The Black Cauldron
Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers.
Critics Sentiment
Gurgi jumps into the cauldron to save his friends and destroy the army
The witches reveal the cauldron is indestructible and requires sacrifice
The film surges from its lowest point during the witches' exposition to its emotional peak with Gurgi's heroic sacrifice.
The Black Cauldron starts strong with impressive animation and a distinctive dark tone that reviewers appreciated as different from typical Disney fare. The middle sections suffer from pacing issues and underdeveloped characters, but the film builds to a spectacular and emotionally satisfying climax that showcases the terrifying Horned King and Gurgi's heroic sacrifice. Critics consistently praised it as an ambitious, mature fantasy that deserved more recognition despite its flaws.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 21Grant Bardsley
Taran (voice)
Susan Sheridan
Eilonwy (voice)
John Byner
Gurgi / Doli (voice)
Nigel Hawthorne
Fflewddur Fflam (voice)
John Hurt
The Horned King (voice)
Freddie Jones
Dallben (voice)
Phil Fondacaro
Creeper / Henchman (voice)
Arthur Malet
King Eidilleg (voice)
Lindsay Rich
Fairfolk (voice)
Brandon Call
Fairfolk (voice)
Gregory Levinson
Fairfolk (voice)
Eda Reiss Merin
Orddu (voice)
Adele Malis-Morey
Orwen (voice)
Billie Hayes
Orgoch (voice)
Peter Renaday
Henchman (voice)
James Almanzar
Henchman (voice)
John Huston
Narrator (voice)
Phil Nibbelink
Henchmen (voice)
Wayne Allwine
Henchmen (voice)
Jack Laing
Henchmen (voice)
Crew
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