The NeverEnding Story is a timeless fantasy classic that has captured the imagination of millions of readers around the world. Like Labyrinth, the novel’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1980s with the release of a successful movie adaptation.
Here you’ll find a full review of the renowned novel and the fantasy film inspired by this remarkable story.
A biography of Michael Ende
Born in 1929 in Garmisch, Germany, Michael Ende was one of the first post-war German authors to achieve worldwide success. His scholar years were challenging, however. The schools banned by the Nazis only re-opened after the war, which was too late to achieve real academic progress.
From a young age, Michael Ende was fascinated with mystical ideas and philosophical theories. In 1946, he attended Waldorf school and became interested in poetry and theatre. That’s when he decided he wanted to be a scriptwriter. Later, he attended the Otto Falckenberg Academy on a two-year scholarship to study acting.
In the 1950s, Ende wrote his first novel Jim Knopf, translated to English as Jim Button. The novel was published in two books and became an instant success, winning the author the German Prize for Children’s fiction.
His most successful work, however, was The NeverEnding Story (1979). In the 1980s, the fantasy novel was adapted into a film and an animated TV show in 1995.
He published many novels, short stories, and poems throughout his career. His main goal was to provide the reader with a surreal story made up of a mix of reality and fantasy.
Michael Ende died in Germany in 1994.
A review of The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story is about a boy named Bastian who goes to the school attic to read a stolen book with a mysterious Auryn on the cover. The book is about a young boy called Atreyu and his quest to save the world of Fantastica from imminent destruction. The Rockbiter has warned him of The Nothing, an invisible force gradually destroying their world.
The only way to save Fantastica is for Atreyu to find a human child to give the childlike Empress and ruler a new name. With the help of Engywook, Atreyu knows where to go in search of someone to save them.
This magical book draws him into an exciting fantasy world where Bastian and Atreyu embark on a journey to the ivory tower where the sick Empress lives. However, this isn’t easy. They must cross a land of dragons, giants, and monsters to reach their destination. They will also encounter a strange Nighthob sent on a mission to the Ivory Tower.
Things become even more dangerous when Gmork, one of The Nothing’s minions, shows up to kill Atreyu. The Nothing knows the young warrior is trying to save Fantastica and wants to stop him.
When Bastian and Atreyu finally get to the empress tower, he names her Moon Child and saves Fantastica.
The NeverEnding Story is one of the most popular novels of all-time. Since its release date, this fantasy classic has been revisited many times in pop culture. In the Season 3 finale of the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” two characters sing the movie’s theme song, composed by Giorgio Moroder and sung by Limahl.
One of the story’s most beloved characters, the luck dragon Falkor, has also featured in the TV series “Family Guy.”
Differences between the book and the movie
Since its release in 1984, The NeverEnding Story has become a classic film everyone has seen at least once. Due to the significant investment in special effects, it was one of the most expensive movies ever made. Written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen and produced by Warner Bros, it was an instant box-office success.
The film’s protagonists were Barret Oliver as Bastian, Noah Hathaway as Atreyu, Tami Stronach as the Childlike Empress, and Gerald McRaney as Mr. Bux.
Despite its worldwide fame, the movie differs significantly from the book, which Michael Ende didn’t appreciate at all. He went so far as to remove his name from the credits. One of his biggest issues was how the film only covered half of the novel. Other differences included the name of the world that Bastian visits. In the book it’s Fantastica, but the World of Fantasia in the film.
The filmmakers also decided to change some of the character’s looks and personalities. Falkor, the flying luck dragon, is depicted as a friendly white dog in the film. In the book, however, it looks more like a lion.
Bastian and Atreyu’s appearances are also different in the film to make them more likable to the audience. Atreyu’s loyal horse Artax, who can speak in the book, can’t in the film, making the moment of his death in the Swamps of Sadness even more distressing for viewers.
Another important difference between the book and the film is the take on The Nothing, which is more complex in the novel. In the movie, The Nothing is a storm-like presence created by humans. When humans lose their imagination, they fall into despair and inadvertently create The Nothing. It erases everything in its path, leaving nothing behind. In the book, the Manipulators, another antagonist behind The Nothing, want to control the human race.
The sequel, TheNeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, released in 1990, finally covered the second half of the book.
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FAQ
Is The NeverEnding Story creepy?
The NeverEnding Story has a few dark themes and sad moments.
Is The NeverEnding Story Disney?
No. The NeverEnding Story film rights belong to Warner Bros.
What name is yelled in The NeverEnding Story?
The name yelled in The NeverEnding Story is Bathisarea.
What is the meaning of The NeverEnding Story?
The meaning of The NeverEnding Story is the importance for humans to find their true selves.
What is the name of the dog in the story?
The name of the dog is Falkor. However, it’s not a dog but a dragon.
What do people think about the ending of the story?
Most readers love the story’s fantasy elements and the strong moral messages.