Honey goes to see the Wormwoods -- Mrs. Wormwood in the middle of a rehearsal with her dance partner, Rudolpho -- to tell them of Matilda's success in school. Surprise, surprise, they refuse to listen, even going so far as to belittle her for choosing "books" over "looks". Miss Honey is appalled to see how these two dolts favor ignorance, but nonetheless swears to herself that she will work as hard as she can to give Matilda the recognition she deserves. Meanwhile, Matilda is resuming her story with Mrs. Phelps. The day of the stunt arrived. However, the couple announce that they will not go through with it, as the Acrobat is pregnant. This pleases everyone...except for the Acrobat's Sister. The Acrobat's Sister is a woman cruel to the bone, a woman who has no love in her heart and bears hatred for her sister and the love she shares with her husband, a woman who loves nothing more than inflicting cruelty and torture, especially upon children. She reveals that the two signed a contract specifically stating that they would perform the act, and threatens them with jail if they do not comply.
At school, Miss Honey offers supplemental books for Matilda to read, as she normally zips straight through the work and needs something to occupy her time. The sweet moment is interrupted by the Trunchbull, with yet another false allegation. She accuses Matilda of stealing a slice of chocolate cake that was meant solely for her, claiming the accusation is solid because it happened before school. Suddenly, a rather rotund child named Bruce Bogtrotter reveals that he's the culprit, and was considering confessing, but was having trouble with his stomach. A monstrous, chocolate-scented burp reveals the true culprit to the Trunchbull, and she forces him to eat the rest of the cake as a punishment. The other children watch in shock and awe, eventually becoming convinced that he will eat the whole thing, which he does ("Bruce"). Naturally, the Trunchbull cannot handle losing, so she decides to throw him in the Chokey, ignoring Miss Honey and Matilda's protests.
After school, Matilda heads back to the library. The third part of the story begins. The Acrobat and the Escapologist, wearing a special silver scarf that the Acrobat gave him, perform their trick. Astonishingly, the trick goes over smoothly...until the very end. For some reason or another, the Acrobat's hand slips from the Escapologist's, and she suffers a fatal fall, living long enough to give birth to the child she had yearned for for so long: a beautiful baby girl. Rumors spread around that the only reason the Acrobat's Sister forced the couple to perform the act was because the woman's hatred for her sister was so great, she set things up so that the Acrobat would be killed. But the Escapologist, ever with kindness and love in his heart, dismissed such rumors and allowed the Acrobat's Sister to move in. However, the Acrobat's Sister made her hatred for children well-known and mistreated the daughter. This alarms Mrs. Phelps, who is more than ready to call the police, only for Matilda to remind her that it's just a story. Mrs. Phelps praises Matilda, claiming that her parents must be proud of her. Matilda hesitates...then lies that they are.
Mr. Wormwood calls a family meeting, declaring that he has made the family rich by cheating the Russians. You see, he used an automatic drill to roll back the odometer, making it look like it had less miles on it. Appalled, Matilda rips into her family, calling them out for their horribleness and ignorance. Mr. Wormwood rips right back, threatening to have Mrs. Phelps arrested if Matilda dares step back inside the library. He drags her to her room, throws her inside and locks the door. Alone, and with her anger at her father rising, Matilda imagines herself as the Acrobat's daughter. As she tells of how the Acrobat's Sister only mistreated the daughter in private, so as not to arouse suspicion from the Escapologist, the shadows on her bedroom wall instead depict Mr. Wormwood in the place of the Acrobat's Sister. As she tells of how the cruelty reached a boiling point when the Sister beat her and called her nasty things, the voice of the Sister is mixed with that of Mr. Wormwood. As she tells of how this cruelty climaxed when the Acrobat's Sister threw her in the basement and locked the door, she flings herself off her bed! Suddenly, the Escapologist appears before her, begging forgiveness ("I'm Here"). Matilda narrates that the Escapologist, declaring the Sister's abuse a betrayal to his late wife, sets off to find her and enact revenge...but he never came home.
The next day at school, a grueling physical-education lesson -- which the Trunchbull claims will stop the children from rebelling against her -- is interrupted when Lavender, one of Matilda's classmates, puts a newt in the Trunchbull's cup. For this, she blames a kid named Eric Ink, and punishes him by stretching his ears, once again ignoring Miss Honey's pleas. Matilda, once again enraged, bellows forth: "Leave him alone, you big...fat...bully!!!" The Trunchbull proceeds to rant and rave at Matilda, but as the rant goes on, it slowly fades away, as we hear Matilda's inner monologue trying to make sense of all the thoughts filling her head. Suddenly, everything goes "Quiet" and Matilda feels at ease. It is then that Matilda realizes that she possesses telekinetic powers, which she uses to tip over the cup, which sends the newt scampering up the Trunchbull's leg. Taking advantage of the Trunchbull running off, Miss Honey dismisses the class and Matilda reveals her powers. Miss Honey decides to invite Matilda over to her house for tea.
Along the way, Matilda tells of how her father mistreats her, a mistreatment Miss Honey compares to the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of her aunt. She claims that when she became a teacher, her aunt gave her a bill with everything that she had provided for her in childhood, and forced her to sign a contract -- gee, why does that sound familiar? -- saying that she would pay it back. Naturally, she wanted to escape this lousy life, so she discovered an old farm shed, where she still lives to this day. Matilda is shocked, claiming that her home is her right, and that she should fight her aunt and take it back. But, Miss Honey doesn't care. She loves it there ("My House").
Suddenly, Matilda notices that Miss Honey has a silver scarf hanging on one of her drawers. She asks of its origin, and Miss Honey claims it belonged to her father, Magnus, a famous escapologist. Matilda realizes that the story of the Acrobat and the Escapologist is that of Miss Honey's childhood, and that means Magnus was, indeed, murdered at the hands of the Acrobat's Sister! Matilda demands to know who the Acrobat's Sister was, when suddenly, the voice of the Acrobat's Sister, the voice we heard in the story, comes through...this time, much clearer...and much more familiar. Yes, the Acrobat's Sister is none other than the Trunchbull! Matilda is taken aback by this revelation, and she tells Miss Honey she has to return home immediately. But before she goes, she turns to Miss Honey to ask three questions: "Your father's name was Magnus, correct?" (The answer is "yes"); "What did he call Miss Trunchbull?" (Agatha) and "What did he call you?" (Jenny).
As the sun rises on a new day at Crunchem Hall, the Trunchbull forces Matilda's class to take part in a spelling test, where any wrong answer will spend the speller to the Chokey. When Lavender trips up on a deliberately hard word, the other children rebel by deliberately misspelling words, claiming the Trunchbull can't throw them all into the Chokey. But the Trunchbull has another idea up her sleeve... She presses a button, and the walls shift, revealing Chokey upon Chokey upon Chokey! It is clear that the Trunchbull's cruelty and competitive nature have finally overtaken her sanity, and her gloats of "victory" are interrupted by a shocking revelation: A piece of chalk is moving all by itself! All the children, Miss Honey and the Trunchbull stare in shock ... except Matilda, who is sitting stock-still, her eyes laser-focused towards the board. The chalk writes out this message:
"Agatha, this is Magnus.
Give my Jenny back her house.
Then leave!
Or I will get you like you got me!
RUN! RUN! RUN!"
Give my Jenny back her house.
Then leave!
Or I will get you like you got me!
RUN! RUN! RUN!"
Noticing that the Trunchbull is scared stiff by this message, the students take up the repetition of "RUN!" and turn it into a deafening chant, as they chase the Trunchbull out of the classroom. The chant is taken up by hundreds upon hundreds of the Trunchbull's victims. The whole school rises up to send the Trunchbull away! At last, the Trunchbull runs as fast as her legs can carry her off school property, and the children, led by Bruce, celebrate! ("Revolting Children")
The Narrator sums up what happened shortly thereafter: The Trunchbull did leave for good, and the house was rightfully given over to Miss Honey, who became the new principal of Crunchem Hall, while a kind gentleman named Mr. Trilby took her place as teacher. Among her first acts as principal were to destroy every last Chokey and to move Matilda into the top-most class, where she wowed her new teacher, Miss Plimsoll. Matilda became a frequent visitor to Miss Honey's house. In one particular conversation they had in one particular visit, Matilda tells Miss Honey that she has lost her telekinetic powers, which Miss Honey surmises is the result of her brain being challenged more. As the two walk back to Matilda's house, the Narrator notes that Matilda is still stuck with horrendous parents of her own, and that "...sometimes, stories don't have happy endings."
The Narrator's musings are interrupted by what Matilda and Miss Honey see before them. The Wormwoods and Rudolpho are hastily throwing baggage into a getaway car bound for Spain! Apparently, those Russians Mr. Wormwood cheated were members of the Russian Mafia! As Mr. Wormwood forces Matilda to get ready, Miss Honey -- having grown her spine back in the interim -- speaks: "Let her stay with me!" The Wormwoods are stunned to hear this, but before things can continue further, the Mafia descends upon the house. The leader, Sergei, speaks of Wormwood's stupidity, and Matilda agrees, telling Sergei of how her father has mistreated her all these years. She even impresses Sergei by speaking Russian, which she claims she taught herself how to do in order to fully enjoy Dostoyevsky. Sergei offers to rough Mr. Wormwood up not only as revenge for the Russians, but for Matilda, as well. Matilda thinks it over, and declines, saying "I've had enough of revenge." Sergei takes this in good graces, and bids her farewell. As a token of gratitude, Mr. Wormwood allows Matilda to stay with Miss Honey. The Wormwoods and Rudolpho leave (with Michael waving goodbye) for Spain, and the Narrator sums things up:
"And Matilda leapt into Miss Honey's arms and hugged her, and Miss Honey hugged her back. They hardly noticed as the Wormwoods and Rudolpho sped away forever into the distance, because they had finally found what they had been looking for all their lives: a loving family."
~ ~ ~
And there we have it: the way I'd write Matilda the Musical as a film! And if you're wondering where "When I Grow Up" is, although it's the most popular song from the show, it doesn't really add much to the story, so I left it out. However, in this idea, the song is performed over the credits by Tim Minchin himself, so fans of the show will still get to hear it.
Oh, and by the way, I should tell you that one of the biggest fan theories regarding this specific adaptation of Matilda is that Matilda's powers were the result of her being possessed by Magnus, hence why Matilda was able to learn the story of Miss Honey's parentage, and why her telekinetic powers suddenly disappeared after the Trunchbull left and Miss Honey got the house back. This is why some of the things about this layout are the way they are -- for example, the biggest implication here is that Magnus himself is narrating this story, hence why the Escapologist and the Narrator have the same voice.
I also added in some elements from the 1996 film adaptation, specifically the exchange that leads to Matilda deciding to pull the hair tonic prank.
Hi, everyone. My next reimagining is for Quest for Camelot, Warner Bros.' complete train wreck of an animated fantasy musical. Despite having the potential for being good, the whole production was messed up by executive producers who had no business trying to control an animated film. This rewrite turned out to be about 10 pages long, so I'm doing a little shameless linking to the version on my Deviantart channel:
https://www.deviantart.com/evilgidgit/art/Reimagining-Quest-for-Camelot-868687649
I'm not sure if this falls under the rules of the forums, so if I'm asked to remove it, I will, and post the outline rewrite in more than one post!
