Channel Frederator Blog

I was on the Internet Movie Database recently and found a link to the Elfquest movie.

For those unfamiliar, Elfquest was an independent comic starting in the late 70’s, describing the saga of elves from around a parallel world and their search for their lost home, as well as other elf societies. It’s an incredible story, on par with Star Wars and the Tolkien and Narnia books. And while I’ve grown out of most long-form fantasy fodder since I was a teenager, there will always be a place in my heart for this illustrated story. Try to get your hands on the books if you can.

The tragedy: I remember reading that the animated film was in works when I was in high school. Some animated drawn shots were even illustrated frame-by-frame in the recent comics. But, of course, no movie materialized. I do not know any facts behind why this movie still does not exist, despite its IMDB listing. The “movie” that does exist is an after-effectsy attempt at moving layers around. Nothing that gives the story justice.

While Richard Williams’ “The Thief and the Cobbler” has its own tragic tale of development hell that speaks more to animators of generations before my own, the “Elfquest” movie’s non-existence really tugs at my heartstrings. This is an exciting tale, with interesting characters, and hell– it’s a comic book, so the storyboards are already done! There is no logical reason why this film should not exist.

I can only hope that while fantasy, animation or no, is still the popular order du jour [presumably until the last Harry Potter film leaves the theaters] the Elfquest Movie will find backers to bring it to life.

-Jake