Ursula in The Little Mermaid

The sea-witch Ursula wields her magic in both The Little Mermaid feature film and its stage version. As with the majority (if not all) of Disney mages, Ursula specializes in transformative magic, which she uses to plot against both King Triton, the ruler of sub-aquatic Atlantica, and his daughter Ariel. Ursula is clearly presented as wicked (like fellow Disney witches Maleficent, Mim, Narissa, and the Wicked Queen), but her evil is compounded by the fact, as revealed in paratexts to the original film, that Ursula is in fact Triton's sister--both are the children of Poseidon--and thus, Ariel's aunt. Ursula presents her raison d'être in the song "I Want the Good Times Back" (below) from the stage show, and works her magics in "Poor Unfortunate Souls", presented in its two incarnations.

Mary Poppins's Magic

Marry Poppins, based on the character created by P. L. Travers, represents yet another magic-user in the Disney film library, and her adventures have also been adapted for the stage in a musical that merges episodes from the film with additional elements from Travers's novels. Poppins seems to be a sort of witch, as Chris Cuomo argues in “Spinsters and Sensible Shoes: Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” and has a wide-range of powers and a collection of magical items. Like the other Disney mages, Poppins's magic is also transformative both physically and, albeit subtly, mentally, and, like many magic-users featured in children's stories, she serves as an educative force in her temporary stewardship of the Bank's family.

Tinker Bell as Magic-User

Created by J. M. Barrie, Tinker Bell, yet another fairy, also has magic powers as featured in various productions of Peter Pan (some included below), and, like Fairy Godmothers and Blue Fairies, her magic is (partially) transformative in that it allows the Darling children, Pan himself (one assumes), and Pan's other allies to fly. Tinker Bell is also important for her narrative role as Pan's cast-off "lover," which results in her actions against Wendy Darling, activities that almost cause the death of Pan and, very nearly Tinker Bell's own death. Tinker Bell's role is extended in continuations of Peter Pan, like Hook, Peter Pan and the Pirates, Peter Pan No Boken, Return to Never Land, and Disney's various Tinker Bell-themed direct-to-video productions. Further details on the character can be found on her Wikipedia page.

Magic-Users of Sid & Marty Krofft

Two children's television series by Sid & Marty Krofft also prominently featured magic-users.

First, H. R. Pufnstuf (1969-71) featured Billie Hayes as Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo, a hag-like witch in the tradition of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wicked Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The series' opening can be seen at YouTube at http://youtu.be/obxfuFrUTzg.

Later, Lidsville (1971-73) featured Charles Nelson Reilly in a dual role. First, he is Merlo the Great, the stage magician who performs in the series opening and whose hat forms the portal to the otherworld of Lidsville, and, then, he is Horatio J. HooDoo, the monster-like antagonist of the series who, like Merlo, dresses in the attire of a stage magician.

Yen Sid from Fantasia (1942)

The wizard Yen Sid (also addressed in "The Way of the Wizard") is another Merlin-like mage and likewise serves in a mentoring role.

The Pagemaster (1994)

The Pagemaster includes a Merlin-like wizard (spotlighted about :48 in) as the guide to the film's young protagonist, as I address in "The Way of the Wizard."

Pharaoh's mages from The Prince of Egpyt (1998)

Pharaoh's high priests (voiced by Steve Martin and Martin Short) invoke the gods of ancient Egypt in their attempt to use magic to challenge the miraculous powers of Yahweh wielded by Moses in DreamWork's The Prince of Egypt as this clip shows. The song is by Stephen Schwartz, who would later write the musical Wicked.

A Beautiful Enchantress from Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The Enchantress from Disney's Beauty and the Beast represents a more traditional magic-user. She is a version of the Loathly Lady of medieval romance and functions as a tester of the hero as the following illustrates:

The Fairy Godmother from Cinderella (1950)

Here's the second fairy-post. Both the Blue Fairy and the Fairy Godmother (as well as the fairies in Sleeping Beauty (more later) have similar narrative roles as helper/guider of the hero and possess transformative magic.

The Blue Fairy from Pinocchio (1940)

I'm still undecided if magic creatures, like fairies, can be considered Reel Wizards, but here is the first of two from Disney.

Blog Updates

It's been a while since I posted to the blog, and, while I hope to more in the near future, I am today any some links to our film list and some links to YouTube for appearances of classic film wizards.

Merlin Season 3 on SyFy

SyFy premieres season 3 of BBC1's Merlin next Friday. Here is the teaser from BBC1's YouTube Channel:

The Doctor, Merlin, and Gandalf!

