On this day July 26 1981, Dragonslayer premiered in theaters offering a groundbreaking take on heroic fantasy brought to life with cutting edge special effects for its time. Directed by Matthew Robbins and produced by Disney the film follows a young sorcerer in training and a battle hardened knight on their quest to defeat the fearsome dragon Vermithrax Pejorative who has terrorized the kingdom of Urland for generations.
The movie broke new ground using computer assisted imagery to bring the dragon to life blending practical animation and emerging motion control photography. The tone mixed dark medieval atmosphere with moments of humor and heroism anchored by memorable character arcs and dramatic confrontation scenes. The film also features a rich orchestral score by Alex North adding to its epic storytelling style and immersive visual design.
Dragonslayer pushed the boundaries of fantasy films in the early eighties showcasing that animated creatures could occupy serious adult stories not just lighthearted family fare and influencing future fantasy filmmaking.
80s insight: By 1981 fantasy epics were gaining momentum and Dragonslayer helped define a darker more cinematic approach to the genre.
The movie broke new ground using computer assisted imagery to bring the dragon to life blending practical animation and emerging motion control photography. The tone mixed dark medieval atmosphere with moments of humor and heroism anchored by memorable character arcs and dramatic confrontation scenes. The film also features a rich orchestral score by Alex North adding to its epic storytelling style and immersive visual design.
Dragonslayer pushed the boundaries of fantasy films in the early eighties showcasing that animated creatures could occupy serious adult stories not just lighthearted family fare and influencing future fantasy filmmaking.
80s insight: By 1981 fantasy epics were gaining momentum and Dragonslayer helped define a darker more cinematic approach to the genre.
