10 Surprisingly Dark Children's Movies From The 80s

Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, The Last Unicorn has become a cult classic since it was released in 1982 following initially mixed reactions. The film centres on the last unicorn, who is tasked with locating the remnants of her species, who have been herded into exile by the Red Bull – a monstrous, flaming beast with genocidal intentions.

Along the way, the unicorn is transformed into a human woman, kidnapped by a travelling circus, and hunted every step of her journey.

Despite its whimsical tone, The Last Unicorn is surprisingly dark, engaging with numerous mature themes throughout the course of its story. Based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle, the film is primarily about the concept of mortality, the protagonist faced with the possibility of being the last of her species, forced to choose between a mortal life and an immortal struggle.

Besides that, the film is positively packed with countless gruesome deaths – Mommy Fortuna and Ruhk are ripped apart by a harpy, for instance – which comes across as a little incongruous considering the otherwise innocuous tone established by the soundtrack and animations.