Taron and the Magic Pot is a popular folktale from Armenia. The story revolves around a young boy named Taron who discovers a magical pot in the forest. This ordinary-looking pot has the ability to produce an endless supply of delicious food. Taron's family is poor, so the pot becomes a blessing for them as it provides them with food, wealth, and happiness. However, Taron's family becomes greedy and starts using the pot to fulfill their every desire. They no longer appreciate the value of hard work and become lazy.
Full disclosure, this is definitely one of those movies from the “VHS era” that I would watch on repeat too many times back in the day when VCRs actually existed…
I get the complaints about pacing and villain effectiveness and overall cohesiveness and the facts of the hellish days at Disney animation and I am still struck with the thought that this could be severely overlooked in the cannon. According to Ollie Johnston, it was he and Frank Thomas who convinced the studio to produce the film and that, if done correctly, it would be as good as Snow White.
They no longer appreciate the value of hard work and become lazy. As a result, the magic pot stops producing food, leaving Taron and his family hungry and miserable. Realizing their mistake, they learn the importance of appreciating what they have and are determined to change.
“The Black Cauldron” Good!!
This thing is HAWT fellas! Does no one appreciate this movie!?
Bit of a long post here ya’ll so buckle up and prepare for some needed consultation.
Full disclosure, this is definitely one of those movies from the “VHS era” that I would watch on repeat too many times back in the day when VCRs actually existed…
Cut to: tonight, watching “The Emperor’s New Groove” on D+, as one does. Afterwords, this piece of work pops up as a new suggestion and I am totally overwhelmed with a punch in the face of nostalgia. I watched the whole 82 minutes for the first time in 15ish years ya’ll! Have to say… “Not the worst!”
It’s kinda great though? I think?
Is there not a whole lot not to like in this one? Literally 80 min of non-stop, heart-pounding action guys! Shit kicks off in the first six minutes! A pig farmer defeats a vaguely ancient evil! A side kick, that we barely get to know, sacrifices himself for another guy that we also barely know! There’s a glowing sword for some reason! There’s a character named Gurgi! This film came out in 1985! There’s goblins, there’s ghosts, there’s DRAGONS, there’s magic, there’s fairies? There’s witches, there’s a princess, there’s a random glowing orb? Also, there’s a magic pot that somehow ties the room together and a got danged HORNED KING! It’s all insane and the esthetics are on point and the animation is good and the voice work is mostly ok and the music is cool and was also composed by the guy that did Ghostbusters so it’s all therimimy and shit. Basically a lot of cool shit stuffed into probably too little of an insufficient package.
Has there been any discussion about this one on the pod that I can’t remember? This film had so much going for it and It is absolutely, kinda, forgotten? I almost haven’t thought about this thing until it popped up as a suggestion on D+ (kudos for them?) I get the complaints about pacing and villain effectiveness and overall cohesiveness and the facts of the hellish days at Disney animation and I am still struck with the thought that this could be severely overlooked in the cannon. We like animation here and I am wondering about the thoughts of my fellow Blankies:
What went wrong? What’s good in the context of this film? What’s bad? What makes a good or a bad animated film? I think I read an article or two about this being considered for a live action treatment? What does that look like? Am I insane for writing such a long post about a seemingly insignificant entry in Disney animation? Is this thang actually alright or is this post pure nostalgia?
Also can’t wait to start listening to the Raimi cast that’s happening now! Visuals here might be “Evil Dead”ishy enough to get some fools interested if they have never experienced the maybe masterpiece that is “The Black Cauldron”
As the most expensive animated film ever made at the time, it was a box office flop, grossing just $ 21 million against a $ 44 million budget, putting the future of Disney's animation department at risk. Due to its commercial failure, Disney did not release the film on home video until 1998.
Taron sets out on a journey to find the wise old man who can help him fix the pot. He faces various challenges but remains determined. Along the way, he also learns the values of honesty, patience, and hard work. Finally, Taron reaches the wise old man's house and explains his situation. The old man advises Taron to take the pot back home and apologize to it. Taron does as he is told, and miraculously, the pot starts producing food again. In the end, Taron and his family live happily ever after, but this time, they remember the lessons they have learned and use their newfound wealth wisely. The main idea of the story is to appreciate what you have and work hard for your desires rather than relying on shortcuts or magic..
Reviews for "Taron and the Magic Pot: Exploring Themes of Greed and Generosity"
1. Mike - 2 out of 5 stars
I found "Taron and the magic pot" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of them. The dialogue was also weak and forced, making it difficult to become fully immersed in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars
I couldn't get into "Taron and the magic pot" at all. The writing style was disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow the storyline. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The magical elements in the story were also poorly explained, leaving me feeling confused and frustrated. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Emma - 2 out of 5 stars
"Taron and the magic pot" had potential but fell flat for me. The world-building was lackluster, and the descriptions didn't evoke a sense of wonder or magic. The main character, Taron, was uninteresting and lacked development throughout the book. The plot was predictable and didn't offer any surprises or twists. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre and wouldn't read it again.
4. Alex - 2 out of 5 stars
I found "Taron and the magic pot" to be a bit cliché and unoriginal. The storyline followed a very predictable and formulaic pattern, making it tedious to read. The characters were also quite generic and didn't stand out in any way. Additionally, the writing was lackluster and didn't draw me in. Overall, this book didn't offer anything new or exciting, and I was left feeling disappointed.