Fantasy: 264

Director Peter Jackson brought us an epic high fantasy adventure film titled The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel, it was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. As Thorin Oakenshield and his companions flee from Azog and his Orc party, they seek refuge in the home of Beorn – a ...

In the American fantasy film, Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), based on the German fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, Queen Eleanor of Tabor pricks her finger while admiring a bright red rose blooming in a white winter. Three drops of blood fall onto the snow and she makes a wish for a daughter with specific physical attributes and a strong heart. As predicted, Snow White is born but unfortunately, the queen passes away many years later. Following her death, King Magnus and his army engage in a battle against glass soldiers from an invading army. During this time, King Magnus becomes captivated by ...

The American fantasy comedy film, Mirror Mirror (2012), is based on the classic fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm. The story opens with narration from Clementianna, a beautiful but wicked enchantress who married the widower king. However, the king never returned after leaving to fight an invading evil, and Clementianna becomes queen in his absence. She rules the land while keeping her stepdaughter, Princess Snow White, confined to the palace. Ten years later, Snow White is now a young woman determined to explore her kingdom. She sneaks out of the palace and meets Prince Andrew Alcott of Valencia in ...

The animated TV special Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays (2012) is based on the beloved Scooby-Doo franchise and was produced by Warner Bros. The gang, dressed in costumes, joins in on the festive celebration with a lively parade surrounded by an eager crowd. However, amidst the merriment stands Fred’s old acquaintance Havros Menkle, owner of Menkle’s toy store. Unfortunately, business isn’t going well for Havros and he can’t seem to shake off his stress and suspicion. His nephew Fabian apologizes for his uncle’s behavior to Fred. Scooby and Shaggy are happily playing in a spooky yard when they are suddenly interrupted by a monstrous ...

Big Top Scooby-Doo! (2012) is an animated comedy mystery film and the eighteenth installment in the Scooby-Doo direct-to-video series. While in Atlantic City, a werewolf breaks into a jewelry store and steals a ruby necklace, causing an alarm to sound. As the creature flees, it encounters a security guard and two policemen who try to apprehend it but fail. The werewolf seeks refuge in the nearby circus grounds, where Scooby-Doo and his friends are vacationing. Excited by the arrival of the Brancusi Circus, Fred leads the gang to check it out. However, they discover that it is closed until tomorrow but decide to explore when they find an unlocked door. Inside, ...

Rise of the Guardians (2012) is an American animated film that follows the story of Jack Frost who awakens with no memory and finds that he is invisible to others. Three centuries later, the Man in the Moon reveals that the menacing Pitch Black has returned to threaten children with his nightmares. In order to fight back, Nicholas St. North summons E. Aster Bunnymund, the Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy to join him as fellow Guardians. It is then revealed that Jack has been chosen to be their newest member. The group brings Jack to their base at the North Pole where North asks about his ‘center’, which every Guardian possesses and protects in children. While ...

The Legend of Korra (2012–2014) is an American animated fantasy action TV series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelodeon. In the initial season, Book One: Air, Korra relocates to Republic City to train under Tenzin, the son of Avatar Aang. She becomes a member of a pro-bending team with brothers Bolin and Mako, while also forming a friendship with Asami Sato, heiress of a prominent engineering corporation. The determined politician Tarrlok enlists Korra’s help in quelling the ‘Equalists’, a group led by the masked Amon who ...

The film Frankenweenie (2012), directed by Tim Burton and written by John August, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist and aspiring filmmaker who lives in the quiet town of New Holland, Pennsylvania with his parents and beloved dog Sparky. Despite his involvement in various school activities, Victor keeps to himself and doesn’t interact much with his classmates, including Elsa Van Helsing, Edgar ‘E’ Gore, Bob, Toshiaki, Nassor, and an eccentric girl known as ‘Weird Girl’. To help him be more social, Victor’s father ...

ParaNorman (2012) is a stop-motion animated film from directors Sam Fell and Chris Butler, who also wrote the screenplay. The story takes place in Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts and follows 11-year-old Norman Babcock. Despite his ability to communicate with the dead, including his late grandmother and other ghosts in town, Norman is ostracized by his family and peers at school. However, he finds a friend in Neil Downe, who shares his experiences of being bullied. During rehearsals for a school play about the town’s witch trials, Norman and Neil are visited by Mr. ...

Tangled Ever After (2012) is a six-minute American computer-animated short film written and directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard. On the big day of Rapunzel and Eugene’s wedding, Pascal and Maximus take on the role of ring bearers, scattering petals along the aisle. However, during the ceremony, a mishap occurs when one of the flowers falls causing Maximus to sneeze and launch the rings out of the castle. As panic ensues, the priest urgently asks for the rings, but to no avail. The situation becomes even more dire when it is revealed that the missing rings ...