Let us ride to Camelot!
https://www.deviantart.com/evilgidgit/art/Reimagining-Quest-for-Camelot-868687649
I'm not sure if this falls under the rules of the forums, so if I'm asked to remove it, I will, and post the outline rewrite in more than one post!
Let us ride to Camelot!
I decided to reanimate this old thread to post some new reimaginings of films, primarily animated movies.
Here is what was meant to be a short reimagining of WISH, but it turned into a 10-page, 8000-word long rewrite. If it's too long, it'll be split across a couple of posts:
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful kingdom, home to a kind-hearted prince named Magnifico. His father, the king, was a generous man who ensured his people were happy and contented in their lives. However, the king was weighed down by his crown, fearing to make harsh decisions. Magnifico could only watch his proud father fall into the clutches of snake-tongued opportunists, who benefitted from their influence on the king.
Then, a terrible plague struck the land, taking many, including the king’s beloved wife. In desperation, the king turned to the stars above for help. The night sky carried many wonders, but none more so than the stars. It was said that they granted wishes, if one’s heart was strong enough.
That was a lie.
The stars did not grant the king’s wish to save his home, but instead devoured him. The stars descended like great black demons, consuming the wishes of the people, until the kingdom was no more. The men who had manipulated the king either fled or were eaten. It was only when Magnifico, the new king, used his potent sorcery to repel the stars and saved his surviving people.
With their home lost, Magnifico led his people far away in the hope to escape the gaze of the hungry stars. Eventually, they found a remote island in the middle of the sea, large enough to build a new, prosperous kingdom: Rosas. It took many years of hard work, but Rosas grew to become a small but united city-state, inviting anyone and everyone to live in peace.
Magnifico ruled justly and wisely, alongside his wife Queen Amaya, but worried that the stars would return to steal the vast wishes of his subjects. It was then he realised how to protect the wishes of Rosas: by granting them himself.
At the age of eighteen, every subject of Rosas began to share and entrust their wishes with their king, who vowed to keep them safe within his tower, until the time was right for the wishes to be granted.
As for the stars, Magnifico made sure that they would never be able to see Rosas. Every night, a magical veil would shroud Rosas from the sky, until the Sun rose to usher in the day.
To have their wish granted by King Magnifico was a dream that burnt brightly for many. For if one yearns long and hard enough, their wish must be worth making.
…
Whether the story of Rosas’ beginnings is either a fable or history, that was what Asha was brought up on by her parents, who happen to be King Magnifico and Queen Amaya. Asha is the princess of Rosas, although not quite the heir. For one, she was adopted at seven years. Her father Gnosis, a close friend and advisor to Magnifico, died from a illness. The monarchs took Asha in out of kindness, adopting her as their ward, titling her as a princess upon turning aged ten.
Asha became Magnifico’s apprentice, learning the arts of the arcane, though limited by her father’s restrictions. Thus, Asha’s skills with magic are clumsy at best. It is in magical research that she is proficient, using her talents in potion making and charms to benefit the people of Rosas. Being a princess and apprentice to Magnifico, Asha has a lot of expectations hanging over her, giving everything she has to serving and helping Rosas. In truth, Asha has little self-worth, despite the position she is in, further pressured by the expectations as a princess and the king’s apprentice.
We first meet Asha as she reads the above story to a group of families and children who are considering the move to Rosas, but she downplays the stars being alleged demons. When one asks Asha what it is like to live in the kingdom, this leads straight into “Welcome to Rosas”, which takes the time to explore the kingdom’s culture, particularly around giving wishes to Magnifico to protect and grant. Although the people are relatively happy and content, we see there is a sense of melancholy amongst those who have already given their wishes away via an unfulfilled sense of longing.
In the film, Asha is a quirky girl without much discernible reason. Here, while still having the expected traits of a Disney Princess, she is a little bit overbearing in her attempts to help others. In private, she is a lot more reserved, self-critical, and truly unable to express her feelings unless with people she truly trusts. Around her parents, she is obedient and quieter, often being the subject of their well-meaning criticisms.
Amaya is regal and beautiful, loyal to her husband, and often accompanied by her pet cat Gremory, a sly and lazy Siamese cat. Amaya does have an edge to her though, reminding Asha that she must live up to her expectations and the importance of eventually giving her wish to her father. Asha is slightly closer with Magnifico due to his empathic nature, but fears disappointing him. Magnifico is a bit proud, but Asha brushes it off as being kingly.
Above all, Magnifico has forbidden Asha from entering the wish chamber at the top of his tower, though without giving a reason. Asha has longed to see where he keeps the wishes, which he only presents during a wishing ceremony held twice a month. Asha is not only smart but observant and curious, noticing the wishes grant tend to more beneficial to the kingdom as a whole rather than deeply personal ones. She wonders why Magnifico only grants only so many wishes and how he determines which ones to choose.
Asha nips to the castle’s lower levels to express her anxieties to her friend Dahlia, a highly gifted baker, who relies on a crutch to get about. Instead of having seven friends, Asha only has three: Dahlia; Bazeema, a shy introvert who keeps popping up out of thin air, scaring Asha; and Simon, a large, sleepy guy who is often made up of for his slowness, which secretly hurts Simon’s pride.
Asha is forever accompanied by the baby goat Valentina, who is just a few months old, being playful and attention seeking. Dahlia is sympathetic to Asha’s troubles, encouraging her to pursue her own wish rather than trying to please everyone else. Asha, however, claims she does not have her own wish. She doesn’t truly know what she wants, at least not on the surface level. Her wish to for Rosas’ happiness, but she doesn’t really know how to go about achieving such a goal, especially when she would be required to perform royal duties should she officially be recognised as Magnifico’s heir.
Heading up to meet her parents, Asha’s more obedient and self-judgemental side comes out around Magnifico and Amaya. As Asha is soon to come of age, Magnifico offers to finally introduce her to the wish chamber. Inside, Asha learns the wishes are “alive”, preserved in floating crystal balls that Magnifico creates by extracting the heart’s desire from his subjects using persuasion magic, with a secondary spell used to grant the wishes.
As “At All Costs” was originally written as a romantic ballad before being repurposed, that is moved to later on in the film. In its place, a new song performed by Asha, Magnifico, and Amaya happens, called “Royal Expectations”, in which Asha is essentially peer pressured by her parents to not let them down (think “According to Plan” from Corpse Bride). Magnifico tells Asha she will officially be acknowledged as his heir and apprentice by proving her worth. To do this, she must find someone within Rosas who has yet to give their wish to him. Not everyone in the kingdom has been willing to give up their wishes, but Magnifico is confident that Asha can succeed in convincing them to. He even gifts her the spell used to manifest a wish, but tells her that only he may grant them.
Eager to please, Asha sets out to find someone to make her new pet project. After no such luck, Simon suggests an old man named Sabino, a reclusive carpenter and musical instrument maker, who he claims is a hundred years old. Asha scoffs, until Dahlia actually confirms that Sabino is as old as Rosas, but he won’t share his wish. Undeterred, Asha and Valentino venture into the island’s dark woods and find Sabino’s crooked cottage, built under a gigantic tree which appears to pierce Magnifico’s anti-star veil. Asha attempts to convince Sabino to let her in, but he wants nothing to do with her or Magnifico.
That is when Asha gets her first glimpse of the night sky, full of stars. Seeing Asha in awe, Sabino has a change of heart and lets her into his house. It is full of musical instruments, some half-finished, which Sabino explains on account of his hands shaking from his old age. He never gave his wish to Magnifico as it changed so much, but confesses his greatest desire was to be able to play the instruments he crafted, but living for so long and having many hardships closed off his heart. Asha tries to assure Sabino that her father will grant his wish, considering his age and condition, but Sabino is sceptical, wondering why the king has granted so few wishes over the past century.
Asha takes further interest in the stars, baffled when Sabino reveals star charts and an old telescope, having climbed up the tree in his youth to stargaze. When Asha asks if the stars ever tried to eat him, Sabino denies this, having vague memories of the old kingdom, where the stars were once revered. When offered to glimpse the stars, Asha declines, instead convincing Sabino to give her his wish.
She successfully duplicates her father’s magic, but notes the sudden change in Sabino’s mood when she extracts his wish, growing melancholic and slow like Simon and others. Nevertheless, she invites Sabino to the upcoming wishing ceremony with the promise that he will be chosen. Sabino comments that wishing on a star would be easier, which sparks Asha’s curiosity about the stars and if they are truly as evil as told. Sabino recalls being born in the same year of Rosas’ founding, but his parents told him that the stories about the evil stars to be true – at least from what they saw when their old home fell.
Asha returns to the castle where she presents Sabino’s wish to Magnifico. The king is impressed with her, as well as Sabino’s resilience in his old age. Asha tells him Sabino’s background, but without mention of the stars. However, when Magnifico examines the wish, he turns cold upon seeing Sabino playing a lute to a large crowd. To Asha’s bewilderment, Magnifico claims the wish is vague and dangerous, its elusiveness potentially signalling a threat to Rosas’ stability. When queried, Magnifico explains there are certain wishes he will not grant – he cannot make people fall in love, kill people, or resurrect the dead; but cannot grant wishes that are ambiguous.
Although Asha reasons that Sabino wishes for his hands to be healed, Magnifico sees it as his desire to play music and inspire others, but with what: Songs could turn into those of revolution and threaten Rosas (and his own power to protect them). Asha and Magnifico start to argue about the rights, wrongs, and ethnics of how Magnifico chooses wishes. Although Asha can understand her father’s rationale based on any outlandish wishes, she is baffled by the rejection of Sabino’s relatively simple one. It dawns on Asha that a large number of the wishes are likely similar and will go ungranted.
When she asks why Magnifico will not return the wishes if he will not grant them, he tells Asha that his father’s kingdom fell because of unruly wishes. Magnifico explains that it was dangerous wishes of his lost home that drew the stars’ hunger. He reasons it is his responsibility to protect the wishes of Rosas and decide which ones should be given for the kingdom’s security. Granting them all could cause chaos.
When Asha tries to ask more questions, Magnifico ends the argument, proclaiming he will decide what is best for Rosas. Amaya and her cat Gremory enter, implied to have been eavesdropping outside the door, to announce the wishing ceremony will begin soon. Composing himself, Magnifico tells Asha that she will understand in time, claiming she still has a lot to learn.
At the wishing ceremony, Asha miserably watches on as Magnifico selects a random seamstress to have her wish granted, promoting her to a royal tailor to design clothes for the royal family. Asha sees a crestfallen Sabino at the back of the crowd, who storms away. The guilt-stricken Asha rushes to Sabino’s house to apologise, only to have the door slammed in her face.
In a combination of despair and lingering hope, Asha climbs the tree and beholds the starry night sky for the first time. Here is where she sings “This Wish”, gradually plucking up the courage to wish upon a twinkling star above her, uttering Geppetto’s familiar wish from Pinocchio. Her wish is for everyone to be happy At first nothing happens, until the star begins to shine brighter and brighter, instantly casting away Magnifico’s barrier, exposing Rosas to the night sky. Yet, before panic breaks out, everyone in Rosas is bathed in the star’s warmth and magic, feeling comfort and joy instead of fear. Magnifico and Amaya are the only ones who react to the star negatively.
