Ama and the Mysterious Crystal

Ama And Mysterious Crystal is a 1997 American 2D animated fantasy adventure comedy film produced by Universal Animation Studios for Universal Pictures. 1 feature film from studio, it was directed by Michael Wildshill and written by Wildshill, Len Blum, Jonathan Roberts, and John August, and stars voices of Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Jodi Benson, Martin Short, with Patrick Stewart, and Jennifer Aniston. Film follows a young girl name Ama, who discovers a powerful magic crystal that came from ancient city of Crystopia, where she learns that ruthless sorcerer Lourdes plans to place a spell that captures crystals from city. Ama, along with her friend Edwin and her sister Shelly, embark on a journey to follow crystal that prompts them to save city and defeat Lourdes.

Development of Ama began after Universal Feature Animation was established in 1993, when Wildshill conceived it original plot. James Horner composed music for film. It was Universal Pictures 1 animated film to be produced at it in house feature animation studio, which was formed by artists who had worked for recently disbanded Multimedia Animation led by Wildshill, as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios and Amblimation. Animation of film combines 2D traditional hand drawn animation with extensive use of computer generated imagery.

Ama And Mysterious Crystal premiered in Los Angeles on December 10, 1997, and was released in US on December 19, 1997. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised it animation, story, performances, and score, and earned over $324 million worldwide on it $44 million budget, making it the 5th highest grossing film of 1997, highest grossing animated film of year, and highest grossing Disney animated film at time. Film was re released in 3D on March 28, 2014. It later spawned an Expanded Franchise, with 3 direct to video follow ups, a TV Series, video games, merchandise, and other media. A live action remake was originally announced for a 2020 release, but was shelved indefinitely.

Plot
In ancient city of Crystopia, a young sorcerer named Lourdes steals a spellbook that he uses to make a large blue crystal in a cave do his bidding. Other sorcerers see this and try to stop him, only to be disintegrated by crystal. Lourdes manages to capture most of crystals from city, except 1 powerful crystal scattered away from Crystopia.

Ama is a 15 year old girl living in a small village near a coastline with her sister Shelly, her pet Pongo, and her Widowed Mother. Wanting to travel on an adventure of her own, she meets a nervous boy named Edwin, whom she helps excavate a mysterious crystal that he discovered. Curious to learn more about artifact, Ama takes crystal home with her. That night, she finds a message from Crystopian elder Urkle, telling her of crystal hidden power. Wanting to use crystal to find ancient city of Crystopia, Ama sets off along with Edwin, Shelly, and Pongo.

Group takes a boat ride and then travels on foot before setting up camp for night. Lourdes, now elderly, senses that there is someone on his island. While Ama and her friends are sleeping, Lourdes attempts to scare them by lifting Pongo and treating him like a party balloon, shaping him into various animals this, however, does not awake group.

Next morning, group continues their journey and arrive at an enchanted forest, where they meet Hubble, a bird like creature magically created by Crystopians, who offers to lead them to Crystopia. However, Lourdes creates a spell on Monstrous Lizard to attack group, which leads to Ama protecting herself with crystal. She uses it power to destroy creature, causing it to burst into dust upon defeat.

Reaching Crystopia, group is greeted by Urkle, who tours them around city while they manage to help him retrieve most of crystals. Soon, Lourdes casts a spell that spawns several small vulture like creatures which attack group, who manages to escape. While they explore more in Crystopia, Ama and group eventually discover an abandoned campsite which leads them to cave where Lourdes put spell on crystal years before.

Group then encounters Lourdes and realizes that he was behind strange events that occurred before. Eventually, Lourdes becomes hostile towards group and casts some spells towards them, before storming off into a deeper part of cave. He then throws a spell at group that turns them into crystal statues, except for Ama and Hubble. Enraged, Ama confronts Lourdes and attacks him. As Lourdes is about to destroy Ama, she and Hubble use power of crystals, including her crystallized friends, causing Lourdes to turn into a statue. Ama runs back to her friends and finds them uncrystallized, since they are no longer under influence of Lourdes spell.

With city saved, Turkle and Crystopians thank those who help Ama, who is crowned as heroine of city. Deciding to stay instead of returning home, Ama bids a heartfelt farewell to her mother, Edwin, Shelly, and Pongo, and begins a new life in Crystopia with Hubble. Film ends with Ama taking a crystal from cave as a memento of sorts.

