Fantasy: 264

A film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) is a mix of live-action and animation, based on the popular animated show SpongeBob SquarePants. In it, a pirate named Burger Beard heads to Bikini Atoll and comes across a magical book that can bring any written words to life. This particular book tells the tale of SpongeBob’s adventures in Bikini Bottom, where he works with Mr. Krabs at the fast food joint, the Krusty Krab. As we all know, his job there is to cook up delicious Krabby Patties. For years, SpongeBob has protected the secret formula for these patties from Plankton, his arch-nemesis who runs the Chum Bucket restaurant next door. One ...

Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2015–2019) is an American animated magical girl series created by Daron Nefcy and developed by Jordana Arkin and Dave Wasson. It aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Star Butterfly, a princess from Mewni and heir to the royal throne of the Butterfly Kingdom, is given the family wand on her 14th birthday, as per tradition. Despite being known for her energy and silly nature within the royal family, she accidentally sets fire to their castle. In response, King River and Queen Moon Butterfly ...

Director Joe Wright and writer Jason Fuchs collaborated on the American fantasy film, Pan (2015). As a baby, Peter was left at a London orphanage with a mysterious pan flute pendant from his mother Mary. Years later in World War II, Peter and his friend Nibs attempt to steal food from the selfish Mother Barnabas, who has been hoarding resources for herself. During this, they discover a letter from Peter’s mother expressing her love and promising to reunite with him in this or another world. As punishment, Mother Barnabas summons pirates who capture Peter, Nibs, and ...

Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015–2018) is an American computer-animated TV show based on the 2010 movie How to Train Your Dragon. It serves as a link between the first film and its 2014 sequel. Announced by Cartoon Network on October 12, 2010, the series was described by executive producer Tim Johnson as having a darker and deeper tone than previous DreamWorks Animation spin-offs. This made it the first DreamWorks Animation show to air on Cartoon Network instead of Nickelodeon. A preview consisting of two episodes aired on August 7, 2012, with the official premiere following on September 5th of that year. ...

Hercules (2014) is an American action-adventure fantasy film featuring Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. Directed by Brett Ratner and written by Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos, the film follows the journey of the eponymous character as he leads a team of mercenaries consisting of King-turned-prophet Amphiaraus, thief Autolycus, feral warrior Tydeus, Amazon archer Atalanta, and storyteller Iolaus. Known as a demigod and supposedly the son of Zeus, Hercules is known for ...

Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy (2014) was added to the direct-to-video franchise, making it the twenty-third installment. Upon receiving a call from her family’s lawyer, Cuthbert Crawley, Velma learns of her inheritance: her great uncle’s castle in Transylvania, Pennsylvania. Despite her friends’ confusion, Velma turns down the offer at Mr. Crawley’s office due to their strained relationship with her late uncle. However, Mr. Crawley reveals a curse on the estate and sympathizes with Velma’s situation. As they leave the office, Fred hears a noise coming from their van which then explodes as a mysterious masked figure appears. Mr. Crawley ...

An animated fantasy film, Song of the Sea (2014), was directed and co-produced by Tomm Moore. It tells the story of Conor, a lighthouse keeper on an island off the coast of Ireland. He lives with his son Ben, pregnant wife Bronagh, and their Old English Sheepdog Cú. One night, Bronagh mysteriously disappears after giving birth to their daughter Saoirse. Six years later, Conor is heartbroken, Saoirse doesn’t speak, and Ben resents her for his mother’s disappearance. On Saoirse’s birthday, their grandmother visits and criticizes their home as an unsuitable place to raise children. That night, Ben ...

Over the Garden Wall (2014) is an American animated miniseries on Cartoon Network, created by Patrick McHale. It tells the story of two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who get lost in a strange forest known as the Unknown. In order to return home, they must navigate the supernatural forest with occasional assistance from the enigmatic Woodsman and Beatrice, an irritable bluebird. Along their journey, they seek out Adelaide, who is rumored to hold the key to lifting a curse on Beatrice’s family and guiding the brothers back home. Wirt, the older brother, tends to worry and avoids ...

The film Winter’s Tale (2014), adapted from Mark Helprin’s novel of the same name, tells the story of a young immigrant couple in 1895. Unfortunately, they are denied entry into Manhattan due to their consumption (Tuberculosis). Unable to bring their infant son with them, they are forced to return to their ship, City of Justice. In a desperate act, they place their baby inside a model of the ship and watch him float to shore in New York City. Twenty-one years later, the boy has been raised as a thief by a supernatural demon posing as a gangster named Pearly Soames. When Peter decides to leave Pearly’s ...