Asha is shocked by the star’s burst of light that she falls from the tree, only to be caught in mid air by a young man with a glowing, golden aura, who lands on the ground with a mischievous smile. Asha quickly realises this stranger is the personified star. Afraid at first, Asha realises the stranger is harmless, especially when he pets Valentino. Asking for his name, the young man reveals he is called Star via sign language; Asha assuming he cannot speak human languages. Star gestures that he heard her wish, which is to make everyone happy. He immediately demonstrates what he means by sprinkling stardust over Valentino, who eats some, and suddenly starts speaking. Instead of having a deep voice, Valentino naturally has a child’s voice, but speaks breathlessly and is prone to baying.
Before Asha can intervene, Star flies off into the forest which he starts showering in his dust. Animals begin talking, plants and flowers start dancing, and even the trees start moving. I felt that “You’re A Star” was a poorly written song (“Universal share holders”, bleurgh!) and made no sense within the time period. The song would be rewritten, keeping the name, but with a different focus on Star’s character and magic, though Star doesn’t sing, as he cannot speak Rosas’ language quite yet. Star is a mixture of Peter Pan and the Genie in terms of personality, but also has the charm and romanticism of a prince.
Once the song ends, the animals scatter at the sound of approaching horses. Seeing Magnifico’s guards coming, Asha grabs Star and Valentino, taking shelter in a more responsive Sabino’s house after he witnessed Star’s arrival. Sabino manages to send the knights off with false tales of a cloaked figure in a rowboat. Asha takes the opportunity to apologise to Sabino, explaining what Magnifico did. Sabino comments that the king got what he wanted, muttering that some people are at their happiest when they have power over others. Star explores Sabino’s house, beginning to enchant the instruments to play, but Asha stops him. Star also notices several unfinished love songs too, mouthing the words, before turning to look at Asha, getting a twinkling in his eyes.
Asha promises Sabino to retrieve his wish. Star floats over in curiosity, forcing to explain Rosas’ culture and how her father keeps wishes in his tower. When she mentions Magnifico by name, a dark look crosses Star’s face. He moves a hand to Sabino’s heart, where Asha sees an empty black space appear. His heart’s desire has gone. She wonders if the other people have similar conditions. Valentino suggests freeing all the wishes and having Star grant all of them. Star seems pleased with the idea. Though cautious, Asha makes plans to just retrieve Sabino’s wish, asking Star if he can grant it if it is returned to its master. Star gives a reassuring nod, eager to find the wish chamber.
Come dawn, the city is bustling with activity. As Asha guides Star on foot around the outskirts, he repeatedly pauses, looking sadly at people in the crowds, likely having the same empty space as Sabino. She hurries him through the kitchens, hoping to find the dumbwaiter up to Magnifico’s chambers. Dahlia catches Asha, who shoves Star out of sight. As Asha tries to make excuses, Star meets Simon, seeing he has an empty space as well. Bazeema suddenly appears beside Star, scaring him, causing a burst of magic to fly from his hand, bounce off the walls, and into the henhouse, where the chickens break into a brief comical musical number. When Valentino starts talking and Asha introduces Star, Dahlia and the others freak out.
Asha tells all to her friends, who react with a mix of fascination and concern. Simon is quick to jump to Magnifico’s defence, refusing to believe their king would only grant wishes that suit him, clearly shaken that their patience could be for nothing. Asha rationalises that the king is well-meaning, but Star’s presence could help grant wishes. The others are apprehensive, considering what they were told about stars. Star is the virtual antithesis of what they were told, floating around Bazeema trying to suss out where she sprang from. Asha asks for Dahlia’s help to sneak up to the wish chamber, which she agrees too.
Just then, Valentino gets a little playful in his mischief, kicking over a vase that exposes an eavesdropping Gremory. Valentino and Star give chase, but the cat escapes when a servant arrives (without noticing Star) to inform Asha that her parents will be addressing the populace and she is expected. Unable to be in two places at once, Asha’s dilemma is resolved when Star transforms Bazeema into her copycat, implying she should go in Asha’s place, which would confuse Gremory and cover for the real one. Bazeema is absolutely terrified of the idea, but Simon promises to look out for her, muttering that is what he wishes for; which Asha and Star silently take note of.
Magnifico is frantically searching his study for information on who or what could have caused the destruction of his veil, planning to rebuild it that night to protect Rosas. Amaya enters to accompany him to the intended public gathering. She soothes his worries, reasoning the magic was done by some foolish person practicing magic. Magnifico worries though that if someone summoned a star, then everything they built and sacrificed will be destroyed. Amaya takes his hand, kisses him, and suggests that they turn to their people for help.
The two march hand-in-hand out into a courtyard to address their concerned subjects, who are not as frightened as Magnifico expected. Gremory dashes into the courtyard, but stops in his tracks when he sees “Asha” sitting statuesque in her chair, which Amaya notices, but the disguised Bazeema claims she was just scared of the “light show”. Still, Amaya remains a little suspicious, particularly by Gremory’s behaviour.
Magnifico tells his people that all is under control, telling them that a star’s power has been summoned, be it by accident or deliberation. He advises his people to be cautious and if they meet the star, not to trust it, or to ask for their wishes to be granted by it – otherwise it will devour them, as one did to his father so long ago. He asks if anyone saw any suspicious activity, and he may reward them, possibly with their wish. Dahlia raises her hand and begins a long-winded claim that she saw strangers in a boat at the time of the star’s summoning.
At the same, Asha, Star, and Valentina use the dumbwaiter to reach Magnifico’s study. Asha searches the office for papers on what spell Magnifico uses to enter the wish chamber. Valentino helps too, pulling out draws and starts munching on paper. Asha frantically cleans up after her goat, until she notices an open journal with handwriting resembling that of her late father Gnosis. Most of the pages have been damaged beyond repair, but she can make out several phrases jotted down by her father: “Truth about the stars? Magnifico? What happened to the unfulfilled wishes?” The note also has a strange magical symbol made up of twelve sections.
Though Asha wants to know why Magnifico has her father’s journal in his possession, Star speeds things along by using his magic to open the way to the wish chamber (and tidies the study to cover their tracks). When Asha asks how he knew how to open the door, Star gestures that it was what she wished for, giving her such a warm smile it causes Asha to stop in her tracks.
Entering the wish chamber, the preserved wishes immediately react to Star’s presence, dancing around him even more perfectly than they did with Magnifico. There are hundreds, which Asha and Star begin examining. Asha finds those of her friends, which surprise her – Dahlia, who had always appeared at ease with relying on a crutch, wished to walk without it; Bazeema wants to be praised for her designs as an architect; and Simon wishes to serve the kingdom as a trusted knight. None of them shared these wishes with Asha, perhaps because she did not know her own.
With time against them, Asha and Star search for Sabino’s wish. To cause a little distraction and instill a little hope, Star releases several out of a window, whilst sprinkling random others in dust. Outside, the citizens look up to see the wishes descending, some still as orbs, and others like miniature golden shooting stars. Magnifico and Amaya watch in horror as the wishes return to their owners, whilst the golden ones actually come true; which leads to chaos as one man’s wish to become a sailor causes an entire ship to appear, crashing into the courtyard.
Asha watches from above, seeing that Star plans to grant more. Her father’s words echoing in her ears, Asha stops Star, grabbing Sabino’s wish and drags him out of the chamber back to the dumbwaiter. She tells him that if every wish was granted then there would be utter mayhem, especially if they don’t know what people want. Star gestures that all wishes should be granted if they are desired enough, until Asha starts asking him if someone wished for someone’s death, or reanimated the dead, or if they want to love/possess someone. Star responds in shock, as if never contemplating such ideas. With Sabino’s wish in hand, the three escape.
Outside, Magnifico uses his magician’s staff and his words to calm everyone down. He explains that a star’s presence can cause the wishes to become unstable, so he granted them in secret to appease any panic. Before anyone can object, he withdraws the wishes still ungranted, much to the obvious chagrin of their owners. When people start shouting and demanding to have their wishes granted or even returned to them, Magnifico grows angry and slams his staff down, sending out a burst of magic. Amaya steps in to maintain order, informing the crowd that whoever brings them proper information on the star’s whereabouts and who may be sheltering it, will have their wish granted unconditionally. Magnifico regains his composure and decrees it so, making a hasty retreat to the wish chamber. Bazeema flees the courtyard herself, though Simon remains where he is. Gremory approaches him, meowing alluringly.
Magnifico and Amaya burst into the wish chamber, sensing that the star has been there. Both are terrified that the star’s power threatens Rosas and their own leadership. Magnifico raises his staff to the floor, where a hidden symbol appears featuring the zodiac, but senses that the “under gallery” is contained. They theorise on who could have infiltrated the wish chamber, or knew how to get in. A dark expression crosses Magnifico’s face, just as there is a knock on the door.
That night, Magnifico has recreated his veil over the kingdom. Star watches in silent apprehension as his spot in the sky disappears, but Asha reassures him they might be able to see the night sky from the treetops. The two go into Sabino’s house where they are throwing a quiet celebration to grant Sabino’s wish. The only person who is a little preoccupied in Simon, who looks out the window uncomfortably. Star offers him cake, but Simon declines. Assuming that Simon is just weary of what they did, Asha guides Star away from Simon to get ready for the wish granting
Star goes to release Sabino’s wish, but drags Asha over, implying she should do it with him. Combining their magical energies, the wish orb shatters and its essence returns to Sabino. His body glows with golden light as his shaking hands grow still, even becoming less wrinkled. Feeling like he can do anything, Sabino grabs the nearest lute and uses his unfinished songs to perform a catchy tune, prompting Asha and Star to dance with each other, as her friends and various animals look on. As they dance, Asha and Star can’t take their eyes off each other, the world around appearing to become brighter until Asha sees that they are actually dancing in midair.
Just as Asha begins to realise what her wish might be, there is a flash of green light outside, the front door is blown off its hinges, and in walks Magnifico, Amaya, and an army of knights to apprehend Asha and Star. Magnifico scolds Asha for wishing upon a star, reminding her of their evil destroying his kingdom. However, he reasons that Asha has fallen under Star’s brainwashing, using her to access the wish chamber to devour the wishes. Asha denies this, pointing out Sabino was reunited with his own wish without harm. She asks how Magnifico knew where they were, to which Simon steps forward, revealing he ratted her out. Magnifico praises Simon for his loyalty, rewarding him with his wish, transforming him into a knight. Simon’s girth transforms into muscle as he turns into a large, towering man in dark armour.
Magnifico turns his attention to Star, wielding his staff tightly, perhaps a little fearful. He plots to imprison Star and strip of his magic before he can cause more harm, pointing out to Asha the chaos that unfolded when the wishes were sporadically granted earlier. Wishes should be measured, controlled, and contained until the time is right for their release. Sabino angrily confronts the king, demanding to know what happens to the wishes of those who died before they could have them granted. Magnifico claims the wishes faded with their owners, expressing regret that he cannot grant more, but too many could threaten Rosas’ stability.
Sabino goes on a tirade, having watched many wish ceremonies and saw most were made to benefit Magnifico’s reign, rather than the desires of the people. As Sabino continues, Magnifico grows increasingly angrily, his staff surging with green magic. When Sabino claims that Star can grant their wishes without Magnifico and they don’t need him, Magnifico fires a blast of green magic at Sabino, sending him flying backwards across the room.
