Throughout history, witches have captivated the human imagination with their enchanting powers and mysterious practices. Their presence can be found in folklore, mythology, and even literature. Here, we explore some of the most famous witches in history and popular culture. One of the most iconic witches is the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Known for her green skin, pointy hat, and cackling laughter, she is a symbol of evil and mischief.
Well, it’s nice to learn that Unico hasn’t lost any of the mind-boggling zaniness that made the first one stand out (a phrase I should probably put in air quotes). The Unico movies love to surround themselves in dark imagery and morbid themes, and then decide to make the main character a doe-eyed pink unicorn baby who cries when he gets bullied by an asshole cat. It’s something that I should commend the films for; they have a pretty decent imagination and if they didn’t insist on being so cute all the time, there’s definitely potential for some really riveting stuff.
In this one, Unico is still being moved from place to place by the West Wind, and after an encounter with an asshole cat, comes across a young girl named Cheri whose brother Tolby is working for an evil wizard named Kurukuru. Collapsing Lair In the climax and denouement, Nightmare Island s castle becomes this when Lord Kuruku s spells that turned everyone else into puppets break with his demise.
" Known for her green skin, pointy hat, and cackling laughter, she is a symbol of evil and mischief. Her pursuit of Dorothy and her companions adds suspense and excitement to the story. In Greek mythology, the most notable witch is Circe.
Unico in the Island of Magic
A while back I looked at the nauseatingly adorable The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, a little film that played out like three episodes of a kids’ show. There was a talking cat, a kindly old woman and a benevolent and sentient wind. And then everything got super dark. And then it got super adorable again! Unico was a wild ride – insofar as such a product can be – and one I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to experience again. And then Unico and the Island of Magic appeared in my life, so here we are.
In this one, Unico is still being moved from place to place by the West Wind, and after an encounter with an asshole cat, comes across a young girl named Cheri whose brother Tolby is working for an evil wizard named Kurukuru. Tolby is using his magic to transform animals and people into strange, featureless, stone (or maybe cardboard) monsters called Living Puppets, who he then transports to an island for Kurukuru, in exchange for learning more of the weird, globe-shaped wizard’s magic. Also, he takes on the asshole cat as an apprentice. Unico goes to investigate, and somehow ends up at the Edge of the World, where he learns from a rocking horse the truth about Kurukuru.
Well, it’s nice to learn that Unico hasn’t lost any of the mind-boggling zaniness that made the first one stand out (a phrase I should probably put in air quotes). The Unico movies love to surround themselves in dark imagery and morbid themes, and then decide to make the main character a doe-eyed pink unicorn baby who cries when he gets bullied by an asshole cat. It’s something that I should commend the films for; they have a pretty decent imagination and if they didn’t insist on being so cute all the time, there’s definitely potential for some really riveting stuff.
The island that the wizard is making out of stone people is an amazing visual, and has some seriously dark undertones. What about the people submerged in water? How long has this wizard been doing this? Kurukuru himself is a fascinating character, a terrifying orb-being with few features who talks in an unsettling voice. By giving us a bad guy who’s more relevant to the main story, who is talked about before he even makes an appearance, the writers allow him to be more fleshed out than “monster in a man-suit” from the first film, and this is definitely a major plus.
Like the previous film, this Unico picture doesn’t lend itself to much analysis or anything, and so there really isn’t a hell of a lot to talk about outside of a) the Unicorn is adorable (to the point where you feel awful whenever anything happens to him), and b) the villain is great (and has a really interesting backstory). That’s basically it. If you liked the previous one, you’ll get a kick out of this. I actually found myself enjoying it more than I thought. The storyline is better structured, the villain is interesting and while the side characters aren’t as good as the previous film, it won’t matter as much. There’s enough horror, bizarre moments and unadulterated cuteness for this to please any fans of the last movie.
Verdict: Filled with plenty of what-the-fuckery, Unico in the Island of Magic is a surprisingly good sequel, and is probably lots of fun to show to people new to anime.