The American film, The Cobbler (2014), directed and cowritten by Tom McCarthy with Paul Sado, tells the story of a New York City cobbler and his family. In the past, a group of Jewish men gathered in the shop to discuss a troublesome thug. The cobbler then showcases his special stitching machine to his son, emphasizing its significance. Presently, Max Simkin carries on the family business as the cobbler while his friend Jimmy runs the neighboring barber shop. Meanwhile, Carmen Herrera fights against realtors who want to destroy their neighborhood for development. ...

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) is an epic high fantasy adventure film, directed by Peter Jackson with a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. It is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel of the same name. As Smaug sets Laketown ablaze, Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain. Bard manages to escape ...

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) is an American animated action fantasy film based on the book series by Cressida Cowell. Five years after the Viking villagers of Berk and the dragons made peace, Hiccup and his dragon Toothless explore new territories. Despite pressure from his father Stoick, who wants him to become chieftain, Hiccup feels uncertain about being ready for the role. During an expedition, Hiccup and his friend Astrid stumble upon a frozen fortress inhabited by a group of dragon trappers led by Eret, working for a man named Drago Bludvist. This villainous figure aims to capture and enslave all dragons as ...

Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) is a short animated film released by DreamWorks Animation and co-directed by Elaine Bogan and John Sanford. Featuring the talents of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and the cast from the TV series, it is based on the popular How to Train Your Dragon franchise. The plot follows Hiccup and Snotlout as they train for the upcoming Dragon Race, a new sport on Berk. Tuffnut debuts his new eerie face paint, much to Astrid, Hiccup, ...

The movie Maleficent (2014) was helmed by director Robert Stromberg and written by Linda Woolverton. The film centers around the titular character, a formidable fairy residing in the enchanted Moors, which shares a border with a neighboring human kingdom. In her youth, Maleficent meets a peasant boy named Stefan and they fall in love. However, as they grow older, their paths diverge – Stefan’s affection is overshadowed by his desire for power and control as king, while Maleficent becomes determined to protect the Moors. When the human King Henry attempts to ...

The American fantasy comedy film, The Smurfs 2 (2013), is based on the beloved comic book series created by Belgian artist Peyo. It takes place two years after the first film and centers around Smurfette’s birthday. The Smurfs share the story of how she was originally created by their enemy, Gargamel, but was rescued by Papa Smurf and transformed into a true blue Smurf. However, Smurfette begins to question her identity and has nightmares about her origins. As her birthday approaches, the other Smurfs plan a surprise party for her but try to keep it a secret, causing Smurfette to think they have forgotten about ...

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright (2013) is a direct-to-DVD animated musical comedy horror film, and the twenty-first installment in the Scooby-Doo series. The Mystery Inc. gang heads to Chicago, Illinois for a talent show called Talent Star, hosted by Brick Pimiento. Songwriting duo Fred and Daphne are finalists, while one of their competitors is Chrissy, a spoiled girl with noisy parents. They also befriend another finalist, Emma Gale, a violinist. However, the opera house where the show will be held is being terrorized by a Phantom who has a strong preference for Chrissy to win. Despite their efforts to catch him on surveillance cameras, the Phantom’s ability ...

An American animated fantasy action-adventure film, titled Epic (2013), is loosely based on William Joyce’s 1996 children’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs. Following the death of her mother, 17-year-old Mary Katherine (M.K.) moves in with her eccentric scientist father Professor Bomba in Danbury, Connecticut. Bomba has dedicated his life to researching the Leafmen, small humanoid soldiers who defend the nearby forest from dangerous creatures known as Boggans. Despite her irritation with her father’s work, M.K. believes his theories to be nonsense. At the same time, Nod, a rebellious ...

47 Ronin (2013) is an American film set in feudal Japan. It tells the story of the forty-seven rōnin, a group of masterless samurai who sought revenge for their daimyō Asano Naganori’s death at the hands of his rival Kira Yoshinaka. The film, based on the Japanese legend of Chūshingura, was directed by Carl Rinsch and written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini from an idea by Morgan and Walter Hamada. In this ...

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013–2014) follows the story of Alice, a young and beautiful girl living in Victorian England. She recounts tales of a peculiar new world that lies on the other side of a rabbit hole. Her doctors, convinced that she is insane, attempt to erase her memories through treatment. Despite Alice’s apparent willingness to move on, her heart holds onto the belief that Wonderland truly exists. Just as the doctors are about to succeed in their plan, the sarcastic Knave of Hearts and lively White Rabbit appear to rescue her from this fate. Together, they journey down the rabbit hole into a wondrous place where anything can happen.

Monsters University (2013) is an American animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. As a child, Mike Wazowski visits the Monsters Inc. factory during a class field trip where he learns about the process of harnessing human children’s screams for energy to sustain the monster world. Despite being initially upset when sneaking into the human world through a door following a scarer at work, Mike is praised by the scarer, inspiring him to pursue a career as a scare himself. Fast forward twelve years later, Mike enrolls in the scaring program at Monsters University and is ...