Asha rushes to Sabino’s side, seeing he is badly hurt. She rages at Magnifico, who regains his composure, telling her that those who jeopardise Rosas are traitors, turning to Dahlia and Bazeema. Fearing that her father will hurt her friends, Asha appeals to Amaya to put an end to things. To Asha’s shock, Amaya brings out the wishes of her friends. Amaya then drops them on the floor and shatters them, the essence absorbed into Magnifico’s staff. Her look at Asha is one of disappointment, whilst Magnifico scolds Asha for being such a disappointment.
Star angrily steps in, unleashing a wave of magic, growing brighter and brighter, until blasts of energy take on the colours of the night sky. Magnifico, Amaya, Simon, and the knights are thrown out of the house, retreating as Star advances on them. For the first time in her life, Asha sees her father look absolutely terrified. He silently raises his staff to her as a warning, before fleeing on horseback. Asha calls for Star back in, who finds Dahlia and Bazeema are in bad shape, whilst he realises that Sabino is dying from the attack. He is repelled by Sabino’s wound, as if he got an electric shock, sadly shaking his head at Asha.
After checking on her friends, Asha moves Sabino to his bed, where he asks for his lute. Asha bursts into tears, apologising for causing such pain to everyone, but Sabino comforts her with words of support and she has been terribly hard on herself. He tells her that she cannot grant everyone’s wishes at the expense of her own. People have to work hard for their wishes and believe in them so strongly, so one person (i.e. Asha or Magnifico) cannot decide and control them. In his final moments, Sabino plays a melody on his lute and sings “A Wish Worth Keeping”. It is sombre and tearful, as Asha joins in, before Sabino stops playing and falls silent.
In a state of grief and guilt, Asha tends to Dahlia and Bazeema, who are recovering but they feel a little lost with their wishes being destroyed. Dahlia describes it as like losing a part of herself. Asha asks why she never told her about wanting to walk normally. Dahlia laughs it off, admitting she regretted her wish in the end, having come to terms with her condition long ago, especially since it doesn’t define her. Bazeema is not quite as at ease, hating herself for being so shy and afraid of others, even if she wants to build great beautiful things for people to love. Although frightened when posing as Asha, Bazeema felt a twinge of amazement at being in a position of attention. Only next time she’d prefer to do it as herself.
As for Simon, Asha was hurt by his betrayal, but realises his actions aren’t out of character; they often teased and dismissed him for his slowness, never knowing it was due to giving his wish away. His desires pushed him to tell Magnifico.
Later, Star begins tidying up the room, finding more song lyrics, finding one which he begins to mouth. A light glows in his throat. Outside, Sabino has been buried by an old wishing well in the forest. Dahlia takes Bazeema and Valentino off to give Asha some time alone to her thoughts. Star appears shortly after, standing in silence before the well. Asha says she knew there was something wrong with Rosas, but she chose to ignore it. She recalls her Gnosis told her that if coins were thrown down the well, then wishes could be made. Shortly after he died and she told the same story to Magnifico, he had the well drained and filled with concrete. She thought it was strange at the time, but dismissed it.
Now that she knows what her parents are truly like, she is unsure of what to do or if she is even any better. She convinced Sabino to give up his wish, which Magnifico rejected for trivial reasons. Her friends paid the price for her need to please others, to give herself a sense of reason to be needed. Asha curses herself, measuring her desire to help others as truly being selfish, wanting to earn a spot in her parents’ good graces.
Star takes her hand and shakes his head. He begins to make rasping noises, beginning to utter words, until his voice becomes clear, telling Asha not to think like that. This leads us into the originally intended version of “At All Costs”, where Asha and Star fall in love, fly together across the kingdom, above the veil and into the sky, and promise to protect each other. But, before they kiss, Star pauses when he glances up at the sky. To the place where he should belong. Asha senses the hesitation, convincing Star to return them to ground level. They put their feelings aside to focus on figuring out what to do with the other wishes. They deserve to be freed and returned to their owners.
The next day, the two sneak into the city but find wanted posters of Asha and Star, with instructions to separate them, but keep Asha safe. They meet Dahlia, Bazeema, and Valentino in a hidden den that Bazeema stays in, fully designed to fit her friends’ flourishes. To Asha’s surprise, Bazeema produces the original plans for the castle, revealing that the roof of Magnifico’s tower can open up right above the wish chamber. They could release all the wishes and return them to the people. Asha and Star plan to confront and distract her parents, tasking Dahlia and Bazeema with getting into the tower to open the roof. They will also have to look out for Gremory, Simon, and just about everyone else.
Asha tries using her magic, but continues to struggle with her doubts. Star decides to make things a little easier for her, gifting her with a magic wand. Asha is astonished by the present, believing it will only cause more chaos, but Star shushes her with comforting words of support. She tries casting a spell, which turns out to be rather effective at distracting guards with copycat illusions. Asha also releases the singing chicken horde upon the royal guard to cause a little distraction, whilst the group shove themselves into the dumbwaiter and sneak up to Magnifico’s study.
They find no one there, but Asha guesses Magnifico set up charms or enchantments to protect the wishes. Dahlia and Bazeema start looking for the method to open up the roof, but realise it’ll only work in the wish chamber. Suddenly, the door flies open as Simon arrives, fending off a chicken. He draws his sword at Star, but with a flick of his finger, Simon’s sword flies up to be wedged in the ceiling. Asha manages to use her wand to bind Simon to a chair, holding back her anger. Simon apologises for his treachery, especially if it got Sabino killed, but he could not let Asha throw Rosas into chaos.
The conversation turns more personal as Asha confronts Simon about her own behaviour around him, explaining his slowness was caused by the loss of his wish, but mistook it for just who he was as a person. She ran around trying to force her help on others, but ignored someone who did need her help. Simon rejects her pity, now in a position where he can only be judged by Magnifico. Asha asks him if he is still willing to serve someone who reacts so viciously when questioned or defied. Simon freezes on an answer, until Asha surprisingly frees him from his binds, inviting him to see the truth.
Continued in Part 2.
Here is what was meant to be a short reimagining of WISH, but it turned into a 10-page, 8000-word long rewrite. If it's too long, it'll be split across a couple of posts:
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful kingdom, home to a kind-hearted prince named Magnifico. His father, the king, was a generous man who ensured his people were happy and contented in their lives. However, the king was weighed down by his crown, fearing to make harsh decisions. Magnifico could only watch his proud father fall into the clutches of snake-tongued opportunists, who benefitted from their influence on the king.
Then, a terrible plague struck the land, taking many, including the king’s beloved wife. In desperation, the king turned to the stars above for help. The night sky carried many wonders, but none more so than the stars. It was said that they granted wishes, if one’s heart was strong enough.
That was a lie.
The stars did not grant the king’s wish to save his home, but instead devoured him. The stars descended like great black demons, consuming the wishes of the people, until the kingdom was no more. The men who had manipulated the king either fled or were eaten. It was only when Magnifico, the new king, used his potent sorcery to repel the stars and saved his surviving people.
With their home lost, Magnifico led his people far away in the hope to escape the gaze of the hungry stars. Eventually, they found a remote island in the middle of the sea, large enough to build a new, prosperous kingdom: Rosas. It took many years of hard work, but Rosas grew to become a small but united city-state, inviting anyone and everyone to live in peace.
Magnifico ruled justly and wisely, alongside his wife Queen Amaya, but worried that the stars would return to steal the vast wishes of his subjects. It was then he realised how to protect the wishes of Rosas: by granting them himself.
At the age of eighteen, every subject of Rosas began to share and entrust their wishes with their king, who vowed to keep them safe within his tower, until the time was right for the wishes to be granted.
As for the stars, Magnifico made sure that they would never be able to see Rosas. Every night, a magical veil would shroud Rosas from the sky, until the Sun rose to usher in the day.
To have their wish granted by King Magnifico was a dream that burnt brightly for many. For if one yearns long and hard enough, their wish must be worth making.
…
Whether the story of Rosas’ beginnings is either a fable or history, that was what Asha was brought up on by her parents, who happen to be King Magnifico and Queen Amaya. Asha is the princess of Rosas, although not quite the heir. For one, she was adopted at seven years. Her father Gnosis, a close friend and advisor to Magnifico, died from a illness. The monarchs took Asha in out of kindness, adopting her as their ward, titling her as a princess upon turning aged ten.
Asha became Magnifico’s apprentice, learning the arts of the arcane, though limited by her father’s restrictions. Thus, Asha’s skills with magic are clumsy at best. It is in magical research that she is proficient, using her talents in potion making and charms to benefit the people of Rosas. Being a princess and apprentice to Magnifico, Asha has a lot of expectations hanging over her, giving everything she has to serving and helping Rosas. In truth, Asha has little self-worth, despite the position she is in, further pressured by the expectations as a princess and the king’s apprentice.
We first meet Asha as she reads the above story to a group of families and children who are considering the move to Rosas, but she downplays the stars being alleged demons. When one asks Asha what it is like to live in the kingdom, this leads straight into “Welcome to Rosas”, which takes the time to explore the kingdom’s culture, particularly around giving wishes to Magnifico to protect and grant. Although the people are relatively happy and content, we see there is a sense of melancholy amongst those who have already given their wishes away via an unfulfilled sense of longing.
In the film, Asha is a quirky girl without much discernible reason. Here, while still having the expected traits of a Disney Princess, she is a little bit overbearing in her attempts to help others. In private, she is a lot more reserved, self-critical, and truly unable to express her feelings unless with people she truly trusts. Around her parents, she is obedient and quieter, often being the subject of their well-meaning criticisms.
Amaya is regal and beautiful, loyal to her husband, and often accompanied by her pet cat Gremory, a sly and lazy Siamese cat. Amaya does have an edge to her though, reminding Asha that she must live up to her expectations and the importance of eventually giving her wish to her father. Asha is slightly closer with Magnifico due to his empathic nature, but fears disappointing him. Magnifico is a bit proud, but Asha brushes it off as being kingly.
Above all, Magnifico has forbidden Asha from entering the wish chamber at the top of his tower, though without giving a reason. Asha has longed to see where he keeps the wishes, which he only presents during a wishing ceremony held twice a month. Asha is not only smart but observant and curious, noticing the wishes grant tend to more beneficial to the kingdom as a whole rather than deeply personal ones. She wonders why Magnifico only grants only so many wishes and how he determines which ones to choose.
Asha nips to the castle’s lower levels to express her anxieties to her friend Dahlia, a highly gifted baker, who relies on a crutch to get about. Instead of having seven friends, Asha only has three: Dahlia; Bazeema, a shy introvert who keeps popping up out of thin air, scaring Asha; and Simon, a large, sleepy guy who is often made up of for his slowness, which secretly hurts Simon’s pride.
Asha is forever accompanied by the baby goat Valentina, who is just a few months old, being playful and attention seeking. Dahlia is sympathetic to Asha’s troubles, encouraging her to pursue her own wish rather than trying to please everyone else. Asha, however, claims she does not have her own wish. She doesn’t truly know what she wants, at least not on the surface level. Her wish to for Rosas’ happiness, but she doesn’t really know how to go about achieving such a goal, especially when she would be required to perform royal duties should she officially be recognised as Magnifico’s heir.