Voice cast

 * Christina Ricci as Ama, an adventurous 15 year old girl who attempts to save city of Crystopia with mysterious crystal. Alexander Bates served as supervising animator for Ama.
 * Jason Biggs as Edwin, a geeky and nervous boy who wants to help Ama on her journey to defeat Lourdes. Randy Travelers served as supervising animator for Edwin.
 * Jodi Benson as Shelly, Ama sister. Victor Eisenberg served as supervising animator for Shelly.
 * Martin Short as Hubble, a bird like creature magic created by Crystopians who friends Ama, Edwin, and Shelly. Bob Cokinn served as supervising animator for Hubble.
 * Patrick Stewart as Lourdes, a sorcerer obsessed with crystals who places a spell that captures them from Crystopia. He never liked people on island and always stayed in shadows. William Jennings served as supervising animator for Lordosis.
 * Jennifer Aniston as Ama And Shelly Mother. Jack Reed served as supervising animator for Ama And Shelly Mother.
 * Jim Cummings as Urkel, chief of Crystopia. Phil Nibbelink served as supervising animator for Urkle.
 * Frank Welker as Pongo, Shelly pet goat. John Madson served as supervising animator for Pongo.
 * Welker also voices Monstrous Lizard.
 * Edie Mcclurg as Edwin Mother
 * Neil Ross as Oak
 * Michael Wildshill as Cal
 * Roger L Jackson as Xan
 * Tress Macneille as Native

Additional voices

 * Jack Angel
 * Bob Bergen
 * Rodger Bumpass
 * Philip L Clarke
 * Kendall Cunningham
 * Jennifer Darling
 * Debi Derryberry
 * Bill Farmer
 * Jack Fletcher
 * Sherry Lynn
 * Mickie Mcgowan
 * Denise Pickering
 * Patrick Pinney
 * Phil Proctor
 * Jan Rabson
 * Erik Von Detten
 * Lillias White

Development
During production of Multimedia Animation 3 Princes And Their Beasts in 1993, MCA Inc president Sid Sheinberg convinced Multimedia animator Michael Wildshill to launch a new animation studio for Universal Pictures, in which Wildshill agreed. Not long before public announcement of Universal Animation Studios in May, Wildshill pitched several ideas to Universal, 1 of which immediately went into development under title Legend Of Magic Crystal following foundation of new animation studio.

Writing
Coming soon!

Animation
Film was mainly animated at main Universal Feature Animation facility located in Universal City, California.

More coming soon!

Casting
Coming soon!

Release
Ama And Mysterious Crystal was originally slated for release on November 26, 1997, but by February 1997, it was later pushed back a month later to December 19, 1997, to avoid competition with Flubber, as well as Anastasia (1997) and re release of Little Mermaid (1989). Release date change was a few days after Warner Bros changed release date of Quest For Camelot, from November 1997 to May 1998.

On September 29, 1997, Universal screened film 1 30 minutes, which received a positive reaction. Film held it premiere at Los Angeles on December 10, 1997, with it wide release occurring on December 19. It was also screened out of competition at 1997 Cannes Film Festival. After success of 3D re release of Jurassic Park (1993), Universal announced a 3D re release of Ama scheduled for January 31, 2014, but this was pushed back to March 28, 2014. Film later played a limited engagement in Microsoft Theater at Los Angeles, California from December 2017 to January 2018 for it 20th anniversary. AMC Theaters screened movie from February 7 13, 2020.

Marketing
Marketing for film included $40 million spent by Universal for advertising, as well as partnerships with Mattel, Pizza Hut, Oreo, Motel 6, Kellogg, Gingo, NBC, and Random House.

Home media
Ama And Mysterious Crystal was released on VHS and Laserdisc on May 26, 1998 with no bonus material. In it 1 week, VHS release debuted at number 1, with rentals totaling $4.8 million. Over 19.5 million VHS copies went on to be sold in it 1 year of sales.

On December 12, 2000, film was released for 1 time on DVD as a 2 disc collector edition in widescreen and fullscreen formats. It also includes an audio commentary by filmmakers, behind scenes footage, and supplements detailing film development.