The following appears in a recent book from Kitsune Books:

Burdge, Anthony S. “The Professor’s Lessons for the Doctor: The Doctor’s Sub-Creative Journey Toward Middle-earth.” In The Mythological Dimensions of Doctor Who. Eds. Anthony S. Burdge, Jessica Burke, and Kristine Larsen. Crawfordville, FL: Kitsune Books, 2010. Pp. 65-84.

Is BBC's Merlin a Parselmouth?

In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series both Harry and Voldemort are Parselmouths, wizards able to speak to snakes, and I found it interesting that Merlin in the second season finale episode on the BB1's Merlin that Merlin displays a similar ability (and similar speech pattern):

There is a clip of the relevant scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on YouTube.

Merlin Season Two Marathon on Syfy

Syfy celebrates the conclusion of the second season of the BBC1 series Merlin on Friday with an all-day marathon of the entire season that culminates in the season finale at 10 PM EST. The series offers a fresh look at the Arthurian story and places a teenaged Merlin at Camelot, where he must protect its inhabitants, including the magic-hating King Uther Pendragon and adolescent versions of Arthur and Morgan le Fay, from evil mages who seek, from week to week, to overthrow or kill Uther.

Details of the marathon are as follows:

FRI., 2 JULY
10:00 AM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE CURSE OF CORNELIUS SIGAN
11:00 AM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN
12:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS
01:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: LANCELOT AND GUINEVERE
02:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - PART 1
03:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - PART 2
04:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE WITCHFINDER
05:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE SINS OF THE FATHER
06:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE LADY OF THE LAKE
07:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: SWEET DREAMS
08:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE WITCH'S QUICKENING
09:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE FIRES OF IDIRSHOLAS
10:00 PM MERLIN, SEASON 2: THE LAST DRAGONLORD

The Black Cauldron (1985) on DVD

On 14 September 2010, Disney will be releasing a 25th-anniversary edition of The Black Cauldron (1985), the studio's first PG animated film, to DVD. Based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, the film features a number of magic-wielding figures. The following information comes direct from Disney, and various trailers can be found online, including one from the original theatrical release in 1985 and a second (posted after the blurb) for an earlier DVD release:

Fantasy, magic and fun are all brewed together in Disney's legendary adventure The Black Cauldron. Created from a new digital master, this 25th Anniversary Edition features vibrant picture presentation and includes exciting new bonus features!

Whoever releases the mysterious Black Cauldron's power will be invincible! The fearsome Horned King will do anything to possess it, but he is challenged by the most unlikely adversary: a young assistant pig keeper named Taran, who dreams of doing heroic deeds. With a motley team of the brave Princess Eilonwy, a minstrel named Fflewddur Fflam and Hen Wen, a remarkable pig who can predict the future, Taran embarks on a quest to stop the Black Cauldron's evil once and for all. Will he have the courage to succeed?

Amazon.com provides the following information on the new release's bonus features:

New bonus features:
• Deleted scene: The Fairfolk: Join Taran, Fflewddur Fflam, Gurgi, and Princess Eilonwy as they travel into the depths of the earth, and meet the Fairfolk
• The Witches’ Challenge Game: In order to defeat the dark powers of the Horned King, you must get the magical sword. The sword is held by the Witches of Morva. Solve their riddles and the sword is yours
Plus classic DVD features:
• Still frame gallery – Gallery of behind-the-scenes artwork and photos
• Theatrical trailer: Original theatrical trailer
• Quest For The Black Cauldron: Race to reach the Black Cauldron before the evil Horned King does in this trivia game
• Trick Or Treat: Donald Duck cartoon from 1952

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010 & 2011) Trailer

Released just this week, here is the official, wizard-filled trailer for Warner Bros.'s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the two-part conclusion, from director David Yates, to the film franchise. Part one is set to be released on 19 November 2010 (in time for Thanksgiving), and part two on 15 July 2011.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) Trailer

The following trailer for Fox 2000 Pictures and Walden Media's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, based on the novel by C. S. Lewis, was released last week. The film will be in theaters beginning 10 December 2010 and features the wizard Coriakin (and, hopefully, his associate Ramandu).

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010) Trailer 4

Here is the latest trailer for the upcoming film The Sorcerer's Apprentice due on on 14 July. This trailer comes from the DisneyMovieTrailer Channel on YouTube and will hopefully be active for longer than the last trailer I posted.

Legend of the Seeker, Season 2: Coming Soon to DVD

Season two of the syndicated series Legend of the Seeker will see its Region 1 DVD release from ABC Studios on 28 September 2010.