Heading up to meet her parents, Asha’s more obedient and self-judgemental side comes out around Magnifico and Amaya. As Asha is soon to come of age, Magnifico offers to finally introduce her to the wish chamber. Inside, Asha learns the wishes are “alive”, preserved in floating crystal balls that Magnifico creates by extracting the heart’s desire from his subjects using persuasion magic, with a secondary spell used to grant the wishes.
As “At All Costs” was originally written as a romantic ballad before being repurposed, that is moved to later on in the film. In its place, a new song performed by Asha, Magnifico, and Amaya happens, called “Royal Expectations”, in which Asha is essentially peer pressured by her parents to not let them down (think “According to Plan” from Corpse Bride). Magnifico tells Asha she will officially be acknowledged as his heir and apprentice by proving her worth. To do this, she must find someone within Rosas who has yet to give their wish to him. Not everyone in the kingdom has been willing to give up their wishes, but Magnifico is confident that Asha can succeed in convincing them to. He even gifts her the spell used to manifest a wish, but tells her that only he may grant them.
Eager to please, Asha sets out to find someone to make her new pet project. After no such luck, Simon suggests an old man named Sabino, a reclusive carpenter and musical instrument maker, who he claims is a hundred years old. Asha scoffs, until Dahlia actually confirms that Sabino is as old as Rosas, but he won’t share his wish. Undeterred, Asha and Valentino venture into the island’s dark woods and find Sabino’s crooked cottage, built under a gigantic tree which appears to pierce Magnifico’s anti-star veil. Asha attempts to convince Sabino to let her in, but he wants nothing to do with her or Magnifico.
That is when Asha gets her first glimpse of the night sky, full of stars. Seeing Asha in awe, Sabino has a change of heart and lets her into his house. It is full of musical instruments, some half-finished, which Sabino explains on account of his hands shaking from his old age. He never gave his wish to Magnifico as it changed so much, but confesses his greatest desire was to be able to play the instruments he crafted, but living for so long and having many hardships closed off his heart. Asha tries to assure Sabino that her father will grant his wish, considering his age and condition, but Sabino is sceptical, wondering why the king has granted so few wishes over the past century.
Asha takes further interest in the stars, baffled when Sabino reveals star charts and an old telescope, having climbed up the tree in his youth to stargaze. When Asha asks if the stars ever tried to eat him, Sabino denies this, having vague memories of the old kingdom, where the stars were once revered. When offered to glimpse the stars, Asha declines, instead convincing Sabino to give her his wish.
She successfully duplicates her father’s magic, but notes the sudden change in Sabino’s mood when she extracts his wish, growing melancholic and slow like Simon and others. Nevertheless, she invites Sabino to the upcoming wishing ceremony with the promise that he will be chosen. Sabino comments that wishing on a star would be easier, which sparks Asha’s curiosity about the stars and if they are truly as evil as told. Sabino recalls being born in the same year of Rosas’ founding, but his parents told him that the stories about the evil stars to be true – at least from what they saw when their old home fell.
Asha returns to the castle where she presents Sabino’s wish to Magnifico. The king is impressed with her, as well as Sabino’s resilience in his old age. Asha tells him Sabino’s background, but without mention of the stars. However, when Magnifico examines the wish, he turns cold upon seeing Sabino playing a lute to a large crowd. To Asha’s bewilderment, Magnifico claims the wish is vague and dangerous, its elusiveness potentially signalling a threat to Rosas’ stability. When queried, Magnifico explains there are certain wishes he will not grant – he cannot make people fall in love, kill people, or resurrect the dead; but cannot grant wishes that are ambiguous.
Although Asha reasons that Sabino wishes for his hands to be healed, Magnifico sees it as his desire to play music and inspire others, but with what: Songs could turn into those of revolution and threaten Rosas (and his own power to protect them). Asha and Magnifico start to argue about the rights, wrongs, and ethnics of how Magnifico chooses wishes. Although Asha can understand her father’s rationale based on any outlandish wishes, she is baffled by the rejection of Sabino’s relatively simple one. It dawns on Asha that a large number of the wishes are likely similar and will go ungranted.
When she asks why Magnifico will not return the wishes if he will not grant them, he tells Asha that his father’s kingdom fell because of unruly wishes. Magnifico explains that it was dangerous wishes of his lost home that drew the stars’ hunger. He reasons it is his responsibility to protect the wishes of Rosas and decide which ones should be given for the kingdom’s security. Granting them all could cause chaos.
When Asha tries to ask more questions, Magnifico ends the argument, proclaiming he will decide what is best for Rosas. Amaya and her cat Gremory enter, implied to have been eavesdropping outside the door, to announce the wishing ceremony will begin soon. Composing himself, Magnifico tells Asha that she will understand in time, claiming she still has a lot to learn.
At the wishing ceremony, Asha miserably watches on as Magnifico selects a random seamstress to have her wish granted, promoting her to a royal tailor to design clothes for the royal family. Asha sees a crestfallen Sabino at the back of the crowd, who storms away. The guilt-stricken Asha rushes to Sabino’s house to apologise, only to have the door slammed in her face.
In a combination of despair and lingering hope, Asha climbs the tree and beholds the starry night sky for the first time. Here is where she sings “This Wish”, gradually plucking up the courage to wish upon a twinkling star above her, uttering Geppetto’s familiar wish from Pinocchio. Her wish is for everyone to be happy At first nothing happens, until the star begins to shine brighter and brighter, instantly casting away Magnifico’s barrier, exposing Rosas to the night sky. Yet, before panic breaks out, everyone in Rosas is bathed in the star’s warmth and magic, feeling comfort and joy instead of fear. Magnifico and Amaya are the only ones who react to the star negatively.
Asha is shocked by the star’s burst of light that she falls from the tree, only to be caught in mid air by a young man with a glowing, golden aura, who lands on the ground with a mischievous smile. Asha quickly realises this stranger is the personified star. Afraid at first, Asha realises the stranger is harmless, especially when he pets Valentino. Asking for his name, the young man reveals he is called Star via sign language; Asha assuming he cannot speak human languages. Star gestures that he heard her wish, which is to make everyone happy. He immediately demonstrates what he means by sprinkling stardust over Valentino, who eats some, and suddenly starts speaking. Instead of having a deep voice, Valentino naturally has a child’s voice, but speaks breathlessly and is prone to baying.
Before Asha can intervene, Star flies off into the forest which he starts showering in his dust. Animals begin talking, plants and flowers start dancing, and even the trees start moving. I felt that “You’re A Star” was a poorly written song (“Universal share holders”, bleurgh!) and made no sense within the time period. The song would be rewritten, keeping the name, but with a different focus on Star’s character and magic, though Star doesn’t sing, as he cannot speak Rosas’ language quite yet. Star is a mixture of Peter Pan and the Genie in terms of personality, but also has the charm and romanticism of a prince.
Once the song ends, the animals scatter at the sound of approaching horses. Seeing Magnifico’s guards coming, Asha grabs Star and Valentino, taking shelter in a more responsive Sabino’s house after he witnessed Star’s arrival. Sabino manages to send the knights off with false tales of a cloaked figure in a rowboat. Asha takes the opportunity to apologise to Sabino, explaining what Magnifico did. Sabino comments that the king got what he wanted, muttering that some people are at their happiest when they have power over others. Star explores Sabino’s house, beginning to enchant the instruments to play, but Asha stops him. Star also notices several unfinished love songs too, mouthing the words, before turning to look at Asha, getting a twinkling in his eyes.
Asha promises Sabino to retrieve his wish. Star floats over in curiosity, forcing to explain Rosas’ culture and how her father keeps wishes in his tower. When she mentions Magnifico by name, a dark look crosses Star’s face. He moves a hand to Sabino’s heart, where Asha sees an empty black space appear. His heart’s desire has gone. She wonders if the other people have similar conditions. Valentino suggests freeing all the wishes and having Star grant all of them. Star seems pleased with the idea. Though cautious, Asha makes plans to just retrieve Sabino’s wish, asking Star if he can grant it if it is returned to its master. Star gives a reassuring nod, eager to find the wish chamber.
Come dawn, the city is bustling with activity. As Asha guides Star on foot around the outskirts, he repeatedly pauses, looking sadly at people in the crowds, likely having the same empty space as Sabino. She hurries him through the kitchens, hoping to find the dumbwaiter up to Magnifico’s chambers. Dahlia catches Asha, who shoves Star out of sight. As Asha tries to make excuses, Star meets Simon, seeing he has an empty space as well. Bazeema suddenly appears beside Star, scaring him, causing a burst of magic to fly from his hand, bounce off the walls, and into the henhouse, where the chickens break into a brief comical musical number. When Valentino starts talking and Asha introduces Star, Dahlia and the others freak out.
Asha tells all to her friends, who react with a mix of fascination and concern. Simon is quick to jump to Magnifico’s defence, refusing to believe their king would only grant wishes that suit him, clearly shaken that their patience could be for nothing. Asha rationalises that the king is well-meaning, but Star’s presence could help grant wishes. The others are apprehensive, considering what they were told about stars. Star is the virtual antithesis of what they were told, floating around Bazeema trying to suss out where she sprang from. Asha asks for Dahlia’s help to sneak up to the wish chamber, which she agrees too.
Just then, Valentino gets a little playful in his mischief, kicking over a vase that exposes an eavesdropping Gremory. Valentino and Star give chase, but the cat escapes when a servant arrives (without noticing Star) to inform Asha that her parents will be addressing the populace and she is expected. Unable to be in two places at once, Asha’s dilemma is resolved when Star transforms Bazeema into her copycat, implying she should go in Asha’s place, which would confuse Gremory and cover for the real one. Bazeema is absolutely terrified of the idea, but Simon promises to look out for her, muttering that is what he wishes for; which Asha and Star silently take note of.
Magnifico is frantically searching his study for information on who or what could have caused the destruction of his veil, planning to rebuild it that night to protect Rosas. Amaya enters to accompany him to the intended public gathering. She soothes his worries, reasoning the magic was done by some foolish person practicing magic. Magnifico worries though that if someone summoned a star, then everything they built and sacrificed will be destroyed. Amaya takes his hand, kisses him, and suggests that they turn to their people for help.
The two march hand-in-hand out into a courtyard to address their concerned subjects, who are not as frightened as Magnifico expected. Gremory dashes into the courtyard, but stops in his tracks when he sees “Asha” sitting statuesque in her chair, which Amaya notices, but the disguised Bazeema claims she was just scared of the “light show”. Still, Amaya remains a little suspicious, particularly by Gremory’s behaviour.
Magnifico tells his people that all is under control, telling them that a star’s power has been summoned, be it by accident or deliberation. He advises his people to be cautious and if they meet the star, not to trust it, or to ask for their wishes to be granted by it – otherwise it will devour them, as one did to his father so long ago. He asks if anyone saw any suspicious activity, and he may reward them, possibly with their wish. Dahlia raises her hand and begins a long-winded claim that she saw strangers in a boat at the time of the star’s summoning.
