VHS and Beta
Title: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico
Publisher: Magic Window (RCA/Columbian Pictures)
Release Date: 1983/1984
Format: VHS and Beta
Sound: Stereo
Information: In 1984, the video company Magic Window (RCA/Columbian Pictures children’s movie company) released the first Unico movie for Betamax and VHS under the title, The Fantastic Adventures of Unico. The movie did well in the USA and the second movie was released the following year. The tapes were sold in clamshell cases or regular card board.
The Disney Channel Air Dates:
1986 – July 8, 13, 18, 23, 26, and 31.
1987 – July 7, 18, 27, and August 2.
1988 – March 29; April 2, 11, 28; November 21, 26; December 2, 11, 20, and 26.
1989 – October 16, 20, 28; November 1, 7, and 13
1990 – March 14, 20; April 9, 14, and 25.
(Information found from Disney Channel Magazines and The Fantastic Adventures of Unico | Disney Channel Broadcast Archives Wiki.)
VHS Blurb:
Unico, the Magical Unicorn, is born with incredible powers that make people happy. But that angers some very jealous gods. They order the West Wind to cast the tiny Unicorn into exile — and thus begins Unico’s amazing adventures.
He’s whisked away to the Land of Mist on the Edge of the Earth where he teaches the meaning of friendship to Beezil, the pesky little Devil of Solitude. But Unico cannot stay.
He journeys on to meet Katy, a sad little kitty, who dreams of becoming a witch. When Unico’s magic transforms her into a beautiful girl, she falls under the spell of a wicked count and a raging demon. Evil and hatred challenge Unico’s power of love.
Entertainment for the entire family, rich in lessons of love and kindness, beautifully told in high-quality animation. Original score.
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Joan Carol O’Connell, also known as J.C. Henning (uncredited) |
| Unico | Barbara Goodson (uncredited) |
| Beezil/Beezle | Cheryl Chase (uncredited) |
| Caty/Katy | Robin Levenson (uncredited) |
| West Wind | Diane Lander (uncredited) |
| Baron de Ghost | Dave Mallow (uncredited) |
| Devil of Solitude | Ardwight Chamberlain (uncredited) |
| ??? | Louise Chamis (uncredited) |
| Gods | Ardwight Chamberlain, Jan Rabson, Michael Sorich (all uncredited) |
* This cast list used The Fantastic Adventures of Unico IMBd website. They did not credit the cast in the original release, so there may be errors to who actually played who.
| English Staff | |
|---|---|
| English Language Version | Sync. LTD. |
| Producer | Bran and Karen D. Arandjelovich |
| Director | Ardwight Chamberlain |
| Production Coordinators | Sachiko Louie and Mark Headley |
Title: Unico in the Island of Magic
Publisher: Magic Window (RCA/Columbian Pictures)
Release Date: 1983/1984
Format: VHS and Beta
Sound: Stereo
Information: In 1985, the second movie, Unico in the Island of Magic, was released on both Betamax and VHS media. The film also aired on The Disney Channel along with the first movie. The tapes were sold in clamshell cases or regular card board.
The Disney Channel Air Dates:
1987 – January 19, 24, 28; February 3, and 9.
1988 – January 20, 24, 29; February 15.
1989 – January 4, 8, 12, 16, 21, 27; February 1, and 8.
1990 – January 2, 7, 17, 22; February 1, 10, and 22.
(Information found from Disney Channel Magazines and Unico in the Island of Magic | Disney Channel Broadcast Archives Wiki.)
VHS Blurb:
The loveable Unico, sought after by angry gods, embarks on a journey of hardship that leads him to the forest of Melvin Magnificat, a cranky feline! Unico is befriended by Cheri, a young girl who gives him food and shelter. Their happiness is darkened, however, by the appearances of the evil Lord Kuruku whose goal is to turn everyone in the entire forest into living puppets!
Even Toby, Cheri’s brother, has fallen under his spell and helps Kuruku acquire more puppets. Cheri and Unico’s efforts to stop him lead them to dangerous places such as Nightmare Island. At the end of the earth, they meet the Trojan Horse who tells them that Kuruku’s magic can only be fought with love and courage. With these virtues in hand, it is now up to Cheri and Unico to defeat this evil.
