The Magic 7
Encyclopedia
The Magic 7 is an animated
TV movie written and directed by Roger Holzberg. It centers on the adventures of two children and a dragon
as they fight the arch-enemies of Earth
. It was originally slated to air on Earth Day
(April 22) in 1997, but was postponed. After later plans for a 2005 release, the film was once again suspended indefinitely.
Production on the film began in 1990 and has been delayed many times since then. Subsequently, two of the actors who recorded voices for the parts in film are now deceased: John Candy
, the voice of Smokestack Sam, died in 1994; Madeline Kahn
, the voice of Wastra, died in 1999. Other actors, such as Michael J. Fox
, James Earl Jones
, Jeremy Irons
, and Ice-T
, all recorded their voices in the early 1990s. Candy's voice has since been removed from the film, as has Kahn's and they are no longer being listed as part of the cast. It is unsure if this character was voiced by a new actor, or removed entirely from the film.
Pulse Entertainment and Distribution, under the direction of CEO Ron Layton, bought the grand rights to The Magic 7 in 1995 with the intention of fully producing the animation. Songwriter Robert J. Sherman was hired to write additional songs for the film. Sherman also wrote a treatment utilizing the already recorded voices in a revised script. However, insufficient funds were raised and the project was eventually shelved until the early 2000s, when interest was reignited in it.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
TV movie written and directed by Roger Holzberg. It centers on the adventures of two children and a dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
as they fight the arch-enemies of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. It was originally slated to air on Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
(April 22) in 1997, but was postponed. After later plans for a 2005 release, the film was once again suspended indefinitely.
Production on the film began in 1990 and has been delayed many times since then. Subsequently, two of the actors who recorded voices for the parts in film are now deceased: John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
, the voice of Smokestack Sam, died in 1994; Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn was an American actress. Kahn was known primarily for her comedic roles in films such as Paper Moon, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, What's Up, Doc?, and Clue.-Early life:...
, the voice of Wastra, died in 1999. Other actors, such as Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
, and Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, all recorded their voices in the early 1990s. Candy's voice has since been removed from the film, as has Kahn's and they are no longer being listed as part of the cast. It is unsure if this character was voiced by a new actor, or removed entirely from the film.
Pulse Entertainment and Distribution, under the direction of CEO Ron Layton, bought the grand rights to The Magic 7 in 1995 with the intention of fully producing the animation. Songwriter Robert J. Sherman was hired to write additional songs for the film. Sherman also wrote a treatment utilizing the already recorded voices in a revised script. However, insufficient funds were raised and the project was eventually shelved until the early 2000s, when interest was reignited in it.