Puff, the Magic Dragon (1978)

"Puff the Magic Dragon" is an animated 23-minute short film from the 1970s. This was made over 35 years ago and actually had quite a decent prospect in terms of the story. Sadly, the execution was not equally convincing, so this little movie, despite an Emmy nomination, is another example of how animated short films were so disappointing in this decade. This could actually have been a great film in terms of emotional impact, but it came short. Nothing to say about the comedy aspect, which was almost non-existent in here anyway. The only somewhat memorable thing in the end was Peter Yarrow's singing. He is a member of the trio "Peter, Paul & Mary" and I quite like their voices. There are 2 sequels to this short movie here, but this first installment did not really get me curious about these. All in all, an underwhelming watch, especially if you look at who made this. One of the directors is even an Oscar winner. Not recommended.

Directed by Charles Swenson and Fred Wolf, Puff the Magic Dragon was a lovely surprise. True, at 30 minutes it is very short and perhaps rather scant, but all the same it is cute, it is charming and it is intelligent.It is made up of very cute art designs, so the animation is nice and colourful. The songs, principally the truly memorable title song, are beautiful. The cartoon itself is very funny, and has a nice story, and some nice lessons that don't preach. The characters are also very endearing, Puff has to be the most lovable dragon ever, and Jackie isn't annoying at all. And then there's the voice acting, the late Burgess Meredith was perfect as Puff and Phillip Tanzini is appealing as Jackie.All in all, a very nice and gentle watch. 9/10 Bethany Cox

When I was little, I watched it every time I was sad and afterwards I would be happy. Now that I'm a teenager, I still have the temptation to watch it even though my social status would be wrecked. The animator had a good sense of humor that makes even the toughest goth laugh.. I should know because I'm one of them. If you haven't watched it, you're missing out on funny jokes and cute designs..

This is an adorable half hour special that radiates charm and intelligence. Burgess Meredith is the voice of Puff, the Magic Dragon, and he was a perfect choice for the role. Able to give an air of command or whimsy, he makes Puff come alive.The story is pure fantasy; to give Jackie self-confidence, Puff encourages him to imagine a world where he can make a difference. Jackie and Puff sail away to the land of the Sneezes, where the inhabitants are giant noses, who have perpetual colds and are always irritable and feel awful. Jackie comes up with the idea to make it rain chicken soup, to get them well. When it works, Jackie feels better, too.If you can find this, any child will love it. My own kids watched it over and over for years, and still remember it fondly. It's a gentle and well-done children's classic.