Name: Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin
Genre: Family
Rating: 7.6
Cast: Geena Davis

All the series of whole family-oriented literary adaptations (available as animation and audio book) that Rabbit Ears Productions produced ("Storybook Classics", "We All Have Tales", "American Heroes and Legends" and "The Greatest Stories Ever Told", plus the "Holiday Classics") in the late 80s-early 90s are must watches. All the series too are of exceptionally high quality, though almost all have a few adaptations that are a little weaker than the rest while still being worth watching.

1993's 'Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin' is part of the "American Heroes and Legends" series and is yet another jewel in a series with not a single dud in it. It is quality-wise on reflection one of the more consistent series of the five making up the company's filmography. While 'Rip Van Winkle', 'John Henry' and 'Follow the Drinking Gourd' are the top three adaptations of the series, 'Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin' is pretty much on their level in its own way.

'Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin' is brilliant in every way. The visuals are gorgeous, the attention to detail is quite mesmerising and the colours and shadings are of such rich variety. Standing out especially is the inside of the pumpkin, one would be hard pressed to find an inside of a pumpkin this interesting and beautiful, the outside is just as wondrous in detail. In fact, 'Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin' has the most unique use of a pumpkin for anything in visual media seen by me.

Michael Hedges is no stranger to Rabbit Ears Productions, though he wasn't a relative regular like Mark Isham for example was. He also scored for 1986's 'Santabear's First Christmas' and did a lovely job on that, he does a lovely job here in 'Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin' too. It's enchantingly orchestrated and has a melancholic edge and inspiring heroism. As well as authentic to the setting.

Our narrator here is Geena Davis. Here her narration is fabulous, with very tender and extremely moving delivery of very sincere writing, playing a big part in the storytelling's emotional core. Of which there is plenty, it is a very poignant story and an inspirational one while not telling it at too deliberate a pace. The themes are universal and relatable, handled sensitively and powerfully without being preachy. The titular character is heroic, likeable and rootable, who progresses as a character the more that is learnt on her journey.

Concluding, wonderful. 10/10.

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

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Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin

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