Random 'Last Unicorn' Is A Beloved Cartoon More Disturbing And Sad Than We Rememb (14 items)

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  (#14) The Soundtrack Is Full Of Wistful Story Songs

  The songs that lace the score of The Last Unicorn are fitting for its melancholy tone. The movie opens with the song "The Last Unicorn," performed by America. The lyrics of this song get straight to the point, describing the last of a magical species crying out as the earth crumbles away around her. 

  Even Prince Lir's song to the unicorn, which is supposed to be a proclamation of his love, has lyrics that paint a sad picture of him not being competent at both expressing and acting on his emotions. While he sings to her, she sees a unicorn, and she reaches out to touch it, singing along about how she's a woman now. It only serves to underscore the insurmountable differences between them.
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  (#13) The Voice Cast's Performance Underscores The Characters' Sadness And Regret

  The Last Unicorn is brought to life by a cast of voice actors that are as colorful and unique as they are melancholy. The title unicorn is played by Mia Farrow, who speaks in a gentle whisper. It's an eerily sad voice, making it sound almost as if something tragic is constantly happening to the unicorn.

  Alan Arkin voices the not-so-seasoned magician Schmendrick, who rarely casts powerful magic and mostly stays in the realm of party tricks. Although well known among other wizards, he's a traveler who is not very respected. He doesn't believe in his own powers, and his voice often shows his insecurities. Mommy Fortuna, the old witch he travels with, a raspy and vile example of magic gone wrong, is voiced by Angela Lansbury, and her incantations cackle over her decrepit cages she uses to capture the creatures of the forests.

  Jeff Bridges plays the hopelessly romantic Prince Lir, who sings a haunting duet about his love for the unicorn. His father, the sinister King Haggard, is voiced by Christopher Lee. His character's vocals go from harsh and shrill to psychotic and mumbly as he struggles to possess all the unicorns in existence.
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  (#10) Lady Amalthea Is Forced To Choose Between Love And Saving All The Unicorns

  The longer that the unicorn, now known as Lady Amalthea, stays a human, the more human she becomes. She begins to completely forget about the unicorns, and even her own memories of being a unicorn start to fade away. King Haggard's son Prince Lir falls head over heels for her, and she begins to return his affections.

  When it comes time to confront the Red Bull, Lir falls and is injured. Schmendrick uses magic to transform Amalthea back into a unicorn, which distracts the Red Bull away from Prince Lir and allows her to save the unicorns, but also permanently binds her back into her unicorn body.
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  (#7) Schmendrick Tries To Use His Magic But Accidentally Gives Life And A Libido To A Tree

  After Schmendrik infuriates the outlaws, they decide to sell him on the market. Sure to make plenty of gold off of the magician, they secure he won't be able to escape by strapping him to the trunk of a large tree. 

  While Schmendrik is bound to the tree, arms wrapped around it in a giant hug, he tries to free himself by casting an incantation. The incantation twists the tree into a large-chested, anthropomorphic figure that nestles him in her bosom. The tree is convinced that the two of them are bound to be together forever, which is certainly the case in his position.
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  (#6) Molly Grue Blames The Unicorn For Arriving After Her Beauty Is Gone

  When she sets eyes on the unicorn, Molly Grue, the vagrant outlaw, can see the so-called "white mare" for exactly what she is. Instead of celebrating the arrival of such a rare creature, Molly is heartbroken to the point of tears. The shrill cries of Molly haunt the viewer as she scolds the unicorn for arriving "too late":

  Where have you been? Where have you been?... And where were you 20 years ago? Ten years ago? Where were you when I was new? When I was one of those innocent young maidens you always come to? How dare you! How dare you come to me now, when I am this!... It would be the last unicorn that came to Molly Grue.
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  (#11) To Solve The Riddle Of The Red Bull, The Group Needs The Help Of An Alcoholic Skeleton

  Once in King Haggard's castle, finding the Red Bull is no easy task. However, a castle cat decides to help them out a little by telling them a riddle that will lead them to the bull. Stumped on a particularly difficult part of the riddle, they come across a lounging skeleton that's just as chatty as he is insane. 

  Although completely stripped of his flesh and blood, this skeleton is particularly fond of alcohol. Schmendrick entices the skeleton to tell them the answer to the riddle by pretending to use his magic to turn water into wine. The skeleton falls for it, and he trades them the answers for the empty bottle of imaginary sprites.

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