On April 17, 2001, film was re released on VHS and DVD, this time as 1 release to be part of Universal Animated Features Collection. This release went on to sell over 2 million copies.

On June 19, 2007, 2 disc DVD was released for film 10 anniversary, featuring much of bonus material from 2000 DVD as well as newer features.

Ama was 1 made available on Blu ray on September 13, 2011. It was later released on Blu ray 3D on June 17, 2014.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray was released for film 20 anniversary on December 19, 2017, containing a new 4K restoration and a DTS audio remix.

On September 1, 2017, Ama became available on Netflix.

Box office
Film was released on December 19, 1997, in US and UK, and made $22,474,839 in it open week from 2,483 theaters, ranking as #3 behind Titanic (1997) and Tomorrow Never Dies. It close on May 21, 1998, after earn $107,214,113 in US and UK with an additional $217,432,840 overseas for a worldwide total of $324,646,953. Ama became 1 Disney animated feature to gross over $100 million in US. It remained top grossing Disney animated film until being surpassed by DreamWorks Animation SKG Shrek (2001) and remained highest grossing traditionally animated Disney film until 2007 when it was out grossed by 20 Century Fox Simpsons Movie, as well as remaining highest grossing Universal Pictures animated film until it was surpassed by Computer Opolis in 2004.

Film was released in UK on March 13, 1998, and open at number 3, Titanic (1997) and Good Will Hunting.

Critical reception
Ama And Mysterious Crystal received mostly positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, film holds a rating of 100% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7 10. Website consensus reads, It may feel unpolished in some spots, but Ama And Mysterious Crystal is, in end, a vivid, adventurous, and charming experience. On Metacritic, film has a score of 100 out of 100 points, based on 32 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews.

Roger Ebert gave film 4 out of 4 stars, calling it beautifully animated and very entertaining for whole family. Richard Corliss of Time reviewed film positively, calling it an absolute classic. However, Anita Gates of New York Times gave a negative review of film, saying, Universal Disney wannabe feels bland and flat out predictable.

Accolades
Coming soon!

Legacy

 * See also: Ama (franchise)

Sequels

 * Main articles: Ama 2 Return To Crystopia, Ama 3 Lost Crystals and Ama 4 Secret Palace

In 1998, Universal announced it was planning a sequel to Ama. Sequel titled Ama 2 Return To Crystopia was released on DVD and VHS on March 21, 2000, with Kath Soucie replacing Ricci as Ama. Film also served as pilot for TV Spin Off.

3 direct to video sequel titled Ama 3 Lost Crystals was released on DVD and VHS on March 19, 2002. 4 film, titled Ama 4 Secret Palace, was released on DVD on February 5, 2008.

TV series
A spin off animated series, simply titled Ama, ran from 2000 to 2002 on Gingo and later USA Kids. Produced and developed by Universal Television Animation, series is set 1 year after events of 1997 film.

Video games
A Video Game Based On Film was developed by Traveller Tales, Tiertex Design Studios and Tiger Electronics and released by Universal Interactive Studios and THQ for various systems including Play Station, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color and Game Com. Game storyline was similar to film, with a few changes. Game received mixed to positive reviews.

Another game inspired by film entitled Ama And Mysterious Crystal Activity Center was developed by Sound Source Interactive and published by Digital Media International in partnership with Universal in 1997 for PC. It features 10 games and a bonus level that can be attained if a certain item is obtained in a game. Yet another PC game titled Ama And Mysterious Crystal Animated Moviebook was released, also developed by Sound Source Interactive and published by Digital Media International.

Proposed live action film adaptation
On September 13, 2018, Universal announced that a live action remake of Ama was in production and would begin filming in 2019. Remake was to be written and directed by Spike Jonze and produced by Neal H Moritz under his Original Film company. On November 7, 2018, it was announced that remake would be released on May 8, 2020, with Chloe Grace Moretz in talks for starring role as title character. On April 12, 2019, it was announced that film had been moved to September 18, 2020, taking original date of DreamWorks Animation SKG Croods 2 A New Age. However, on November 17, 2019, film was pulled from Universal release schedule.

Other media
Ama and other Universal Animation Studios characters will make guest appearances in upcoming 2022 film Computer Opolis 5 Webcation.

Main
To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

Trailers
To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.