The Thief and the Cobbler Recobbled Cut Mk4

Same version released in 2013.

It is written among the limitless constellations of the celestial heavens, and in the depths of the emerald seas, and upon every grain of sand in the vast deserts, that the world which we see is an outward and visible dream, of an inward and invisible reality ... Once upon a time there was a golden city. In the centre of the golden city, atop the tallest minaret, were three golden balls. The ancients had prophesied that if the three golden balls were ever taken away, harmony would yield to discord, and the city would fall to destruction and death. But... the mystics had also foretold that the city might be saved by the simplest soul with the smallest and simplest of things. In the city there dwelt a lowly shoemaker, who was known as Tack the Cobbler. Also in the city... existed a Thief, who shall be ... nameless.

“ANIMATION AMONG THE MOST GLORIOUS AND LIVELY
EVER CREATED!” - The New York Times

Chief Restorationist: Garrett Gilchrist

For the first time ever on video, enjoy the original version of this lost animation classic, written and directed by three-time Academy Award winning animator Richard Williams (animation director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit). Nearly 30 years in the making, a labor of love by a team of animation greats, this was to be the masterpiece of Williams’ career, perhaps the most ambitious independent animated film ever conceived. The film was the inspiration for Disney‘s film Aladdin, which proved to be its undoing. After over two decades of work, the film was taken away from Williams when he couldn’t meet his deadline. It was eventually bought by Disney, recut and destroyed. It has never been seen the way it was intended to be seen ... until now. Based on Williams’ original workprint, missing scenes have been restored using storyboards and unfinished animation. Restored to its true form, this lost classic has finally been found - for you at home.

Directed by Richard Williams
Screenplay by Richard Williams and Margaret French
Master animator Ken Harris
Produced by Imogen Sutton and Richard Williams

[StarrChild.]

Using the tacks he carries around in his mouth as his expression will never not be a GENIUS move by design. It's so simple and cute

[allitoons]

find someone who’s as loyal to you as those flies are to the thief

[thephantomoftheparadise]

The worst part about this is that it looked almost finished. If Richard Williams was less of a perfectionist, he could have completed his masterpiece before he died.

[hypemugen]

For a king that's so seemingly lazy, tired, paranoid and unfit to be a ruler... He definitely shows his true worthiness when he refuses to hand over his own daughter to an offer that might've saved the entire city.

[aliensomniac]

43:22 my boy just stole a necklace from himself and celebrated like he's not a dumbass. I love him

[chef]

Tack's voice was way deeper than I expected

[vxlley_flower]

The old lady pulling out these hunk arms and absolutely squashing the thief like a bug will never NOT be funny to me💀🤣🤣🤣

[jinxglow]

The Thief basically has the same character complex as Scrat from Ice Age and I’m here for it 😂

[AgusGA]

I love how in the final scene with Tack and the Thief scrapping for the golden balls, after all we have seen of the Thief, we know he is so dedicated to his art he will put himself in harm’s way just to ATTEMPT to steal anything he finds attractive, never giving up. But in said final scene we get a curve ball with the Thief basically saying “Forget it, I almost died like a billion times in one day, I’m out of here.”

[junkfoodpilot]

I love the detail of Tack being more tan when they’re in the desert

[EldritchDoodler]

Gotta give the Cobbler kudos for keeping those nails in his mouth the entire time

[buboniccraig]

My man the thief just stole the entire universe
He's the most powerful being in existence

[chaoticcow]

I cant get over how skrunkly Tack is and how damn fluid his animation is all the time, its so fun!

[jam]

I'm surprised I see no one talk about it but the part at 1:16:36 where the king yells "My daughter, my daughter, oh my god my child... help me to help her" as he turns around to the young child curious as to why he's crying was so... poignant. Idk. Like he was asking everyone so desperately even the child, and with the war going on. Or that's how alone he thinks his daughter feels. Idk it just was so deep to me!

[HeidiBird]

HOW did this not turn into an instant cult classic? It's absolute, utter brilliance! Hilarious, original, creative and beautifully animated, this film deserves all the kudos. So glad I found this - completely by accident.

[felixwearwell]

I know the thief took up a lot of unnecessary screentime but he's such a pleasure to watch. He felt more like a force of nature than an individual character. I love seeing the sheer dedication to stealing even if it's directly harming him. My favorite one is where he's trying to get the emerald out of the bottle and even after the guards show up he's still unwilling to let go of it.

[Beemebeme]

“Hey Tack, are you okay with putting your life on the line to save all of humanity?”
Tack: *shrug*

[meg]

Whoa wasn’t expecting Tack’s voice to be so deep! That’s how you do a silent character for sure!

[EthanDoezYT]

this is so trippy and beautiful all at once. This was 100% made out of passion and love.

[hayleyl.]

Fun thing i noticed while watching this again, after a year: at 0:03:36, while speaking about the prophecy and how the city would be saved by “the simplest of things” the man’s hands form a tack shape over the ball. AUGH THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL!! Love this film to bits