Pixar Animation Studios produced Brave (2012), an American animated fantasy film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Set in Medieval Scotland, the story follows a young Princess Merida of clan Dunbroch on her birthday. As a gift, her father King Fergus gives her a bow and arrow, much to the dismay of Queen Elinor. While retrieving an arrow in the forest, Merida comes across a will-o’-the-wisp before being attacked by Mor’du, a massive demon bear. Escaping on horseback with Elinor, they leave Fergus and his men to defend against Mor’du, resulting in the loss of one of Fergus’s legs. A decade later, Merida learns she is to be betrothed to the ...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is an epic high fantasy adventure film helmed by director Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name, it serves as a prequel to Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings ...

DreamWorks Dragons (2012–2014), is an American computer-animated TV show based on the 2010 movie How to Train Your Dragon. Acting as a link between the first film and its 2014 sequel, it was declared by Cartoon Network on October 12, 2010. Tim Johnson, executive producer of the film, shared that the series aimed to be more intense and thought-provoking compared to previous spin-offs from DreamWorks Animation, carrying a similar tone to the original movie. Unlike previous adaptations aired on Nickelodeon, Dragons marked the first DreamWorks Animation series to premiere on Cartoon Network. The series ...

Once Upon a Time (2011–2018) is an American fantasy adventure drama that aired on ABC for seven seasons, from October 23, 2011 to May 18, 2018. The show follows two main settings: a fantastical world where fairy tales come to life, and a fictional town in Maine known as Storybrooke. In the first season, the Evil Queen disrupts the wedding of Snow White and Prince Charming to reveal her plan to cast a curse on everyone, leaving her as the only one with a happy ending. As a result, most of the characters are transported to Storybrooke, where they have no recollection of their lives as fairy tale characters. On her 28th birthday, Emma Swan, daughter of Snow ...

The fantasy adventure comedy film, The Smurfs (2011), is based on the comic series by Belgian artist Peyo. In their village, the Smurfs are getting ready for their annual Blue Moon Festival when Papa Smurf has a vision of Clumsy Smurf and an evil wizard named Gargamel. His vision involves Clumsy accidentally leading Gargamel to the village while picking smurfroot. Papa Smurf sets up traps and flings Gargamel into the air, allowing the rest of the Smurfs to escape. However, Clumsy unknowingly runs towards the Forbidden Falls with a group of other Smurfs following him – Papa, Smurfette, Grouchy, Brainy and Gutsy. As ...

Immortals (2011) is an American fantasy action film directed by Tarsem Singh. When the Twelve Olympians confined the treacherous Titans beneath Mount Tartarus, they also lost possession of the Epirus Bow. In 1228 BC, Hyperion, an oppressive ruler, seeks out the bow in order to unleash the Titans from their prison. His plan involves abducting Phaedra, a young oracle gifted with prophetic dreams and visions. Theseus, a skilled warrior trained by the wise Old Man, has been chosen by the gods for a special purpose. Along with his mother Aethra, who is shunned due to her illegitimate son, Theseus faces the wrath of Hyperion ...

Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011) is an American animated television special, created by Walt Disney Animation Studios and helmed by directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to the Coal Elf Brigade, a specialized group of Christmas elves tasked with delivering coal to children who have been deemed naughty. While this may seem harsh to some, the brigade also includes encouraging notes in hopes of steering these children towards the nice list. As Christmas Day draws near, Wayne and Lanny must race against time to ...

The animated Christmas comedy film, Arthur Christmas (2011), was co-produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Instead of a single individual, the title of Santa Claus has been passed down for generations to gift-givers. Currently on his seventieth mission, the current Santa, Malcolm Claus, holds more of a ceremonial role. The traditional sleigh and reindeer have been replaced by the S-1, a state-of-the-art vessel operated by hundreds of elves who use advanced equipment and military precision to deliver presents. All the intricate details of Christmas are meticulously managed from Mission Control at the North Pole by Malcolm’s eldest son, Steve. ...

The animated short film, La Luna (2011), marks Enrico Casarosa’s directorial debut. It follows a young boy named Bambino as he embarks on a midnight boat trip with his father and grandfather in Genoa, Italy. During the trip, Nonno gifts Bambino a cap similar to the ones they both wear. However, Papà and Nonno have different ideas on how Bambino should wear it – with Papà pulling it over his eyes and Nonno pushing it back on his head. As they anchor in the middle of the sea, Papà sets up a ladder for Bambino to climb so he can set an anchor on the full moon. Together, the three of them work to sweep fallen ...

The American epic experimental coming-of-age drama film, The Tree of Life (2011), written and directed by Terrence Malick, follows the O’Brien family during two pivotal periods. In the 1960s, the family is thrown into turmoil upon learning of the death of their 19-year-old son, R.L. In contrast, in 2010, eldest son Jack struggles with his life as an architect in Dallas, Texas, feeling disillusioned and disappointed. Throughout the film, Mrs. O’Brien asks God why R.L. had to die while visuals show the creation of the universe and Earth’s beginnings. At one point, a compassionate dinosaur chooses not to ...