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Unico | Barbara Goodson (uncredited) |
| Cheri | Anick Feris (uncredited) |
| Toby | Max Christian (uncredited) |
| Kuruku / Melvin’s Lackey 1 | Jan Rabson (uncredited) |
| Melvin Magnificat | Michael Sorich (uncredited) |
| West Wind | Janet Waldo (uncredited) |
| Sphinx | Lara Cody (uncredited) |
| Roller Dragon / Melvin’s Lackey 2 | Ardwight Chamberlain (uncredited) |
| Cheri’s Father / Trojan Horse | Ron Gans (uncredited) |
* This cast list used Unico in the Island of Magic IMBd website. They did not credit the cast in the original release, so there may be errors to who actually played who.
UK VHS and Beta Release
Title: Unico
Publisher: Mountain Video/Graphic Video
Release Date: 80s
Format: VHS and Beta
Sound: Unknown
Information: After its release in the west, UK company, Mountain Video, picked up the first movie, and they sold it under the Graphic Video label. The movie was first previewed on Flash! promo tape. According to Anime Bargain Bin Review, the Mountain Video company disappeared after a year and only a small number of tapes made it to the shelves.
VHS Blurb:
A marvellous magical Unicorn with the gift of bringing happiness wherever he goes. This sumptuous cartoon conceived by Osamu Tezuka will take you to a world of enchantment and wonder. A lovingly created masterpiece of childrens [sic] entertainment that can be compared favourably with the best of its genre. Comedy, adventure and fantasy combine to make this film a truly enjoyable film experience.
Sources:
– Anime Bargain Bin Reviews – Unico aka Fantastic Adventures of Unico (anime-games.co.uk)
– Anime Bargain Bin Reviews- Flash! No.1 (anime-games.co.uk)
DVD and Blu-ray
Several years later, in 2012, Discotek Media acquired the movies and pilot episode, releasing them on DVD for the first time. The pilot episode, titled Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather (Unico Kuroi Kumo to Shiroi Hane), had never been released to English-speaking audiences. While they did not give it a dub, it was still exciting for fans to see.
Title: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico
Publisher: Discotek
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Format: DVD
Region: 1
Sound: Stereo
Audio: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
UPC: 875707006125
DVD Blurb:
Unico the Unicorn has the amazing power to make anyone he meets happy. Whether it’s because of his personality or the powers of his horn, no one knows. However, the gods become jealous of Unico, thinking that only they should be able to decide or allow people to be happy. Unico is banished to the Hill of Oblivion, and the West Wind is ordered to take him there. She can’t stand giving this fate to Unico, so Unico’s adventures begin, as the West Wind takes him from one place and time to the next, in a neverending journey to escape the wrath of the gods. Based on a comic by the legendary Osamu Tezuka (the God of manga), this classic film is available on DVD for the first time ever!
Title: Unico in the Island of Magic
Publisher: Discotek
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Format: DVD
Region: 1
Sound: Stereo
Audio: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
UPC: 875707006293
Notes: This DVD features the 1979 pilot episode “Black Cloud and White Feather” for the first time. While not dubbed in English, there are English subtitles.
DVD Blurb:
Unico the unicorn has the amazing power to make anyone he meets happy. In this adventures, Unico finds himself with a new friend, a young girl names Cherry. However, Cherry’s long lost older brother Toby has finally come home, and is now a misguided apprentice to an insane (and not human) magician named Kuruku. When Cherry’s parents get turned into weird, almost zombie-like dolls called living puppets, she and Unico start a quest to the very ends of the earth to get their parents and brother back before Kuruku takes over the world.
Title: Unico Double Feature: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico and Unico in the Island of Magic
Publisher: Discotek
Release Date: 2014
Format: DVD
Region: 1
Sound: Stereo
Audio: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
UPC: 875707036023
Note: This DVD features both films and the 1979 pilot episode “Black Cloud and White Feather”.
Title: Unico Double Feature: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico and Unico in the Island of Magic
Publisher: Discotek
Release Date: January 1, 2014
Format: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Sound: Stereo
Audio: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
UPC: 875707009393
Note: This Blu-ray features both films and the 1979 pilot episode “Black Cloud and White Feather”.
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