At the same, Asha, Star, and Valentina use the dumbwaiter to reach Magnifico’s study. Asha searches the office for papers on what spell Magnifico uses to enter the wish chamber. Valentino helps too, pulling out draws and starts munching on paper. Asha frantically cleans up after her goat, until she notices an open journal with handwriting resembling that of her late father Gnosis. Most of the pages have been damaged beyond repair, but she can make out several phrases jotted down by her father: “Truth about the stars? Magnifico? What happened to the unfulfilled wishes?” The note also has a strange magical symbol made up of twelve sections.
Though Asha wants to know why Magnifico has her father’s journal in his possession, Star speeds things along by using his magic to open the way to the wish chamber (and tidies the study to cover their tracks). When Asha asks how he knew how to open the door, Star gestures that it was what she wished for, giving her such a warm smile it causes Asha to stop in her tracks.
Entering the wish chamber, the preserved wishes immediately react to Star’s presence, dancing around him even more perfectly than they did with Magnifico. There are hundreds, which Asha and Star begin examining. Asha finds those of her friends, which surprise her – Dahlia, who had always appeared at ease with relying on a crutch, wished to walk without it; Bazeema wants to be praised for her designs as an architect; and Simon wishes to serve the kingdom as a trusted knight. None of them shared these wishes with Asha, perhaps because she did not know her own.
With time against them, Asha and Star search for Sabino’s wish. To cause a little distraction and instill a little hope, Star releases several out of a window, whilst sprinkling random others in dust. Outside, the citizens look up to see the wishes descending, some still as orbs, and others like miniature golden shooting stars. Magnifico and Amaya watch in horror as the wishes return to their owners, whilst the golden ones actually come true; which leads to chaos as one man’s wish to become a sailor causes an entire ship to appear, crashing into the courtyard.
Asha watches from above, seeing that Star plans to grant more. Her father’s words echoing in her ears, Asha stops Star, grabbing Sabino’s wish and drags him out of the chamber back to the dumbwaiter. She tells him that if every wish was granted then there would be utter mayhem, especially if they don’t know what people want. Star gestures that all wishes should be granted if they are desired enough, until Asha starts asking him if someone wished for someone’s death, or reanimated the dead, or if they want to love/possess someone. Star responds in shock, as if never contemplating such ideas. With Sabino’s wish in hand, the three escape.
Outside, Magnifico uses his magician’s staff and his words to calm everyone down. He explains that a star’s presence can cause the wishes to become unstable, so he granted them in secret to appease any panic. Before anyone can object, he withdraws the wishes still ungranted, much to the obvious chagrin of their owners. When people start shouting and demanding to have their wishes granted or even returned to them, Magnifico grows angry and slams his staff down, sending out a burst of magic. Amaya steps in to maintain order, informing the crowd that whoever brings them proper information on the star’s whereabouts and who may be sheltering it, will have their wish granted unconditionally. Magnifico regains his composure and decrees it so, making a hasty retreat to the wish chamber. Bazeema flees the courtyard herself, though Simon remains where he is. Gremory approaches him, meowing alluringly.
Magnifico and Amaya burst into the wish chamber, sensing that the star has been there. Both are terrified that the star’s power threatens Rosas and their own leadership. Magnifico raises his staff to the floor, where a hidden symbol appears featuring the zodiac, but senses that the “under gallery” is contained. They theorise on who could have infiltrated the wish chamber, or knew how to get in. A dark expression crosses Magnifico’s face, just as there is a knock on the door.
That night, Magnifico has recreated his veil over the kingdom. Star watches in silent apprehension as his spot in the sky disappears, but Asha reassures him they might be able to see the night sky from the treetops. The two go into Sabino’s house where they are throwing a quiet celebration to grant Sabino’s wish. The only person who is a little preoccupied in Simon, who looks out the window uncomfortably. Star offers him cake, but Simon declines. Assuming that Simon is just weary of what they did, Asha guides Star away from Simon to get ready for the wish granting
Star goes to release Sabino’s wish, but drags Asha over, implying she should do it with him. Combining their magical energies, the wish orb shatters and its essence returns to Sabino. His body glows with golden light as his shaking hands grow still, even becoming less wrinkled. Feeling like he can do anything, Sabino grabs the nearest lute and uses his unfinished songs to perform a catchy tune, prompting Asha and Star to dance with each other, as her friends and various animals look on. As they dance, Asha and Star can’t take their eyes off each other, the world around appearing to become brighter until Asha sees that they are actually dancing in midair.
Just as Asha begins to realise what her wish might be, there is a flash of green light outside, the front door is blown off its hinges, and in walks Magnifico, Amaya, and an army of knights to apprehend Asha and Star. Magnifico scolds Asha for wishing upon a star, reminding her of their evil destroying his kingdom. However, he reasons that Asha has fallen under Star’s brainwashing, using her to access the wish chamber to devour the wishes. Asha denies this, pointing out Sabino was reunited with his own wish without harm. She asks how Magnifico knew where they were, to which Simon steps forward, revealing he ratted her out. Magnifico praises Simon for his loyalty, rewarding him with his wish, transforming him into a knight. Simon’s girth transforms into muscle as he turns into a large, towering man in dark armour.
Magnifico turns his attention to Star, wielding his staff tightly, perhaps a little fearful. He plots to imprison Star and strip of his magic before he can cause more harm, pointing out to Asha the chaos that unfolded when the wishes were sporadically granted earlier. Wishes should be measured, controlled, and contained until the time is right for their release. Sabino angrily confronts the king, demanding to know what happens to the wishes of those who died before they could have them granted. Magnifico claims the wishes faded with their owners, expressing regret that he cannot grant more, but too many could threaten Rosas’ stability.
Sabino goes on a tirade, having watched many wish ceremonies and saw most were made to benefit Magnifico’s reign, rather than the desires of the people. As Sabino continues, Magnifico grows increasingly angrily, his staff surging with green magic. When Sabino claims that Star can grant their wishes without Magnifico and they don’t need him, Magnifico fires a blast of green magic at Sabino, sending him flying backwards across the room.
Asha rushes to Sabino’s side, seeing he is badly hurt. She rages at Magnifico, who regains his composure, telling her that those who jeopardise Rosas are traitors, turning to Dahlia and Bazeema. Fearing that her father will hurt her friends, Asha appeals to Amaya to put an end to things. To Asha’s shock, Amaya brings out the wishes of her friends. Amaya then drops them on the floor and shatters them, the essence absorbed into Magnifico’s staff. Her look at Asha is one of disappointment, whilst Magnifico scolds Asha for being such a disappointment.
Star angrily steps in, unleashing a wave of magic, growing brighter and brighter, until blasts of energy take on the colours of the night sky. Magnifico, Amaya, Simon, and the knights are thrown out of the house, retreating as Star advances on them. For the first time in her life, Asha sees her father look absolutely terrified. He silently raises his staff to her as a warning, before fleeing on horseback. Asha calls for Star back in, who finds Dahlia and Bazeema are in bad shape, whilst he realises that Sabino is dying from the attack. He is repelled by Sabino’s wound, as if he got an electric shock, sadly shaking his head at Asha.
After checking on her friends, Asha moves Sabino to his bed, where he asks for his lute. Asha bursts into tears, apologising for causing such pain to everyone, but Sabino comforts her with words of support and she has been terribly hard on herself. He tells her that she cannot grant everyone’s wishes at the expense of her own. People have to work hard for their wishes and believe in them so strongly, so one person (i.e. Asha or Magnifico) cannot decide and control them. In his final moments, Sabino plays a melody on his lute and sings “A Wish Worth Keeping”. It is sombre and tearful, as Asha joins in, before Sabino stops playing and falls silent.
In a state of grief and guilt, Asha tends to Dahlia and Bazeema, who are recovering but they feel a little lost with their wishes being destroyed. Dahlia describes it as like losing a part of herself. Asha asks why she never told her about wanting to walk normally. Dahlia laughs it off, admitting she regretted her wish in the end, having come to terms with her condition long ago, especially since it doesn’t define her. Bazeema is not quite as at ease, hating herself for being so shy and afraid of others, even if she wants to build great beautiful things for people to love. Although frightened when posing as Asha, Bazeema felt a twinge of amazement at being in a position of attention. Only next time she’d prefer to do it as herself.
As for Simon, Asha was hurt by his betrayal, but realises his actions aren’t out of character; they often teased and dismissed him for his slowness, never knowing it was due to giving his wish away. His desires pushed him to tell Magnifico.
Later, Star begins tidying up the room, finding more song lyrics, finding one which he begins to mouth. A light glows in his throat. Outside, Sabino has been buried by an old wishing well in the forest. Dahlia takes Bazeema and Valentino off to give Asha some time alone to her thoughts. Star appears shortly after, standing in silence before the well. Asha says she knew there was something wrong with Rosas, but she chose to ignore it. She recalls her Gnosis told her that if coins were thrown down the well, then wishes could be made. Shortly after he died and she told the same story to Magnifico, he had the well drained and filled with concrete. She thought it was strange at the time, but dismissed it.
Now that she knows what her parents are truly like, she is unsure of what to do or if she is even any better. She convinced Sabino to give up his wish, which Magnifico rejected for trivial reasons. Her friends paid the price for her need to please others, to give herself a sense of reason to be needed. Asha curses herself, measuring her desire to help others as truly being selfish, wanting to earn a spot in her parents’ good graces.
Star takes her hand and shakes his head. He begins to make rasping noises, beginning to utter words, until his voice becomes clear, telling Asha not to think like that. This leads us into the originally intended version of “At All Costs”, where Asha and Star fall in love, fly together across the kingdom, above the veil and into the sky, and promise to protect each other. But, before they kiss, Star pauses when he glances up at the sky. To the place where he should belong. Asha senses the hesitation, convincing Star to return them to ground level. They put their feelings aside to focus on figuring out what to do with the other wishes. They deserve to be freed and returned to their owners.
The next day, the two sneak into the city but find wanted posters of Asha and Star, with instructions to separate them, but keep Asha safe. They meet Dahlia, Bazeema, and Valentino in a hidden den that Bazeema stays in, fully designed to fit her friends’ flourishes. To Asha’s surprise, Bazeema produces the original plans for the castle, revealing that the roof of Magnifico’s tower can open up right above the wish chamber. They could release all the wishes and return them to the people. Asha and Star plan to confront and distract her parents, tasking Dahlia and Bazeema with getting into the tower to open the roof. They will also have to look out for Gremory, Simon, and just about everyone else.
Asha tries using her magic, but continues to struggle with her doubts. Star decides to make things a little easier for her, gifting her with a magic wand. Asha is astonished by the present, believing it will only cause more chaos, but Star shushes her with comforting words of support. She tries casting a spell, which turns out to be rather effective at distracting guards with copycat illusions. Asha also releases the singing chicken horde upon the royal guard to cause a little distraction, whilst the group shove themselves into the dumbwaiter and sneak up to Magnifico’s study.
They find no one there, but Asha guesses Magnifico set up charms or enchantments to protect the wishes. Dahlia and Bazeema start looking for the method to open up the roof, but realise it’ll only work in the wish chamber. Suddenly, the door flies open as Simon arrives, fending off a chicken. He draws his sword at Star, but with a flick of his finger, Simon’s sword flies up to be wedged in the ceiling. Asha manages to use her wand to bind Simon to a chair, holding back her anger. Simon apologises for his treachery, especially if it got Sabino killed, but he could not let Asha throw Rosas into chaos.
