- Morning, Bastian. - Morning, dad.
Ow!
Mm.
I had another dream, dad.
About mom.
I understand, son.
But we have to get on with things, right?
Bastian, we each have responsibilities.
And we can't let mom's death..
...be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right?
Yeah.
Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk.
I got a call from your math teacher, yesterday.
She says that you were..
...drawing horses in your math book.
Unicorns. They were unicorns.
What?
Nothing.
She also says that you haven't been turning in
your homework on time.
And I'm very disappointed that you didn't even
try out for the swimming team.
'As to those riding lessons you wanted..'
'You say you love horses and yet you seem'
to be afraid to get on a real one.
Now, Bastian, you're old enough to get your head down
out of the clouds and...start keeping
'both feet on the ground, right?'
Okay.
Stop daydreaming. Start facing your problems.
Okay?
- Okay. - Okay.
Yeah, I think we've had...a nice talk.
We should have more.
You have a good day, son. Don't be late for school again.
But y-yesterday I wasn't..
'Hey, it's the weirdo.'
Hey, weirdo, got any cash for us today?
- Let's get him! - Yeah!
Hey! Where're you goin'?
'You're dead, weirdo!'
Can't get away, you jerk!
You're dead, chicken! We're gonna get you!
- Where's your money, man? - I don't have any!
No money? Mama's boy's holdin' out on us.
If you ain't got no money on you, you go in the garbage can.
No!
- Yeah, alright! - Way to go!
'Maybe the chicken can lay an egg in there.'
'Hey, man, who said you can get out of the garbage?'
Get back in there!
No, not again. No, not again!
'Where do you think you're going, wimp?'
'Hey, where'd he go?'
- 'He went that way.' - 'Which way?'
'That way!'
'Get outta here! I don't like kids.'
Are you still here, didn't you hear what I said, boy?
Um, I was, uh..
- 'You're hiding, aren't you?' - No, I was jus--
The video arcade is down the street.
Here we just sell small rectangular objects.
They're called books.
'They require a little effort on your part'
and make no bee-bee-bee-bee-beeps.
- On your way, please. - I know books!
I have 186 of them at home.
- Ah! Comic books. - 'No.'
I've read "Treasure Island," "The Last Of The Mohicans"
"Wizard Of Oz," "Lord Of The Rings"
"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," "Tarzan.."
Ooh ooh oh.. Come.
Who were you running away from?
Um, just some kids from school.
Why?
They wanna throw me in the garbage.
Why don't you give 'em a good punch in the nose, hm?
Well, I don't know.
What's that book about?
Oh, this is something...special.
Well, what is it?
Look..
Your books are safe.
By reading them, you get to become
Tarzan, or Robinson Crusoe..
But that's what I like about 'em.
Ah, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.
Wh-what do you mean?
Listen..
Have you ever been..
...Captain Nemo
trapped inside your submarine
while the giant squid is attacking you?
Yes.
Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape?
But it's only a story.
That's what I'm talking about.
The ones you read...are safe.
And that one isn't?
Don't worry about it.
But, but you just said it was..
Forget about it.
This book...is not for you.
'Coreander's.'
'Oh, yes. What can I do for you?'
'No, I don't, I don't have it'
'but I can find it for you.'
'Well, their run may be 300, 375..'
'Might take me a couple of weeks.'
Good-bye.
'Math test. Oh, no.'
"It was midnight in the Howling Forest.
"The wind whistled through the tops of the ancient trees.
"Suddenly, something enormous
crashed and rumbled through the eerie woods."
Ah!
What's that?
Excuse me.
Would it be alright if I joined you this evening?
You see, I've been traveling all day.
Ah!
Mm. Mm. M..
Aha!
Now I see why you picked this camp.
- Now.. - Oh...oh..
Oh. Oh, no!
Oh!
A delicious looking limestone rock.
Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm.
Nice bouquet.
Must be a real vintage year.
Yes, you're right.
Those delicious rocks are the reason
we camped here, alright.
- Is he, ssst, a nut case? - No, he's a rock biter.
- A rock bi.. A rock biter! - Sh-sh!
Hey!
- Now.. - Ah!
- 'Oops. Sorry.' - Poor baby.
'Pardon me. Mm.'
'That was limestone, with a dash of quartz.'
Very tasty.
Where-where I come from in the north
we used to have exquisite gourmet rocks.
Only now..
Now..
..they're all gone.
I know how it happened.
Oh! I-I swear it wasn't me.
No. I think I know what it was. Tell us more!
Near my home there used to be a beautiful lake
but then..
..then it, it was gone.
Did the lake...dry up?
No, it just wasn't there anymore.
Nothing was there anymore.
Not even a dried-up lake.
- A hole? - A hole would be something.
No, it was nothing.
And it got bigger and bigger.
'First, there was no lake anymore and then, finally..'
...no rocks.
If he keeps stuffing his face like that
soon there won't be any rocks here either.
Night Hob, this could be serious!
Rock Biter, what you have told us
is also happening where I live in the west.
A strange sort of nothing is destroying everything.
Yes. We Night Hobs live in the south, and it's there too.
So, it's, its not just
in our part of Fantasia?
Maybe, it's already everywhere.
Ah.
Maybe our whole land is in danger.
What can we do?
My people are sending me to the Ivory Tower
to The Empress for help.
- We are on the same-- - We are.. Sh-sh!
We are on the same mission.
After all, if The Empress can't save us, who could?
'Then why are we all just sitting around here'
instead of taking off for the Ivory Tower?
- Right! - Ah!
What are we waiting for?
Yes! Yes! Let's go now.
Hey, wake up.
Come on, old girl.
We can't just hang around here.
Wake up. Ready for take-off.
Oh, stupid bat!
We can't wait for a snail.
Can I carry you?
Don't worry, it's a racing snail.
'Oh.'
But, but, but we can't even wait for a racing snail.
Tally-ho!
Hey...it really is a racing snail.
And nobody gives a hoot about me and my stupid bat.
Maybe I'll take a few
of these yummy gourmet rocks, uh, for the road.
Ah.
Oh, no.
The Nothing.
Look.
There it is.
The heart of Fantasia.
I never knew it was that beautiful.
Oh.
Stay awake!
I told you to stay awake!
The home of The Empress.
She's our only hope.
Friends, I know why you are all here.
The Nothing..
...is destroying our world.
I also know that you have come to beseech..
...The Empress for help.
But I..
...I have terrible news.
The empress herself has become deathly ill.
Ooh.
There seems to be a mysterious link
between her illness and The Nothing.
She's dying.
So she cannot save...us.
But there just might be one chance.
The Plainspeople who hunt the purple buffalo
have among them a great warrior, and he alone has a chance
to fight The Nothing and save us.
He is our only hope.
His name..
...is Atreyu.
Atreyu.
"The empress had already sent for the great warrior.
"When he finally appeared on the terrace
"of the Ivory Tower, he carried with him
the hopes of all Fantasia."
Heh. Huh. Huh?
A little boy.
I'm sorry
but this is not the time nor place for children.
I must ask you to leave.
If you don't want me here, you shouldn't have sent for me.
- Is he a nut case? - It was not you we sent for.
- We wanted Atreyu. - I am Atreyu.
Not Atreyu the child, Atreyu the warrior!
I'm the only Atreyu of the Plainspeople.
But I'll be happy to go back hunting the purple buffalo.
No, wait!
Come back, please.
If you really are the Atreyu we sent for
you would be willing to go on a quest?
Yes. Of course.
What kind of a quest?
To find a cure for The Empress.
And to save our world.
No one can give you any advice except this.
You must go alone.
You must leave all your weapons behind.
It will be very dangerous.
Is there any chance of success?
I do not know.
But if you fail, The Empress will surely die.
And our whole world will be utterly destroyed.
When do I begin?
Now. And you must hurry, Atreyu.
The Nothing grows stronger every day.
Take this.
The AURYN.
'He who wears the AURYN speaks for The Empress.'
'It will guide and protect you.'
- Wake up! - Farewell, Atreyu!
Take care.
"At the same time, elsewhere in Fantasia
"a creature of darkness
also began his quest."
"They had been traveling aimlessly for almost a week
"but they could not find a cure for The Empress.
"Neither Atreyu, nor his horse, Artax
"had the vaguest suspicion that the creature of darkness
the Gmork, was already tracking them down."
What is it, Artax?
Is it time to...go, already?
Oh. I know what you want.
It's time to eat. Hm?
Good idea.
No. It's a great idea!
No. Not too much.
We still have a long way to go.
"Atreyu and Artax had searched the Silver Mountains
"the Desert of Shattered Hopes and the Crystal Towers
"without success.
"And so, there was only one chance left.
"To find Morla
"the Ancient One
"the wisest being in Fantasia
"whose home was the Shell Mountain
"somewhere in the deadly
Swamps of Sadness."
Come on, boy. Come on.
That's it.
That's it, boy.
It's okay.
"Everyone knew that whoever let the sadness overtake him
would sink into the swamp."
You're doing fine, Artax.
'That's right.'
Come on, Artax.
What's the matter?
What's wrong?
Come on, boy.
What's the matter?
I understand.
It's too difficult for you.
Artax, you're sinking!
Come on! Turn around! You have to! Now!
Come on! Artax!
Fight against the sadness, Artax.
Artax, please.
You're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you.
You have to try. You have to care.
For me.
You're my friend.
I love you.
Artax! Stupid horse!
You got to move or you'll die!
Move. Please.
I won't give up. Don't quit!
Artax! No!
The Shell Mountain.
Morla, the Ancient One.
Morla.
Morla!
Ah!
Huh?
Hm.
But that's impossible.
They couldn't have heard me.
Are you Morla, the Ancient One?
Not that it matters..
...but yes.
Please help me, Morla.
Do you recognize this?
Well..
...we haven't seen
the AURYN in a long time.
We?
Is there someone else here too?
We haven't spoken to anyone else
for thousands of years
'so we started talking'
to ourselves.
Morla, I bring terrible news.
Did you know The Empress is very ill?
Not that it matters..
...but yes.
Actually, we don't care.
If I don't save her, she'll die!
There's a terrible Nothing sweeping over the land.
Don't you care about that?
We don't even care..
...whether or not we care.
- Do you have a cold? - No.
We're allergic
to youth.
You know how I can help The Empress, don't you?
Not that it matters..
...but yes.
If you don't tell me and The Nothing keeps coming
you'll die too! Both of you!
Die?
'That, at least'
would be something.
Please help me. You said you knew the answer..
'We are tired of sneezing.'
'Go away! Nothing matters.'
That's not true.
If it didn't really matter to you, you could tell me.
- Clever boy. - Tell me, please!
We don't know.
But you can ask
'the Southern Oracle.'
How can I get there?
You can't.
It's 10,000
'miles away.'
But that's so far.
That's right.
Forget it.
Give up.
No.
Atreyu wouldn't quit now.
Ah.
Oh, boy.
"After days and nights of unconsciousness
"Atreyu slowly opened his eyes
"and found himself in strange surroundings.
He was clean and his wounds were dressed."
Huh?
Phew.
Leaving so soon?
Hm?
I-I, I was just going to..
I-I, I have to..
- I was trying to-- - Sneak away?
'Yeah.'
I, I mean, no, no.
- I like children. - For breakfast?
Never.
I'm a luck dragon.
'My name is Falkor.'
- And my name is-- - Atreyu.
And you're on a quest.
How did you know that?
You were unconscious..
...and you talked in your sleep.
What?
Could you...get around
and scratch behind my right ear?
I can never quite reach it.
- Here? - Uh..
Yeah...yeah!
Oh!
That's so good.
Thank you.
So, little fellow
you're on your way to the Southern Oracle?
Yes.
But it's hopeless. It's too far away.
Oh, I wouldn't necessarily say that.
You, you know how to get there?
Why, sure. It's right around the corner.
How did all this happen?
With luck.
You've already brought me the entire 10,000 miles?
No.
Only 9,891
'as the dragon flies.'
You're amazing!
Having a luck dragon with you
is the only way to go on a quest.
Things will work out fine, Atreyu.
Never give up
and good luck will find you.
It's good to have a friend again.
Hm. Hm.
You have more than one.
Look.
Hm..
Get out of my light, wench!
You're disturbing my scientific work.
You and your scientific work.
What the boy needs now is one of my potions.
The boy will need my scientific advice much more.
Yes, yes, but not until he's well.
- Get back to your own corner-- - I'm going this way.
I'm always finding you in my place.
Ah! He's well.
Now it's my turn with him.
Oh, no, you don't!
I'll decide when he's well.
It's your turn when I say it's your turn.
Well, little man, still in pain?
Mm, a little, but it's alright.
I like that.
The patient telling the doctor it's alright.
It has to hurt if it's to heal.
Here.
Drink that.
- Ugh! - Good, hm?
That's my bat-wing broth.
There's eye of newt in there, tree mold, old lizard brains
scales from a rancid sea serpent.
Just where did you and your dragon come from?
What are you on to?
Anything of interest to the scientific community?
My name is Atreyu. I came here to find the Southern Oracle.
- Oh! - Here we go again.
You've come to the right place, my boy.
I am somewhat of an expert on the Southern Oracle.
"It is my scientific specialty."
It's my scientific specialty.
Why don't you sit down and be quiet for once?
- You keep quiet, wench. - Oh!
It's now my turn.
My name is Engywook. Uh, she's Urgl.
Ever heard of me?
- I don't think so. - Oh.
You don't move in scientific circles.
I am the expert on the Southern Oracle.
Oh, you've come to the right place, my boy!
There's no fool like an old fool.
Wait! Stay here.
The observatory.
To the winch, wench.
Come on, lazybones! Can't you go any faster?
I've been studying the mysteries
of the Southern Oracle for years.
Some day I'll publish my book
"A Century of Studying the Southern Oracle
"by Professor Engywook.
Volume One, The Early Years."
Have you ever been to the Southern Oracle?
Eh, what do you think?
I work scientifically.
Look.
Is that the Southern Oracle?
Oh, no.
It's the first of the two gates you must pass through
before you reach the Southern Oracle
and get me the final information for my book.
Of course...most people..
...never get that far.
Why?
The Sphinxes' eyes
stay closed until someone
who does not feel his own worth tries to pass by.
Ah!
Here comes one that looks fancy.
Let's see what he really thinks of himself.
Look, look.
Hee-hee! Go on, scaredy-cat!
Oh, go on!
Oh, it's my turn. Let me see.
I'm the scientist.
He's going on.
I think he's gonna make it.
The Sphinxes' eyes
are they open or shut?
Let, let me see!
'They're shut.'
Oh, is he in?
- No, wait! - Huh?
The eyes are opening!
Oh, no!
Did he make it, did he?
No.
Fancy armor doesn't help.
The Sphinxes can see
straight into your heart.
'Listen, boy, next time, let me see what happens.'
It's my telescope.
- I'm gonna try. - No!
Don't go yet. I have not told you about the next gate.
It's even worse than this one.
Atreyu!
Oh, oh, oh..
He'll never make it. He'll never make it!
Oh, no! Don't start to doubt yourself.
Be confident!
Be confident.
Be confident!
Run, Atreyu, run!
Run, Atreyu!
Run! Now!
He made it! He made it!
He made it!
Ha ha ha..
He made it! He made it!
You could do with a dose of juicy vitamins, too.
He made it!
Atreyu, he made it through the Sphinx gate.
- I always said he could do it. - Oh, good!
But that's no reason for you to fall out of the basket again.
- Oh, tssh! - I knew he would be safe.
Nonsense! You don't understand anything.
The worst one is coming up.
Next is the Magic Mirror Gate.
Atreyu must face his true self.
So what? That won't be too hard for him.
Argh! That's what everyone thinks.
But kind people find that they are cruel.
Brave men discover that they are really cowards.
Confronted with their true selves
most men run away screaming!
Now, this is going too far.
What if they..
...really do know about me in Fantasia?
The Southern Oracle?
Do not be afraid. We will not harm you.
We have been waiting for you a long time
Atreyu.
Are you the Southern Oracle?
Yes, we are.
Then you must know what can save Fantasia.
Yes, we do.
Well, what is it? I have to know!
The empress..
needs..
...a new name.
A new name, that's all?
But that's easy!
I can give her any name she wants.
No one from Fantasia..
...can do it.
Only a human child..
...can give her this new name.
Huh?
A human child, where can I find one?
'You can only find one..'
'...beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.'
'If you want to save our world..'
'...you must hurry!'
'We don't know..'
'...how much longer we can withstand The Nothing.'
Falkor! Falkor!
'Hurry, Falkor! 'The Nothing's everywhere.'
Don't worry.
We'll reach the boundaries of Fantasia.
- Do you know where they are? - 'I have no idea.'
Then how do we find a human child?
With luck.
'Faster, Falkor, faster! We have to hurry.'
Alright, hang on tight!
Aah!
Oh!
Wow!
Yaah!
Oh!
What a shame they don't ask me.
My mother
she had such a wonderful name.
"On and on they flew until they reached
"the Sea of Possibilities
where they could go no further."
'Look, Atreyu. The Nothing!'
Aargh..
Falkor!
Atreyu, Atreyu!
Atreyu.
Huh!
Falkor!
Where are you?
Falkor.
Atreyu! Where are you?
Atreyu!
Falkor!
- Falkor. - Atreyu!
Hm.
'They look like big'
good, strong hands..
...don't they?
I always thought
that's what they were.
Uh...my little friends.
'The little man with his racing snail'
the Night Hob
even the stupid bat.
'I couldn't hold on to them.'
'The Nothing'
pulled them right out of my hands.
I failed.
No, you didn't fail. I'm the one who failed.
I was the one chosen to stop The Nothing.
But I lost the AURYN.
I can't find my luck dragon.
So I won't be able to get beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.
Listen.
The Nothing..
...will be here any minute.
I will just sit here
and let it take me away, too.
They look..
...like good..
...strong...hands..
...don't they?
Um.
Aah!
Morla?
Artax!
Artax.
If you come any closer..
...I will rip you to shreds.
Who are you?
I am Gmork.
And you, whoever you are..
...can have the honor of being my last victim.
I will not die easily.
I am a warrior.
Hah! Brave warrior.
- Then fight The Nothing. - But I can't!
I can't get beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.
What's so funny about that?
Fantasia..
...has no boundaries.
That's not true. You're lying!
Foolish boy!
Don't you know anything about Fantasia?
It's the world of human fantasy.
Every part..
...every creature of it
is a piece of the dreams and hopes of mankind.
Therefore..
...it has no boundaries.
But why is Fantasia dying then?
Because people have begun to lose their hopes
and forget their dreams.
So The Nothing grows stronger.
What is The Nothing?
It's the emptiness that's left.
It is like a despair
destroying this world.
And I have been trying to help it.
But why?
Because people who have no hopes..
...are easy to control.
And whoever has the control..
...has the power.
Who are you, really?
I am the servant..
...of the power behind The Nothing.
I was sent to kill the only one
who could have stopped The Nothing.
'I lost him in the Swamps of Sadness.'
His name..
...was Atreyu.
'If we're about to die anyway'
'I'd rather die fighting!'
Come for me, Gmork!
I am Atreyu!
Falkor!
Atreyu!
'Got you!'
Pfft!
That was the end of Fantasia.
Only a few fragments of this once
rich and beautiful world
had been left by The Nothing.
'Good old Falkor.'
'Can you see anything?'
'Anything at all?'
'No.'
All the land is gone.
I know.
And all because I failed.
You tried.
Do you suppose the Ivory Tower is still standing?
Let's hope so, Atreyu.
Let's hope so.
Let the AURYN guide you.
If the Ivory Tower still stands
take us there.
Falkor!
The Ivory Tower!
The Empress..
Go on.
Atreyu.
Why do you look so sad?
I have failed you, Empress.
No, you haven't.
You brought him with you.
Who?
The Earthling child.
The one..
...who can save us all.
You knew about the Earthling child?
Of course.
I knew everything.
My horse died, I nearly drowned
I just barely got away from The Nothing.
For what? To find out what you already knew?
It was the only way to get in touch
with an Earthling.
But I didn't get in touch with an Earthling!
Yes, you did.
He has suffered with you.
He went through everything you went through.
And now, he has come here
with you.
He is very close
listening
to every word...we say.
What?
Where is he?
If he's so close, why doesn't he arrive?
He doesn't realize he's already a part of
The Never-Ending Story.
"The Never-Ending Story"?
What's that?
Just as he is sharing all your adventures
'others are sharing his.'
They were with him
when he hid from the boys
in the bookstore.
But that's impossible!
They were with him when he took the book
with the AURYN symbol on the cover
in which he's reading
his own story..
...right now.
I can't believe it.
They can't be talking about me.
What will happen if he doesn't appear?
Then our world will disappear..
...and so will I.
How could he let that happen?
He doesn't understand that he's the one
who has the power to stop it.
'He simply can't imagine'
that one little boy could be that important.
Is it really me?
Maybe he doesn't know what he has to do!
What do I have to do?
He has to give me a new name.
He's already chosen it.
He just has to call it out.
But it's only a story.
It's not real.
It's only a story.
Atreyu, no!
'Atreyu!'
Bastian..
...why don't you do what you dream, Bastian?
But I can't, I have to keep my feet on the ground.
Call my name.
Bastian..
...please!
Save us!
Alright! I'll do it!
I'll save you.
I will do what I dream!
Moon Child!
Why is it so dark?
In the beginning, it is always dark.
What is that?
'One grain of sand.'
It is all that remains of my vast empire.
Fantasia has totally disappeared?
Yes.
Then everything's been in vain.
No, it hasn't.
Fantasia can arise anew
from your dreams and wishes, Bastian.
How?
Open your hand.
What are you going to wish for?
I don't know.
Then there will be no Fantasia..
...anymore.
How many wishes do I get?
As many as you want.
And the more wishes you make
the more magnificent Fantasia will become.
Really?
Try it.
Then my first wish is..
Yeah!
Falkor, it's even more beautiful than I thought!
- Like it? - Falkor, it's wonderful!
Falkor, it's like The Nothing never was.
Look!
Atreyu and Artax!
What would you like to wish for next?
Yes, yeah!
Look, there they are!
It's a monster!
Get 'em, Falkor!
Let's see how you like it, chickens!
Down here.
We're gonna get you, guys!
Bastian made many other wishes
and had many other amazing adventures
before he finally returned to the ordinary world.
But that's another story.