The Elm-Chanted Forest
| The Elm-Chanted Forest | |
|---|---|
| 185px | |
| Directed by | Milan Blažeković Doro Vlado Hreljanovic |
| Produced by | Doro Vlado Hreljanovic Carroll Rue Vlado Teresak |
| Written by | Fred P. Sharkey Suncana Skrinjaric |
| Starring | David Earls Edward Eyrich Charles Forrest Simon Hefter Chris Helmer Eric Needham Francesca Picchi Paul Powers Carroll Rue Lauren Shanahan David Spelvin Mark Surkin Anna Tornhill |
| Music by | Dennis Leogrande |
| Cinematography | Ernest Gregl |
|
Production
company |
Croatia Film
Fantasy Forest Films Inc. |
| Distributed by | United States: Celebrity Home Entertainment's Just for Kids[1] |
|
Release dates
|
Yugoslavia: 1986 United States: 4 January 1989 (VHS)[1] |
|
Running time
|
83 min. |
| Country | Yugoslavia United States |
| Language | Serbocroatian |
The Elm-Chanted Forest (Čudesna šuma) is a 1986 U.S./Yugoslav animated musical film; in the U.S., it is also known as Fantasy Forest. It was the first full-length film directed by Milan Blažeković, and also the first animated feature produced in Yugoslavia.[2]
Plot summary
After an artist named Peter Palette takes a nap under an enchanted elm tree, he discovers that he now has the ability to communicate with the animals of the forest, and that his paintbrush now has magical powers. To help his new friends survive, he must use his abilities to stop the evil Cactus King from turning the forest into a desert.
Main characters
- Peter Palette: A painter who gains the ability to communicate with the animals of the forest.
- J. Edgar Beaver: A beaver who owns a saloon in the forest.
- Bud E. Bear: A friendly bear who becomes Peter's ally. He sometimes goes to J. Edgar's saloon.
- Fifi Fox: A beautiful and delicate vixen with a French accent.
- Do, Ray, and Mee: A trio of hedgehog siblings.
- Emperor Spine (The Cactus King): Not much is shown about his origins, but he plans to destroy the forest and replace it with a desert. His henchmen are called the Spinetinglers.
- Thistle: The Cactus King's timid court magician, who tries everything to please his master.
Release
In the U.S., Celebrity Home Entertainment's Just for Kids label released The Elm-Chanted Forest on VHS and Beta on 4 January 1989.[1]
There was also a 1990 sequel, The Magician's Hat (Čarobnjakov šešir), seldom seen outside its home country.
In late 2007, both this film and its sequel were released on DVD in the countries of former Yugoslavia by Happy TV.
Reception
In 1999, a poll of Croatian film fans found it to be one of the best Croatian films ever made.[3]