The conversation turns more personal as Asha confronts Simon about her own behaviour around him, explaining his slowness was caused by the loss of his wish, but mistook it for just who he was as a person. She ran around trying to force her help on others, but ignored someone who did need her help. Simon rejects her pity, now in a position where he can only be judged by Magnifico. Asha asks him if he is still willing to serve someone who reacts so viciously when questioned or defied. Simon freezes on an answer, until Asha surprisingly frees him from his binds, inviting him to see the truth.
Continued in Part 2.
Part II
Star manages to break through the wish chamber’s enchantments. But, the group find there is no one in there either. The wishes are also in a strange state, squirming and flying about in a frenzy. As Dahlia and Bazeema continue their search for how to open the roof, Asha notices a vague pattern in the floor. Star illuminates the shape, revealing it is the same from Gnosis’ journal. Asha manages to activate the shape, actually a type of magical seal, summoning a hidden flight of stairs that lead beneath the floor.
Using a concealment charm, Asha, Star, Valentino, and a weary Simon descend the stairs, finding a dark hallway leading to another chamber, where they find Magnifico and Amaya. They have a number of wishes with them, selecting which ones to choose. At first, Asha assumes they are planning to grant more wishes, only for the truth to be far more horrifying. The King and Queen are destroying the ungranted wishes and then feeding off their emotion, energy, and magic, preserving their age and strengthening their power with each one.
This leads into a new villain’s song for the power couple, replacing the awful one from the film. The new song, “Always On Top”, which is more of a tribute to other great Disney Villains’ songs, as Magnifico and Amaya choose the wishes to sacrifice to themselves, acting like it is their responsibility to immortalise the lost desires as a part of themselves.
Once the song ends, an enraged Star breaks the concealment spell and attacks Magnifico, pinning both him and Amaya to the walls. Amaya calls to Simon to defend them, but he is rooted to the spot in shock. Asha angrily demands to know what is going on. Magnifico once again tries to justify his actions, reasoning that unfulfilled wishes of those who have passed on have nowhere to go, so he and Amaya absorb their essence to allow the desires to remain within them forever, in turn letting him grant more wishes.
Star doesn’t buy it for a minute, knowing this is not the first time he has lied. Using magic, Star taps into Magnifico’s memories, revealing for all to see what truly happened when the stars came to his father’s kingdom. In a flashback, Magnifico’s father is seen to be bedridden by grief and the plague, leaving his son to act as a regent. It was Magnifico who climbed to the highest tower of the castle and called upon a wishing star to help fight the plague. A star responded, appearing as a beautiful woman before the prince.
But, Magnifico produced his staff and struck the woman with it, absorbing her magic and entire essence, enabling him to later use it to craft the wish orbs. A young Amaya witnesses this, Magnifico offering her a taste of his newfound power. The star’s absorption causes a chain reaction of magic residue, which devastates the kingdom and kills Magnifico’s father. To the survivors, the kingdom looked like it was attacked by the stars, creating the lie and eventual fable of Rosas’ founding.
Asha and Simon are left stunned, as Magnifico and Amaya’s true crimes are exposed. Simon is beside himself, realising everything was a lie so the king could cling to power at the expense of their wishes. Asha, gaining a sense of steeliness, tells Magnifico and Amaya to surrender themselves and return the wishes to the people. In an intended act of clemency, Asha tells her parents they will be allowed to leave Rosas but may never return. Magnifico suddenly bursts into amused laughter, remarking that Asha is just as intuitive and curious as Gnosis was, and just like her father, she has dug too deep. Asha realises that Gnosis probably didn’t die of an illness or natural causes, but was disposed of for getting too close to the truth.
Star and Magnifico immediately start an amazing but destructive magical duel, forcing Asha, Valentino, and Simon to retreat up the stairs. Amaya tries to follow, but is blocked by falling rubble. Seeing Gremory following, Amaya gets an idea, using her own hidden magic upon the cat. Above, Dahlia and Bazeema finally figure out how to open the roof when their friends rush upstairs. Beneath them, the stairs collapse and the floor implodes as Amaya rises up on Gremory, transformed into a large, bat-winged cat monster resembling a manticore of chimera.
Gremory advances on Asha’s group. Asha asks Amaya if she knew Magnifico killed her father. Amaya pauses, claiming that sacrifices have had to be made for Rosas’ success. Wishes ungranted, people passing on suddenly, secrets hidden; all for Rosas and its continuation. Asha tearfully disagrees, knowing now it was so her parents – a relation she considers alienating – could stay in control. Amaya rhetorically asks if Asha was offered such power, would she have said no. Asha thinks about it, admitting she probably would have used the star’s magic if it meant everyone could be happy; but that was when she was blinded by the expectations of others.
A burst of magic preludes Star and Magnifico crashing up into the wish chamber, knocking over Amaya and Gremory. Dahlia and Bazeema open the roof, which Magnifico sees. Enraged, he fires magical blasts at them, but Simon leaps away, managing to deflect the spells with his shield. Magnifico angrily declares the wishes are his by right as they were given to him willingly, and only he will and can decide what is best for Rosas. Star enchants all of the wishes together into a magical bubble, launching up into the air. Magnifico tries to draw them back in, but is deflected by Asha using her wand. Magnifico mocks Asha for her ineptitude with even a wand, but Simon attacks him with his retrieved sword.
Star transforms into a gryphon, urging Asha to get on his back. Asha and Star take flight, hauling the wishes after them. Amaya and Gremory give chase, leading to a wild and exciting aerial chase across the kingdom and up into the sky, where the stars shine brighter in connection to the wishes. Star performs a full loop in midair, getting behind Amaya. Asha conjures a spell by using random words (perhaps “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”), which transforms Gremory back into a cat. Amaya and Gremory fall, but Amaya transforms herself into a raven, catching her cat, but both plummet into the woods where they vanish.
In the castle, Simon angrily curses Magnifico and himself for blindly believing in him. Unmoved, Magnifico disarms Simon, claiming that he built him up to serve him and can easily strip of his wish. Simon exclaims that his wish was never to serve Magnifico, but to protect Rosas. Magnifico replies with, “I am Rosas!”, blasting Simon aside. Levitating himself up into the air, Magnifico closes the roof and sees Asha and Star flying with the wishes, but realises Amaya is gone. Assuming she has died, Magnifico rages, using magic to drag the wishes to him. Below, the people of Rosas watch in awe at the spectacle overhead.
Magnifico uses magic to pin Asha and Star to the ground, telling Asha that his own wish all along was having the means to decide the destiny of himself and others. He watched his good-natured father be preyed upon by opportunists, nearly plunging their old home into ruin, followed by a plague no one knew how to counteract. Magnifico knew better though. He knew about the magic of wishing stars and how they could grant him anything he desired. But, he did not want limits for himself, so he captured and absorbed the wishing star that came to him, using her magic to sustain his life and power for a century. He will now do the same with the wishes and Star’s magic. Asha tries to protect Star, but Magnifico absorbs him and the wishes’ combined magic into his staff.
Now twice as powerful with a sickly green magical aura, Magnifico declares to Rosas that only he can decide what is best for them. Casting aside his veil to reveal the night sky, he aims his staff upwards, telling Asha that when he is done with the stars, the only being capable of granting wishes in the world will be himself. If he must travel the globe to contain every star, spell, and genie to reign supreme then he will, for it is he and he alone that knows bests. Asha tries to appeal to Magnifico’s pride, telling him that he was a good king and a good man once, but has become the very thing that drove him to evil. He became the opportunists who ruined his father’s kingdom. Magnifico has a moment of hesitation, but shakes off Asha’s words, deciding that he has tired of her interference.
Asha crawls to the roof’s edge, and starts asking for help, telling the people below to open their eyes and see the truth of their king. Distracted by her, Magnifico turns his staff on her, but it fluctuates with golden flashes. Star is resisting the staff’s containment. Asha manages to stand, and starts singing the reprisal of “This Wish”, rallying her friends and the citizens together to reclaim their wishes. The wishes begin to spill out of Magnifico’s staff, returning to their orbs, until Star breaks free. The stars above all glow in unison, as a wave of magic washes over Magnifico, shattering his staff and seemingly vaporising the king. A dark, mirrored jewel from the staff flies down into Magnifico’s study, landing on the floor with a noticeable shimmer.
With a wave of his hand, Star returns the wishes to their owners. There is a sense of hope, joy, but also anxiety and confusion amongst the people. They ask what are they meant to believe anymore and where has Amaya gone. Asha and her friends tell them the truth, but know it will be hard to process and understand. With the king and queen, that leaves Amaya as the sole heir, though Asha points out that she was never officially named as Magnifico’s heir. The people, however, seem more than supportive, even if the truth and apprehension related to it will take time to process.
Simon apologises profusely to his friends for his actions, to which Asha apologises to him for not recognising his own troubles. Asha then notices that Star is missing, rushing into the castle to find him, as people gaze up at the harmless stars.
In Magnifico’s study, Star approaches the staff’s jewel. Touching it summons a faint blue glow. Star extracts it just as Asha arrives, taking the shape of a small blue orb. The other star survived, but is clinging to life. Asha and Star leave, unaware of Amaya flying into the room in her bird form. She tries transforming back, but finds herself guise is permanent. She hops over to the jewel, turned oval by the magic, where a brief glimpse of Magnifico’s twisted face appears. Managing to pick up the jewel in her talons, Amaya takes flight, fleeing Rosas with her trapped husband. Gremory appears, but is chased away by Valentino.
View attachment 769399
Yes, this is essentially hinting that Magnifico and Amaya would become the Magic Mirror and the raven that serve the Evil Queen in Snow White. Disney isn’t all that big on continuity, but it’s a little tease as the actual movie did with Magnifico’s fate.
Asha and Star go up onto the roof to gaze at the stars. Star looks sadly upwards and then to Asha. He gives him an understanding but saddened smile. The stars must return to the heavens to heal and grant more wishes for those who need them. Before departing, Asha and Star share a hug and promise to see each other again. Asha laughs, telling Star that she will see him every night, as there will be no more veils over Rosas. Star tells Asha that she will be a wonderful queen and fairy godmother; the latter baffling Asha. Star points out that her wand was a gift of love, but one that could be put to good use, to help out others with their wishes, but within reason. Asha handles the wand delicately, promising Star that she will do her best, but also invites him back soon – she will need a king after all.
Asha rushes Star, pulling him into a true love’s kiss. Brightening with the kiss, Star beams before flying away up into the sky, the two stars rejoining their brethren. Asha’s friends join her, asking what will they do now. Asha smiles warmly, promising to help people to find and help make their wishes and dreams come true: “For all the wishes that have been, and all the wishes that may come.
The movie ends with a rewritten storybook closing with the time honoured ending: “And they all lived happily ever after…”
The end credits would include “A Wish Worth Making”, but would use actual footage from each film in Disney’s animated canon. A final post-credits scene shows Asha sitting atop the tree, trying to play a tune to Star, until the notes begin to play out as “When You Wish Upon A Star”.
https://media..com/2023/10/this-wish-asha-valentino-1200x675.jpg
The End.
