Unicorn Wars

Play trailer

1:33

Unicorn Wars

2023

1h 32m

Fantasy

Action

Animation

Comedy

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

It's "Bambi meets Apocalypse Now" in this provocative and strangely beautiful horror comedy from acclaimed filmmaker and illustrator Alberto Vazquez (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children), who uses its outrageous candy-colored premise to explore religious zealotry, the tortured legacies of military fascism, and the depths of the soul. For ages, teddy bears have been locked in an ancestral war against their sworn enemy, the unicorns, with the promise that victory will complete the prophecy and usher in a new era. Aggressive, confident teddy bear Bluet and his sensitive, withdrawn brother Tubby could not be more different. As the rigors and humiliation of teddy bear bootcamp turn to the psychedelic horrors of a combat tour in the Magic Forest, their complicated history and increasingly strained relationship will come to determine the fate of the entire war.

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Critics Consensus

While its humor may strike some as needlessly crude, Unicorn Wars is a visually audacious strike against cultural and military fascism.

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Carlos Aguilar

Los Angeles Times

03/10/2023

Even this early in the year, it seems unfathomable that another release could dethrone “Unicorn Wars” as the most uncompromisingly audacious animated film of 2023.

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Katie Rife

RogerEbert.com

03/10/2023

3/4

While “Unicorn Wars” undoubtedly indulges [its] impulses—think cartoon genitalia and bears hanging themselves in despair—it thankfully also has more going on.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

03/09/2023

“Unicorn Wars” is forcefully provocative, trying too hard to push buttons at the cost of more nuanced explorations of masculinity and power.

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Pedro Luis Graterol

InBetweenDrafts

Apr 14

7.5/10

Unicorn Wars is a fascinating story about the horrors of war and another beautifully animated film by Vazquez that is worth checking out, if you can stomach all the bear guts.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

07/11/2025

An insane and insanely beautiful movie, one that recognizes that our inner children may be just as sadistic and violent as the most jaded combat veteran.

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Paul Klein

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

07/05/2024

3/5

It's not hard to see that this film is aiming for satire of religious hatred and warfare, it's fairly obvious from the opening minutes we're heading in that direction and thanks in no small part to some gorgeous 2D animation the film looks amazing.

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Eye C

@ECinc Feb 9

A very dark way to portrait the unicorns and the Care Bears, with an intense charge of social/theocratic critique but with a touch of humor. Good one.

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Juan O

@juanolivares Sep 6

La animación es una belleza pero la historia me pareció floja.

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Rachel K

@RT17304933 08/22/2024

I believe this movie is just too weird because unicorns are not really evil for as long as they're magical just like the ones in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic show.

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Mago X

@RT03540003 07/06/2023

If you liked this one. Watch the previous movie, birdboy and the forgotten children. Great too and darker

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EmeraldBeast

@RT20343828 04/09/2023

I believe Unicorn Wars is a great movie, as it dives into the less 'cute and cuddly' and more to the side of 'what if they weren't for kids' kind of thing. 10/10 movie.

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Antonio A

@RT39065633 04/09/2023

Loved this movie, genuinely one of my favorites now. Love the cute art style and the fact that this movie is actually really gory.

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Alberto Vázquez

Director

Jon Goiri

Bluey

Jaione Insausti

Tubby

Txema Regalado

Father

Ramón Barea

Narrator

Alberto Vázquez

Screenwriter

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Unicorn Wars: Trailer 1

1:33

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Synopsis

It's "Bambi meets Apocalypse Now" in this provocative and strangely beautiful horror comedy from acclaimed filmmaker and illustrator Alberto Vazquez (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children), who uses its outrageous candy-colored premise to explore religious zealotry, the tortured legacies of military fascism, and the depths of the soul. For ages, teddy bears have been locked in an ancestral war against their sworn enemy, the unicorns, with the promise that victory will complete the prophecy and usher in a new era. Aggressive, confident teddy bear Bluet and his sensitive, withdrawn brother Tubby could not be more different. As the rigors and humiliation of teddy bear bootcamp turn to the psychedelic horrors of a combat tour in the Magic Forest, their complicated history and increasingly strained relationship will come to determine the fate of the entire war.

Director: Alberto Vázquez
Screenwriter: Alberto Vázquez
Distributor: GKIDS
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Animation, Comedy, Horror
Original Language: European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2023
Runtime: 1h 32m