DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp

• (Also known as DuckTales: The Movie)
• Produced and Directed by Bob Hathcock
• August 3, 1990
• Based on the animated television series DuckTales

Voice Cast

• Scrooge McDuck-Alan Young
• Huey Duck, Dewey Duck, Louie Duck, and Webby Vanderquack-Russi Taylor
• Launchpad McQuack-Terrence McGovern
• Dijon the Thief-Richard Libertini
• The Sorcerer Merlock-Christopher Lloyd
• Mrs. Featherby-June Foray
• Duckworth-Chuck McCann
• Mrs. Beakley-Joan Gerber
• Genie-Rip Taylor

While seeking a fabled lost treasure, Scrooge and the gang find a magic lamp and cross paths with an evil sorcerer seeking its power.

As I write this, I realize I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp. While not the greatest animated movie it is also a perfect translation of the original series to the big screen. Unfortunately in this case that means it offers nothing that you could not get from the series.

That is in contrast to The Transformers: The Movie which, aside from one profanity, gave the audience a story that you could not do on a syndicated kids’ show in the mid-80s. Not that it led to success in the case of The Transformers: The Movie but it did give the audience something you cannot get at home if you are going to get butts in theaters.

Despite my love of the original DuckTales television series when it came out, I have not seen DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp until now. I never had an opportunity to watch it but when I came across this DVD in someone else’s collection, I decided the universe had spoken to me and it was finally time. But really, I just wanted some old school animation that would take me back to my youth and this looked like it fit the bill.

It is essentially a season premiere of the television series. As I recall elements of this film carried over into what amounted to the final season of DuckTales but in full disclosure it’s been a little bit since I sat through a complete re-watch of DuckTales. Still the memories put it as one of my favorite cartoons from when I was young.

Scrooge McDuck, much like the series, is portrayed as an adventurous feathered version of Daddy Warbucks. Here he seeks the lost treasure of legendary thief Collie Babba that he has been looking for all his life but this was the first fans most likely heard about it. Shows often did that back then where something was always there but you the viewer never heard/saw it.

The cast of characters used in this is pretty small for a feature film. I don’t need it to be chocked full of random appearances, but at the minimum Magica de Spell who showed up once or twice in the show would have made sense. The narrative focus though is introducing Genie who would carry over into the final season and the character of Dijon who would make a few appearances then as well.

Dijon has taken some flack as a character but he is just sillier take on The Beagle Boys or any number of thieves in comedy. The real sin is Genie who is just that vaguely defined edgy, to-cool-for-school-let’s-be-extreme character that were popular at the time. If you are familiar with The Simpsons and Poochie you know exactly what I am talking about. They expertly mocked it in that instance.

Having said that it is entertaining and I wasn’t bored. And it certainly took me back to my childhood. It’s a fun adventure. But I am a bit conflicted about this. On the one hand I enjoyed it and will probably watch it again at some point. On the other hand, I think it’s less than it could’ve been. One or two supporting characters from the show would’ve made sense and not felt shoehorned in. And the animation needed a little more polish. But the story is a good Indiana Jones style story that DuckTales could do so very well in a family friendly way.

For fans of the original series, DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp is a good extension of the original series to the big screen. It has all the elements from the show that one would recognize. But if you’re a Disney fan you might find it a little difficult to watch especially if you are uninitiated into the original series. Still though I recommend it.