Star manages to break through the wish chamber’s enchantments. But, the group find there is no one in there either. The wishes are also in a strange state, squirming and flying about in a frenzy. As Dahlia and Bazeema continue their search for how to open the roof, Asha notices a vague pattern in the floor. Star illuminates the shape, revealing it is the same from Gnosis’ journal. Asha manages to activate the shape, actually a type of magical seal, summoning a hidden flight of stairs that lead beneath the floor.
Using a concealment charm, Asha, Star, Valentino, and a weary Simon descend the stairs, finding a dark hallway leading to another chamber, where they find Magnifico and Amaya. They have a number of wishes with them, selecting which ones to choose. At first, Asha assumes they are planning to grant more wishes, only for the truth to be far more horrifying. The King and Queen are destroying the ungranted wishes and then feeding off their emotion, energy, and magic, preserving their age and strengthening their power with each one.
This leads into a new villain’s song for the power couple, replacing the awful one from the film. The new song, “Always On Top”, which is more of a tribute to other great Disney Villains’ songs, as Magnifico and Amaya choose the wishes to sacrifice to themselves, acting like it is their responsibility to immortalise the lost desires as a part of themselves.
Once the song ends, an enraged Star breaks the concealment spell and attacks Magnifico, pinning both him and Amaya to the walls. Amaya calls to Simon to defend them, but he is rooted to the spot in shock. Asha angrily demands to know what is going on. Magnifico once again tries to justify his actions, reasoning that unfulfilled wishes of those who have passed on have nowhere to go, so he and Amaya absorb their essence to allow the desires to remain within them forever, in turn letting him grant more wishes.
Star doesn’t buy it for a minute, knowing this is not the first time he has lied. Using magic, Star taps into Magnifico’s memories, revealing for all to see what truly happened when the stars came to his father’s kingdom. In a flashback, Magnifico’s father is seen to be bedridden by grief and the plague, leaving his son to act as a regent. It was Magnifico who climbed to the highest tower of the castle and called upon a wishing star to help fight the plague. A star responded, appearing as a beautiful woman before the prince.
But, Magnifico produced his staff and struck the woman with it, absorbing her magic and entire essence, enabling him to later use it to craft the wish orbs. A young Amaya witnesses this, Magnifico offering her a taste of his newfound power. The star’s absorption causes a chain reaction of magic residue, which devastates the kingdom and kills Magnifico’s father. To the survivors, the kingdom looked like it was attacked by the stars, creating the lie and eventual fable of Rosas’ founding.
Asha and Simon are left stunned, as Magnifico and Amaya’s true crimes are exposed. Simon is beside himself, realising everything was a lie so the king could cling to power at the expense of their wishes. Asha, gaining a sense of steeliness, tells Magnifico and Amaya to surrender themselves and return the wishes to the people. In an intended act of clemency, Asha tells her parents they will be allowed to leave Rosas but may never return. Magnifico suddenly bursts into amused laughter, remarking that Asha is just as intuitive and curious as Gnosis was, and just like her father, she has dug too deep. Asha realises that Gnosis probably didn’t die of an illness or natural causes, but was disposed of for getting too close to the truth.
Star and Magnifico immediately start an amazing but destructive magical duel, forcing Asha, Valentino, and Simon to retreat up the stairs. Amaya tries to follow, but is blocked by falling rubble. Seeing Gremory following, Amaya gets an idea, using her own hidden magic upon the cat. Above, Dahlia and Bazeema finally figure out how to open the roof when their friends rush upstairs. Beneath them, the stairs collapse and the floor implodes as Amaya rises up on Gremory, transformed into a large, bat-winged cat monster resembling a manticore of chimera.
Gremory advances on Asha’s group. Asha asks Amaya if she knew Magnifico killed her father. Amaya pauses, claiming that sacrifices have had to be made for Rosas’ success. Wishes ungranted, people passing on suddenly, secrets hidden; all for Rosas and its continuation. Asha tearfully disagrees, knowing now it was so her parents – a relation she considers alienating – could stay in control. Amaya rhetorically asks if Asha was offered such power, would she have said no. Asha thinks about it, admitting she probably would have used the star’s magic if it meant everyone could be happy; but that was when she was blinded by the expectations of others.
A burst of magic preludes Star and Magnifico crashing up into the wish chamber, knocking over Amaya and Gremory. Dahlia and Bazeema open the roof, which Magnifico sees. Enraged, he fires magical blasts at them, but Simon leaps away, managing to deflect the spells with his shield. Magnifico angrily declares the wishes are his by right as they were given to him willingly, and only he will and can decide what is best for Rosas. Star enchants all of the wishes together into a magical bubble, launching up into the air. Magnifico tries to draw them back in, but is deflected by Asha using her wand. Magnifico mocks Asha for her ineptitude with even a wand, but Simon attacks him with his retrieved sword.
Star transforms into a gryphon, urging Asha to get on his back. Asha and Star take flight, hauling the wishes after them. Amaya and Gremory give chase, leading to a wild and exciting aerial chase across the kingdom and up into the sky, where the stars shine brighter in connection to the wishes. Star performs a full loop in midair, getting behind Amaya. Asha conjures a spell by using random words (perhaps “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”), which transforms Gremory back into a cat. Amaya and Gremory fall, but Amaya transforms herself into a raven, catching her cat, but both plummet into the woods where they vanish.
In the castle, Simon angrily curses Magnifico and himself for blindly believing in him. Unmoved, Magnifico disarms Simon, claiming that he built him up to serve him and can easily strip of his wish. Simon exclaims that his wish was never to serve Magnifico, but to protect Rosas. Magnifico replies with, “I am Rosas!”, blasting Simon aside. Levitating himself up into the air, Magnifico closes the roof and sees Asha and Star flying with the wishes, but realises Amaya is gone. Assuming she has died, Magnifico rages, using magic to drag the wishes to him. Below, the people of Rosas watch in awe at the spectacle overhead.
Magnifico uses magic to pin Asha and Star to the ground, telling Asha that his own wish all along was having the means to decide the destiny of himself and others. He watched his good-natured father be preyed upon by opportunists, nearly plunging their old home into ruin, followed by a plague no one knew how to counteract. Magnifico knew better though. He knew about the magic of wishing stars and how they could grant him anything he desired. But, he did not want limits for himself, so he captured and absorbed the wishing star that came to him, using her magic to sustain his life and power for a century. He will now do the same with the wishes and Star’s magic. Asha tries to protect Star, but Magnifico absorbs him and the wishes’ combined magic into his staff.
Now twice as powerful with a sickly green magical aura, Magnifico declares to Rosas that only he can decide what is best for them. Casting aside his veil to reveal the night sky, he aims his staff upwards, telling Asha that when he is done with the stars, the only being capable of granting wishes in the world will be himself. If he must travel the globe to contain every star, spell, and genie to reign supreme then he will, for it is he and he alone that knows bests. Asha tries to appeal to Magnifico’s pride, telling him that he was a good king and a good man once, but has become the very thing that drove him to evil. He became the opportunists who ruined his father’s kingdom. Magnifico has a moment of hesitation, but shakes off Asha’s words, deciding that he has tired of her interference.
Asha crawls to the roof’s edge, and starts asking for help, telling the people below to open their eyes and see the truth of their king. Distracted by her, Magnifico turns his staff on her, but it fluctuates with golden flashes. Star is resisting the staff’s containment. Asha manages to stand, and starts singing the reprisal of “This Wish”, rallying her friends and the citizens together to reclaim their wishes. The wishes begin to spill out of Magnifico’s staff, returning to their orbs, until Star breaks free. The stars above all glow in unison, as a wave of magic washes over Magnifico, shattering his staff and seemingly vaporising the king. A dark, mirrored jewel from the staff flies down into Magnifico’s study, landing on the floor with a noticeable shimmer.
With a wave of his hand, Star returns the wishes to their owners. There is a sense of hope, joy, but also anxiety and confusion amongst the people. They ask what are they meant to believe anymore and where has Amaya gone. Asha and her friends tell them the truth, but know it will be hard to process and understand. With the king and queen, that leaves Amaya as the sole heir, though Asha points out that she was never officially named as Magnifico’s heir. The people, however, seem more than supportive, even if the truth and apprehension related to it will take time to process.
Simon apologises profusely to his friends for his actions, to which Asha apologises to him for not recognising his own troubles. Asha then notices that Star is missing, rushing into the castle to find him, as people gaze up at the harmless stars.
In Magnifico’s study, Star approaches the staff’s jewel. Touching it summons a faint blue glow. Star extracts it just as Asha arrives, taking the shape of a small blue orb. The other star survived, but is clinging to life. Asha and Star leave, unaware of Amaya flying into the room in her bird form. She tries transforming back, but finds herself guise is permanent. She hops over to the jewel, turned oval by the magic, where a brief glimpse of Magnifico’s twisted face appears. Managing to pick up the jewel in her talons, Amaya takes flight, fleeing Rosas with her trapped husband. Gremory appears, but is chased away by Valentino.
View attachment 769399
Yes, this is essentially hinting that Magnifico and Amaya would become the Magic Mirror and the raven that serve the Evil Queen in Snow White. Disney isn’t all that big on continuity, but it’s a little tease as the actual movie did with Magnifico’s fate.
Asha and Star go up onto the roof to gaze at the stars. Star looks sadly upwards and then to Asha. He gives him an understanding but saddened smile. The stars must return to the heavens to heal and grant more wishes for those who need them. Before departing, Asha and Star share a hug and promise to see each other again. Asha laughs, telling Star that she will see him every night, as there will be no more veils over Rosas. Star tells Asha that she will be a wonderful queen and fairy godmother; the latter baffling Asha. Star points out that her wand was a gift of love, but one that could be put to good use, to help out others with their wishes, but within reason. Asha handles the wand delicately, promising Star that she will do her best, but also invites him back soon – she will need a king after all.
Asha rushes Star, pulling him into a true love’s kiss. Brightening with the kiss, Star beams before flying away up into the sky, the two stars rejoining their brethren. Asha’s friends join her, asking what will they do now. Asha smiles warmly, promising to help people to find and help make their wishes and dreams come true: “For all the wishes that have been, and all the wishes that may come.
The movie ends with a rewritten storybook closing with the time honoured ending: “And they all lived happily ever after…”
The end credits would include “A Wish Worth Making”, but would use actual footage from each film in Disney’s animated canon. A final post-credits scene shows Asha sitting atop the tree, trying to play a tune to Star, until the notes begin to play out as “When You Wish Upon A Star”.
https://media..com/2023/10/this-wish-asha-valentino-1200x675.jpg
The End.
Twilight_Roxas
Well-Known Member
Impressive. If you have seen the well deleted scenes of Once Upon a Studio via storyboard on instagram do you plan to well do your version of Once Upon a Studio? The short film is good, but to show your version with some of the deleted scenes, and stuff you would include in the short even WDAS characters that were left out even WDAS characters from the anthology series, silly symphonies, short films, and the theme parks?
Last edited:
Lord Fozzinator
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Not gonna lie, Asha kinda reminds me of Charlie from hazbin hotel. For a second I thought you were going to make Star the bad guy. I’m really glad that you changed Magnificos villain song, the old one felt way too modern pop, I would suggest electro swing as the main beat but big band could also work.
Disney-Universal Fanboy
Active Member
Steven has Amblin, what was the name of the animation studio?
Twilight_Roxas
Well-Known Member
Amblimation