Spellbound
An Animated Odyssey Through Magic and Family.
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Plot Overview
The Kingdom of Lumbria
Set in the magical realm of Lumbria, the narrative centers on Princess Ellian. A year prior, her parents, King Solon and Queen Ellsmere, were transformed into feral creatures following an ill-fated journey into the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness. Royal advisors, Ministers Bolinar and Nazara Prone, attempt to manage the situation, but Ellian's 15th birthday approaches, marking her transition to queen. In a desperate bid to reverse the curse, Ellian seeks the aid of Sunny and Luno, the Oracles of the Sun and Moon.
A Perilous Quest
The Oracles reveal that only Ellian's parents can undo the spell, requiring a journey to the Lake of Light. During their travels, the King and Queen begin to regain their speech but not their memories. Ellian's pet rodent, Flink, becomes inadvertently involved when Minister Bolinar accidentally swaps bodies with him. The group faces numerous challenges, including evading guards and navigating treacherous landscapes like deserts with quicksand.
Rediscovering Family
Ellian's act of kindness towards a gryphon family triggers a memory in her parents, reminding them of their parental love and recognizing Ellian. This emotional breakthrough helps Bolinar, now in Flink's body, appreciate hope. The journey culminates at the Lake of Light, revealing that the King and Queen's constant arguments caused their transformation. Accepting their separation, they use the lake's magic to save Ellian from a dark vortex, ultimately breaking the spell and restoring everyone to their true forms.
Voice Cast
Principal Voices
The film features a notable ensemble cast lending their voices to the characters:
Production Details
Development and Creation
Skydance Animation initiated its partnership with Ilion Animation Studios in March 2017, establishing a significant animation division. Initially titled Split, the project underwent several title changes, including The Unbreakable Spell, before settling on Spellbound. The film's musical score and songs were composed by Academy Award winner Alan Menken, collaborating again with lyricist Glenn Slater, marking a reunion of the creative team behind Disney's Tangled.2 Vicky Jenson directed the film, with a screenplay developed by Julia Miranda and the writing team Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin.13 Production was notably conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.21
Distribution and Rights
Paramount Pictures was initially slated for distribution, with a planned 2019 release. Subsequently, Apple TV+ acquired the distribution rights in December 2020. However, in October 2023, Skydance Animation transitioned its distribution agreement to Netflix, which subsequently became the distributor for Spellbound, aligning with a broader multi-year deal.16
Release Information
Premiere and Availability
Spellbound premiered in New York City on November 11, 2024. It was subsequently released globally on Netflix on November 22, 2024.1727 The film's release schedule experienced several shifts after its initial announcement, reflecting changes in distribution partnerships.
Runtime
The film has a total running time of 109 minutes.3
Critical Reception
Critical Consensus
Critical reviews for Spellbound have been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 45% of 40 critics' reviews were positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The consensus noted the film's colorful animation and moral themes but suggested it lacked substantial charm.28 Metacritic assigned a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating generally average or mixed reception.29
Audience Performance
Following its Netflix release, Spellbound garnered significant viewership. It ranked third in Netflix's top series during its initial viewing window (November 18-24) with 8.5 million views. The following week, it climbed to second place, accumulating 15.3 million views.30 It was also recognized as a top streaming film in the U.S. by Luminate Film & TV Streaming Viewership for the weeks ending November 28 and December 5, 2024.31
Awards and Nominations
Recognition
Spellbound has received nominations in key animation categories:
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References
References
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This content has been generated by an AI model and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information is derived from publicly available data, primarily Wikipedia, and may not be exhaustive or entirely up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The details provided herein do not constitute endorsement or recommendation of any specific film, production company, or distribution platform. Always consult official sources and professional reviews for comprehensive and current information.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.