Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a 2008 Direct to DVD animated film based on the first novel of the same name in the Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It was directed by Will Meugniot and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The script was written by George Strayton with assistance by Weis and Hickman.
The voice cast includes Kiefer Sutherland as Raistlin Majere, Lucy Lawless as Goldmoon, Michael Rosenbaum as Tanis Half-Elven, Michelle Trachtenberg as Tika Waylan, Jason Marsden as Tasslehoff Burrfoot, Rino Romano as Caramon Majere, and Neil Ross as Fizban.
The film follows the same plot as the book, with a group of old friends reuniting after five years separation at the Inn of the Last Home, only to be drawn into the battle against evil aftyer encounter a young woman bearing a blue crystal staff.
This film provides examples of:
- Adaptational Early Appearance:
- Verminaard first appears at the start of the movie. In the book he didn't appear until well into the second half.
- Onyx first appears as shifted into Winged Humanoid at the start of the movie, in the book she didn't show up till the Companions reached Xak Tsaroth.
- Kitiara appears as a Dragon Highlord at the end of the film. She didn't appear until midway through the second book.
- Fizban's identity as Paladine is revealed at the climax of the novel, where the books only hint at it until the third novel decisively confirms it.
- Adaptation Explanation Extrication: Goldmoon proclaiming herself a true cleric is undercut by the film not bringing up the issue of clerics previously and failing to explain what they are. In the book it's explained that the true clerics vanished along with the gods.
- Adapted Out: Several characters and scenes are cut such as the journey through the swamp surrounding Xak Tsaroth, the escape from the Draconian camp, most of the exploration in the ruins of Xak Tsaroth, the battle in the tomb of Kith-Kanan, and Sestun. Most glaringly, Berem the Green Gemstone man is absent which would have caused problems down the line.
- Child by Rape: Tanis' mother was raped by the man who killed her husband.
- Compressed Adaptation: Crunching a 448 page novel into a 90 minute film inevitably results in this with scenes rushed through and as one reviewer described it "puts the entire tale on fast forward"
- Creator Cameo: Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman appear as patrons at the Inn of the Last Home.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Or presumed death. Rather than his Disney Death inside Pax Tharkas where he falls down the chain shaft, Fizban fall down a hole in the courtyard that collapses.
- Fantastic Racism: Humans like Rivermind mistrust Elves and the Elves look down on Tanis for being half-human.
- Knight in Shining Armor: Strum Brightblade with his code of honor and traditional Solamnic armor.
- Multiple Head Case: Takhisis has five heads in her dragon form.
- Satellite Love Interest: Laurana ends up as this thanks to most of her characterization being cut.
- Sequel Hook: The Dragonarmies are still at large and Raistlin observes they need to find the Dragonlances.
- Unreliable Illustrator: Raistlin describes the spellbook of Fistandantilus as midnight blue with silver runes but the one Bupu gives him is brown with golden engraving. Someone didn't read the script.
- What You Are in the Dark: Despite his antagonism, Riverwind goes back to help Tanis when Onyx's lair collapses.
