Fire and Ice (1983 film)

Infobox Film
name = Fire and Ice


caption = film poster by Frank Frazetta
director = Ralph Bakshi
producer = Ralph Bakshi
Frank Frazetta
writer = Gerry Conway
Roy Thomas
narrator =
starring = Susan Tyrrell Maggie Roswell William Ostrander Stephen Mendel Steve Sandor Clare Nono Alan Koss Hans Howes Randy Norton
music = William Kraft
cinematography = Francis Grumman
editing = A. David Marshall
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = August 27, 1983
runtime = 81 min.
country = USA
location =
language = English
budget = $1,200,000
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:17363
imdb_id = 0085542

"Fire and Ice", released in 1983, was a collaboration between Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta, distributed by 20th Century Fox, which also distributed 1977's "Wizards". The animated feature, based on characters Bakshi and Frazetta co-created, was made using the process of rotoscoping, in which scenes were shot in live action and then traced onto animation cels.

The screenplay was written by Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas, both of whom had written Conan stories for Marvel Comics. Background painter was James Gurney, the author and artist of the famous Dinotopia illustrated novels. Thomas Kinkade also worked on the backgrounds to various scenes.

The film was neither financially nor critically successful, but later became a cult classic among fans of the film's two creators. In 2003, the Online Film Critics Society ranked the film as the 99th greatest animated film of all time.cite web |url=http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com/pages/pr/top100animated |title=Top 100 Animated Features of All Time |accessdate=2007-03-25 |publisher=Online Film Critics Society ] In 2005, it was released on DVD by Blue Underground Entertainment on a limited edition two-disc set, paired with the documentary "Frazetta: Painting With Fire", about the film's co-creator and producer, Frank Frazetta. [cite web |url=http://www.blue-underground.com/movie.php?movie_id=78 |title=Fire And Ice (2-Disc Limited Edition) |accessdate=2007-03-25 |publisher=Blue Underground.com ]

Plot

From their stronghold in Icepeak, the evil Queen Juliana and her son Nekron send forth a wave of glaciers, forcing humanity to retreat south towards the equator. Nekron sends a delegation to King Jarol in Firekeep to request his surrender, but this is really a ruse for Nekron’s sub-humans to kidnap Jarol’s daughter, the Princess Teegra. But Teegra makes an escape and comes upon Larn, the only survivor of a village razed by glaciers, who offers to escort her back to Firekeep. As Teegra is recaptured, Larn teams with the mysterious Darkwolf to save Teegra and then travel to Icepeak to stop Juliana. Darkwolf faces Nekron and kills him as Icepeak succumbs to lava released by King Jarol and is destroyed. The film finishes with Larn about to kill a sub-human until Teegra stops him saying that "it's over", Darkwolf is seen atop a cliff and then disappears. Teegra and Larn kiss as the credits roll.

Trivia

In the original screenplay, it was revealed that Darkwolf and Juliana had been lovers in the past, and that Nekron was Darkwolf's son from his relationship with Juliana. This was meant to provide Darkwolf with his motivation for fighting Nekron and Juliana, as well as explaining why in the end only Darkwolf could defeat Nekron.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.ralphbakshi.com/films.php?film=fireandice "Fire and Ice" at Ralph Bakshi.com]
* [http://www.blue-underground.com/index.php?pg=displayItem&item_id=62 Online trailer] at Blue Underground