The Humpbacked Horse (Russian: Конёк-Горбуно́к) is a Soviet animated film created by Soyuzmultfilm studio, adapting a versified fairy tale written by Pyotr Pavlovich Yershov.
Peasant brothers Ivan and his elder siblings decide to investigate who or what has been attacking their fields at night and stealing their grain. The elder two make young Ivan stand guard in a meadow, while they sleep in nearby. Unbeknowst to them, Ivan discovers the culprit - a beautiful magic horse named "Queen of the Magic Herd". Ivan catches her, riding the supernatural mare, who is unable to throw him off. The Queen begs Ivan to let her go, in exchange for two magnificent steeds he can put to work or sell at the market if he chooses, and a little humpbacked horse (Konyok-gorbunok)note that the boy is forbidden to sell, who becomes his companion.
The first adaptation was released in 1947.
A remake was released in 1975. This version was dubbed into English as The Magic Pony and released in 1977. The Russian fairy tale was most recently adapted for a 2021 live-action film Upon the Magic Roads.
The Humpbacked Horse provides examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: Both versions quite similarly follow the same plot points, but the 1977 version adds a whole subplot about the princess demanding the Tsar finds her missing ring, lost under the sea.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: After Ivan gains the steeds, the next morning he goes to fetch water for them. He is joined on the way back to his stables by the humpbacked horse (Konyok-gorbunok), which becomes distracted by some little birds.
- Blatant Lies: After stealing Ivan's feather and presenting it to the Tsar, the stablemaster says that Ivan boasted he could bring the Firebird for the Tsar. After bringing a Firebird (a flock of them appears in both versions), the stablemaster overhears a storyteller reading a book to some children about a fair maiden that is "daughter of the sun" and "sister to the moon". He then informs the Tsar Ivan also boasted he could bring her.
- Blush Sticker: In the 1975 version, Ivan, the Tsar and the Princess all have rosy circles on their cheeks. Ivan's brothers also have them, though of a different sort.
- A Boy and His X: A dimwitted, but kind boy, and his magical talking flying little horse.
- Cool Horse: In both adaptations, the hero, Ivan, tames the queen of the magic herd, and is given two magnificent steeds and a magic pony (Konyok-gorbunok), that becomes his friend.
- Determinator: Ivan refuses to let the Queen of magical horses go at first, because he rightly fears his father and brothers will beat him for letting the culprit eating the crops go. She decides to gift him three magical beasts to be his steeds and companions in her place.
- Dub Name Change: In the English language dub of the 1947 version, Ivan is renamed Timothy, and his brothers Michael and Rupert. In the English dub of the 1975 version, the titular humpbacked horse is named Zip. The same for the Firebird: in the English dub for the 1947 version, the bird is called "The Sparkling Peacock", but retains the original Firebird name in the 1977 dub. The princess is named "Moon Maiden" in the English dub for the 1947 version, and "Maiden Princess" in the 1977 one.
- Evil Redhead: The main antagonist of the film is the Tsar's redheaded councillor (soothsayer, in the 1947 dub).
- Fantastic Light Source: Ivan finds a single feather of the Firebird, able to produce glow, but not warmth. Later, when he brings the bird to the Tsar's court, he asks for the windows to be closed to better show the firebird's powers.
- Good Is Not Nice: Do not threaten or harm Ivan, or that little sweet Humpbacked horse will be your downfall. Chamberlain Spalnik is thrown to his death down a well, and Konyok-gorbunok removes his spell of youth on the three cauldrons, so the corrupt Tsar is boiled alive.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Hero Ivan is depicted as a blond youth in both versions. In the 1975 version, during a scene in the stables, he mutters to himself that, despite the magnificent steeds he's been given by the queen of the herd, he prefers the humpbacked horse as his friend. Later, in the same movie, he tells a giant whale how it can be released from its long punishment, and goes to warn the people that have been living on its back to hurry and flee before the whale dives in the sea to search for the princess's lost ring.
- Hellish Horse: Downplayed; the first two steeds the Queen of all magical horses gifts Ivan are large fiery black stallions, whom he may use as loyal beasts of burden, if he wishes.
- Idiot Hero: Ivan is this in spades. He's a well-meaning but simple-minded boy, who leaps before he looks. Eventually the Humpbacked Horse has to tell him to listen to his guidance, otherwise not even all his magic and love can save him from his own foolishness. Justified in the original fairytale that Ivan is meant to show even simpletons can accomplish amazing feats and heroic deeds. In the 1977 dub, the narrator says the community took Ivan for a "dumbbell".
- It's All My Fault: Ivan notices the fiery two stallions are missing from their stable, fearing he didn't take care of them enough and the Queen of the Herd took them away. Konyok-gorbunok tells him the Queen would never do that. Then Ivan begins blaming the devil. The Humpbacked Horse puts a stop to his blame game, showing him the only devils he has, are his wicked brothers, who took the horses.
- Leitmotif: In the English language version, the Tsar's stablemaster spies on Ivan feeding the two steeds he sold the Tsar, with a leitmotif in the background. The same musical sequence is repeated later in the movie, as the princess's "I Want" Song.
- A Light in the Distance: While flying on the humpbacked horse to the marketplace, Ivan sights a light down in the woods and asks his mount to go down to check on it.
- Lighter and Softer: Although it is implied that the Tsar died while bathing in the boiling milk, the 1977 English dub narrates that he came out of the cauldron "much, much wiser".
- Living MacGuffin: As a last mission for his monarch, the king sends Ivan to seek the Moon Maiden and bring her back as a prospective bride for the king.
- The Musical: The 1975 version adds musical segments to the story. In order, Intro; "Beautiful Day" (Ivan's song), "Lonely Child" (the princess's song), "A Whale of a Way" (the sailors' song after they escape the whale).
- Public Bathhouse Scene: In both films, the evil councillor enters the banya to talk to the Tsar about Ivan's (inexistent) second boast: that he could bring him the beautiful princess.
- Rule of Symbolism / The Power of the Sun / Solar and Lunar: In the 1947 film, the princess, despite being called "Moon Maiden", appears rowing on a boat at dawn. Her headdress evokes sun imagery, as if emulating the rays of the sun. In the 1975 film, she is described as the "daughter of the sun". At the end of both films, while she and Ivan are walking on the snow-covered grass, she tosses her ring on the grass and the ice and snow melt all over.
- Rule of Three: Ivan and his two elder brothers; the princess's three day deadline to find her ring; the three cauldrons (of boiling oil, boiling milk and cold water) to make one young again.
- Sapient Steed: The Queen of all horses is able to talk, but in exchange for her freedom bestows three magical horses upon Ivan. The first two appear as hellish but beautiful stallions that don't talk. Ivan's last gifted horse, (Konyok-gorbunok), like the Queen also talks and can fly. The boy is forbidden to give him away. The humpbacked horse advises him during the story to help him grow into a fine man.
- Schmuck Banquet: In both versions, Ivan baits the princess with a tent full of foods and dishes and a musical instrument.
- Tempting Fate: Ivan finds a stray glowing feather of the mythical Firebird. The humpbacked horse warns him against it, for the troubles that will sure follow them.
- True Companions: The humpbacked horse (Konyok-gorbunok) takes an instant liking to Ivan when the Queen summons him. The two become inseparable.
- Youngest Child Wins: Ivan is the youngest of three brothers. He gains a magic horse helper who aids him in getting a princess and a kingdom for himself.