Overall entertainment: 7/10
Sex: Gee, I wonder
Violence: 3/10
Horrifying moments: Plenty
Cute moments: Just as many
Mechanical dragons: Christ, I forgot about him
Tolby: What a dick, man
Side note: My god do the animators love it when Unico cries. They keep zooming in on his little face.
Unico in the Island of Magic (1983)
Also known as: ユニコ 魔法の島へ(Uniko: Maho no Shima e), lit. Unico to the Magic Island
Japanese
Director: Moribi Murano
Writer: Masaki Tusji
CAST
Katsue Miwa – Unico
Iruka – Narrator
Chieko Baisho – West Wind
Sumi Shimamoto – Sheri
Fujio Tokita – Kurukuru
Shuichi Ikeda – Tolby
Ichiro Nagai – Tamaneko
Noriko Tsukase – Marusu
Ryuji Saikachi – Horse
Kazuo Harada – Sheri’s father
Interestingly, the hard cover movie book released the same year has artwork from what appears to be deleted scenes. One is when Yamaneko panics and tries to run away from Unico. The other two mountain cats appear, questioning their boss. The orange cat is afraid of Unico’s horn and after holding Unico up and smacking him in the face, he asks to see Unico’s teeth to see if those are scary. Unico does as he’s told, and the three cats laugh and bully him. Yamaneko scratches Unico’s face with his claws and Unico asks why he did that and if he hates him. The orange cat responds that he really hates him and then the three cats chase Unico.
Known for her magical abilities, she has the power to transform humans into animals. Her encounter with Odysseus in Homer's "Odyssey" is epic, as she tries to turn him into a pig but eventually succumbs to his charms. Another famous witch is Baba Yaga from Russian folklore. Often depicted as an old, haggard woman who lives in a hut on chicken legs, Baba Yaga is a complex character. She can be either helpful or malevolent, providing aid or hindrance to those who seek her out. In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," the three witches play a crucial role. Often referred to as the "weird sisters," these witches prophesy Macbeth's rise to power and subsequent downfall. Their eerie chants and ominous predictions create an atmosphere of dark magic and foreboding. Modern witches have also made their mark in pop culture. The Harry Potter series introduces us to several memorable witches, including Hermione Granger, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Professor Minerva McGonagall. These characters showcase a range of magical abilities and demonstrate the power and complexity of witches in the wizarding world. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 in colonial Massachusetts are another infamous chapter in witch history. The accusations, trials, and executions of men and women accused of practicing witchcraft serve as a reminder of the hysteria and prejudice that can surround the concept of witchcraft. In conclusion, witches have fascinated and intrigued people for centuries. Whether depicted as malevolent beings, like the Wicked Witch of the West, or as complex characters, like Circe or Baba Yaga, witches continue to capture our imagination. Through their stories and representations in various forms of media, the allure and power of witches are unlikely to wane any time soon..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witches of Oz: Examining the Iconic Villains of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Most famous witches". The plot was not well developed and the characters felt one-dimensional. The story seemed to jump from one event to another without any clear direction. Additionally, the writing style was very simplistic and lacked depth. I was hoping for a more engaging and captivating read, but unfortunately, this book fell short for me.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Most famous witches" to be incredibly boring and predictable. The storyline was unoriginal and lacked any excitement or surprises. The characters were also very cliché and lacked depth. I struggled to stay interested in the book and ultimately, I did not enjoy it at all. I would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating witch-themed read.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of witch-themed novels, I was excited to read "Most famous witches". However, I was left disappointed by the lack of originality and creativity. The plot felt recycled and uninteresting, and the characters were forgettable and flat. I was hoping for a book that would transport me into a captivating world of magic, but unfortunately, this was not the case with this novel.
4. Mark - 3 stars - While "Most famous witches" had its moments, overall, it failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing of the story felt off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The world-building was also lacking; I wished for more details and descriptions to fully immerse myself in the witching world. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural at times. Overall, it was an average read for me, but I was hoping for something more exceptional.