Product Details

• Actors: Dom DeLuise, Corey Feldman, Irene Cara, Dan Haggerty, Samantha Eggar
• Directors: Michael Schoemann
• Writers: David T. Reilly, Jörg Grünler, Klaus Birk, Scott Santoro, Ute Schoemann-Koll
• Producers: Michael Schoemann, Eric Parkinson
• Format: Animated, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: Russian
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Plaza Entertainment,
• VHS Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Run Time: 82 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305110026
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,292 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For its first animated feature, Bavaria Film turned its back on centuries of German folklore for a story linked to the hoopla surrounding the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first visit to the Americas. The Magic Voyage is a clumsy copy of Disney's Ben and Me, with Christopher Columbus and Pico the woodworm taking the places of Benjamin Franklin and Amos the mouse. (Although he's supposed to be a worm, Pico sports arms and legs--but the designs are the least of the film's problems.) Pico gnaws Columbus's cube of the world into a globe, giving him the first of many ideas. While Columbus obtains financing for his voyage from hotheaded Ferdinand, flirtatious Isabella, and their weasely friar-counselor, Pico falls in love with Marilyn, the firefly princess. Marilyn is the prisoner of an evil but unexplained swarm of bugs, which take her west. Pico and Columbus follow them to the New World, where they steal a golden pseudo-Aztec idol and "make squishy" with the swarm. Although some talented artists worked on Voyage, the animation is crude, and the songs utterly forgettable. It's no wonder this maladroit film never received an American theatrical release. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The world may be round but this picture is flat., September 14, 2004

By 

Brett Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Voyage (DVD)

This is one of those films where you just don't have any idea why it was even made. Why in the world would Germans feel drawn to a story featuring Christopher Columbus, a wood worm, a firefly princess and some sort of horribly, horribly animated swarm something-or-other? I just keep asking myself over and over again, "Why?"

The overall animation doesn't even come close to looking like anything out of the 1990's. It is very simplistic, drab and amateur-looking. Supposedly stationary objects jiggle back and forth and the mouths of characters don't match the words being spoken way too many times.

Forget about all of the important ingredients necessary to make a decent animated film. Dom DeLuise and Corey Feldman as your main voice talent? Ugh. Sheesh...and the songs in the film! You will thank me for the following advice: Do not keep any sharp objects lying around while watching this film! If you happen to find a pencil before you find the "Mute" button on the remote, well, you will probably be tempted to use it to puncture your eardrums. The sole good song is the one by Al Jarreau over the closing credits.

I don't even know where to begin as far as the story goes. Something about a wood worm who walks and talks and wears clothes. He has a carrot for a nose and tells Christopher Columbus that the world is actually round and not flat or square. The wood worm, named Pico, snags a girlfriend but she is later kidnapped by a swarm creature. Columbus convinces the Queen to give him three ships so he can sail to Asia and Pico tags along to try and find his girlfriend. They end up landing on a tropical island and find a fortune in gold. Is any of this sounding interesting to you?

This is one of those many films where you just know that the story behind the development of it is infinitely more interesting than the film itself. I don't know why the Germans didn't make something that they could relate to better. They tried to emulate an American animated film but completely and utterly failed. Even early episodes of "The Smurfs" are filled with more complex storytelling and cutting edge animation than this disaster. Bon Voyage!

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for kids of all ages, March 12, 2011

By 

mcmgv56 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Magic Voyage (DVD)

I had the vhs on this movie and wanted to upgrade. It is a perfect addition to my dvd collection. It is a heart warming twist to history that every age will enjoy.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting animated feature for the entire family, August 9, 2004

By 

E. Parkinson "Film & Book VIP" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Voyage [VHS] (VHS Tape)

While most of Europe thought that the world was FLAT, Christoper Columbus had a novel idea. He thought the world was SQUARE, and thus begins this fictional and humorous adventure to discover the new world. Seen through the eyes of some funny animals and insect friends of Mr. Columbus, this story accurately portrays the important historical facts of the Columbus mission, while infusing enough music and comedy to hold the attention of kids steadfastly and repeatedly. Featuring a top cast of voice talent, and a stunning orchestral music score, this animated feature from acclaimed filmmakers

Michael Schoemann and Phil Nibbelink has every bit of charm as seen in other films of theirs (i.e., "We're Back", "An American Tale: Fievel Goes West", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"). I would strongly recommend this for any family with a Dreamworks or Disney animated video collection.