Chances are you have heard the song "Puff the Magic Dragon." It is one of the great American songs symbolizing 60s folk music and one of my all-time favorite songs, but what you probably don't know is that the playful dragon friend was commissioned for a made for TV cartoon special in the 70s.
This half an hour of animation has been largely forgotten by all but the most morbidly curious, who spend an abnormal amount of time clicking through Wikipedia articles.
But for those morbidly curious this "gem" of animation is truly a... well let's call it an experience!
Like most made for TV cartoon specials, this one needed to serve some kind of educational function. So naturally, they thought of mental health issues would be appropriate.
Our protagonist "Jakie Draper" is introduced as a young boy without the ability to speak. It should probably be pointed out that I have high functioning Autism. I many just be projecting, but watching this I think it is highly implied that Jakie has a similar situation, and all the king's horses and all the king's men say that Jakie's case is utterly hopeless, but that's ok! Cause Jakie has a dope phycologist who is a dragon! And wicked high on something. Also, he has dark magics that can transfer the kid's soul into a piece of paper.
So you know he's a professional.
As you may suspect they go on an out of this world adventure, fighting pirates, helping a shooting star and other bizarre quests all of which help Jakie become more confident in himself, until at the end he discovers the power was in him all along!
What does this have to do with the original song?
Don't ask questions like that, it'll just make life hard for you.
I fist ran across this video about two years ago and I still cannot get it out of my head! What is the point? Who is this for? What am I supposed to learn from this? The creators clearly put a lot of effort into it and it seems like they are trying to say something important but I just don't know what it could possibly be!
Is it that the power was within him all along?
Is mental illness just a metaphysical concept?
Explain movie! EXPLAIN!
It's hard for me to watch something like this as someone who deals with my own mental issues. I have no problem with someone telling me what my situation is, I have no problem having my situation being played for humor, I don't even have a problem with my situation being solved by a mythological beast!
But the people who made this clearly think they know something I don't and seem to be presenting the solution. Yet the only solution I find is a freaking dragon with magic!
But at the same time reading through the YouTube comments this has left a significant impact on a small number of people and a lot of people have said that this is one of the most influential things in their life.
So, I can't say that its a bad movie or that its harmful in anyway level with you, this is a bad movie, but if your in for an acid trip of a story that will leave you with more questions than answers: this is one for you.
If not? I would recommend a much better story:
