From the original Arthurian lore, author Jane Yolen scripted an exciting adventure about Merlin as a young boy. Beautifully illustrated by renowned conceptual artist Alan Lee, the story serves as a prequel, following the young boy Emrys (who will become Merlin) as he discovers his magical destiny and witnesses the famous battle of the white and red dragons. Disturbed by dreams of dragons fighting, Merlin discovers his own strength, and helps change British history. Kevin Kline does all the voices; Michel Rubini did the exciting music. The narrative focuses on Merlin’s early life depicting him as an introspective young boy with magical talents who struggle with his identity and origin. Winner, American Library Association Notable Children’s Recording award.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Adele N. comments, “I fell in love with the animated short film Merlin and the Dragons. Its color scheme and animation choices are both nostalgic and comforting, but its unique plotline made me excited to watch the story unfold.” Ari C. adds, “I absolutely love the storyline of this film. I like how Jane Yolen, the screenwriter, makes it accurate to Arthurian lore. The way the story is delivered made me feel like a little kid hearing a story told to me by my mom. The movie was made in the early 90s, but the animation has been re-mastered so it gives a certain aesthetic that makes it feel like I’m watching a book.” Jackson N. wraps it up with, “Merlin and the Dragons is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about an outcast who realizes his differences are what make him who he is. The animation is good – it doesn’t have the wow factor of a full blown animated film, yet it still enables you to empathize with the characters.” See their full reviews below.
Merlin and the Dragons
By Adele N, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16
I fell in love with the animated short film Merlin and the Dragons. Its color scheme and animation choices are both nostalgic and comforting, but its unique plotline made me excited to watch the story unfold.
Merlin and the Dragons follows a young King Arthur (Kevin Kline) and his feelings of inadequacy after his crowning. When he awakes from a night terror, he seeks out his friend and advisor, the wizard Merlin (Kevin Kline) for assistance. From there, we begin the story of a boy long ago… who bears shocking resemblance to Arthur’s own situation.
What I find most enjoyable about Merlin and the Dragons is the style of animation used. The background in the very first scene used watercolor portraits for the sky, a theme that continues throughout the rest of the film. It is reminiscent of fantasy movies such as Cinderella, and really sets the mood for the story unfolding. The characters themselves are animated in a way that is not used in mainstream media anymore. They are two dimensional and roughly drawn, and I found that it makes each of the characters feel more raw and personalized–as if I had opened up a storybook and peered inside. Additionally, the film isn’t dulled by its own plotline. Like many, when I think about King Arthur, my first thought goes to the infamous story of The Sword in the Stone. I feared that I may be rewatching a story that has been told for centuries, but was pleased to find that the movie features entirely different elements (such as dragons), which made me genuinely interested in where the film was going.
This film is a tale of how having confidence in yourself ultimately brings you great rewards. Though self-doubt is a trait no one can fully avoid. This film reminds us that when we put trust in our actions, we succeed.
I give Merlin and the Dragons 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is available now on Tubi.com at https://geni.us/storiestoremember.
Merlin and the Dragons
By Ari C., KIDS FIRST Film Critics, age 13
I absolutely adore Merlin and the Dragons because of the amazing storyline, the unique animation, and the expert voice acting.
This short animated film begins with a young King Arthur as he is plagued by nightmares. Arthur consults Merlin of these nightmares; in return Merlin tells Arthur a story of a boy named Emrus who dreams of the future. One day one of Emrus’ predictions came true, but the villagers call it witchcraft and claim that he must have been spawned by a demon. Emrus dreams of a tyrant coming to the village, and just as he had foreseen, one arrives and immediately takes over. After facing trouble building his tower, the tyrant blames magical forces. Eventually Emrus’ dreams of the tyrant’s downfall and in the end, Arthur is able to sleep well.
I absolutely love the storyline of this film. I like how Jane Yolen, the screenwriter, makes it accurate to Arthurian lore. The way the story is delivered made me feel like a little kid hearing a story told to me by my mom. The movie was made in the early 90s, but the animation has been re-mastered so it gives a certain aesthetic that makes it feel like I’m watching a book. I also think that the animation gives older viewers a sense of nostalgia, and younger viewers a look at what TV was like when the film was originally created. I also like how Kevin Klein voices all of the characters. It truly amazes me how Kevin Kline can voice everyone in the film perfectly. He manages to sometimes make me forget he voices everyone. My favorite part is when the villagers crack open the rocks under the tyrant’s tower and something magical happens.
The film’s message is to always trust yourself no matter what anyone says.
I give Merlin and the Dragons 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to18, plus adults. It releases on streaming and VOD platforms on July 15, 2026.
Merlin and the Dragons
By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
Merlin and the Dragons is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about an outcast who realizes his differences are what make him who he is. The animation is good – it doesn’t have the wow factor of a full blown animated film, yet it still enables you to empathize with the characters.
The story takes place when King Arthur has pulled the sword from the stone and is dealing with feelings of inadequacy. Merlin tells him a story of a boy who did not know who his father was and spent most of his childhood ridiculed by the other kids. He uses visions of the future to impress them, but when he takes it too far, the townsfolk shun him even more, to the point where he must live on a hill far away. Then, a false king comes to their town and makes them build him a castle. The townspeople build it, and it falls down; they build it again, and still it falls; before building it again, they “must find a boy who was born from a demon and spill his blood” to make the gods happy so they will let his tower be built. That boy is the same boy from earlier, which leads to a chaotic fight with dragons, the dethroning of the false king, and more.
Merlin and the Dragons has some truly great details worth appreciating. The animation starts off feeling a little clunky and rough around the edges, but it soon finds its footing and transforms into something really fun to watch. The improvement feels like it might have been intentional, as if trying to mirror the story’s momentum. I especially love the design of the dragons. They struck me immediately as a kind of yin and yang. The two creatures look weirdly similar on the surface, sharing the same forms, but they stand for two completely different things, embodying two forces in a way that feels both visually elegant and helpful to the story.
The film’s message is that our differences are what make us who we are. It includes themes of found family, fighting, and love. Parents should be aware that there is a fight scene between the two dragons; it is very short and there is no blood but it may be frightening for younger kids. There is also a mention of beheading, but it does not happen.
I give Merlin and the Dragons 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is available now on Tubi.com at https://geni.us/storiestoremember.
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