Somersaulter-Moats and Somersaulter Collection

Wizard, The

Transcript (Download)

You You Once there was a village named Middle Minster It was an ordinary sort of village except for one thing it had a wizard in it This wizard was always doing those little things that irritate people.

You know the kinds of things I mean He would raise his left eyebrow ever so slightly and presto Mistress Hepplebottom's fabulous pumpkin pie would be transformed into turkey Or he would frown and before Squire Baffleshire's own eyes his finest clothes would turn to tatters as He cast each spell the wizard always made up a little verse Now, let me see if I can think of one.

Oh, yes.

Here's the one he used on mr.

Walden Wiggin.

I Love luxurious fur All your friends will say gee, I don't think it could be But didn't I just hear you purr? Some of the people liked the wizard in spite of his mischief but they were getting to be fewer and fewer as Time went by the wizards little spells grew much worse.

Well here you'll see Today when your pots on the fire the flame will grow higher and higher Till your bit of pea soup will near drown you in gloop and you'll cry how I wish I were drier For the judge here's a delicate rose that will tickle his ears as it grows Since he thinks he's so fine.

I will give him a vine That will sprout from the end of his nose as You can imagine the people of Middleminster were losing their patience Then after what happened to his honor the mayor? Well, the people were outraged Now when the villagers saw the wizard on the street they turned away in disgust No one ever smiled at him anymore No one even looked him in the eye he was ignored The wizard grew very angry there was nothing for him to do He thought he has he could go on casting spells, but it wasn't fun anymore You see though he was angry.

He was also very lonely What do you expect me to do he squealed can I help it if I have an imagination Finally he stormed home to his cottage on the hillside of Middleminster The people of the town peered up at the cottage to see what awful thing might happen next They had never seen the wizard in such a temper and they thought to themselves If he can play such tricks when he is happy what horrible thing might he do now when he is furious They were afraid that perhaps the cottage would explode and that all of the wizards magic spells would spill down the hill onto the village But after a few days the cottage grew quiet No curses No cries No sound at all a week passed The villagers watched nervously and then what do you suppose began to trickle out of the chimney? It was a hum The people of Middleminster crept out of their houses a Few at a time they ventured up the hill When they had surrounded the cottage the children strained to peek in the windows, but their parents tugged them back Then suddenly the wizard himself threw open the front door The people jumped and scrambled down the hill But the wizard called after them in a calm and mild and very unwizardly voice Come back come in the people stopped.

I won't cast any more spells he promised The people were still uncertain But wouldn't you like to see what I've been doing ask the wizard well in truth of course they would a Few of the bravest went in first, but when the others heard their oohs and their ahs Soon they followed On the inside of the wizards cottage on every wall were the most wonderful pictures that the people of Middleminster had ever seen Pictures of ostrich fountains elephant queens in jeweled coaches and Cloud cottages thatched with stars Before the people could stop marveling at his work the wizard called them over to his hearthside and Wouldn't you like to hear what I've been doing? The villagers seated themselves comfortably before the fire while the wizard opened a book of handwritten verses They were the strangest and most wonderful verses the people had ever heard about flying children dragons breathing blizzards and Blue horses that swallow the night The villagers stayed on into the early morning And when the last verse had been read each person shook the wizard's hand and spoke whatever Words he could find to thank him They found the wizard very modest indeed Can I help it if I have an imagination? Yes Now the people of Middleminster spend many evenings of every season on the hilltop listening to verses and looking at pictures And whenever the citizens leave the village to travel in the world they say We come from Middleminster It is just an ordinary sort of village except for one marvelous thing It has an artist in it You

Identifier
F.2016-01-0108
Date Of Production
1974
Abstract
The Wizard is a short animated film about a wizard who discovers that using his powers for mischief leads to rejection and loneliness. After he channels his imagination — and begins using his powers to creative ends — he finds happiness and admiration. Told through watercolor images and a playful narration, The Wizard is a classic example of Somersaulter-Moats and Somersaulter's lifelong interest in the creative process. 
Run Time
0:08:17
Format
16mm
Extent
300 feet
Color
Color
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Children's
Form
Animations
Subject
Children's Films
Magic
Wizards
Related Collections
Somersaulter-Moats and Somersaulter Collection

Distributor
Pajon Arts

Main Credits
Somersaulter Moats, Lillian (is director)
Somersaulter, JP (is director)
Somersaulter Moats, Lillian (is producer)
Somersaulter, JP (is producer)
Somersaulter-Moats and Somersaulter (is production company)
Pajon Arts (is production company)

Additional Credits
Somersaulter Moats, Lillian (is animator)
Somersaulter, JP (is animator)

 
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