Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

All titles in the ‘Fantasy’ genre

32 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year

C

Crocodile Dreaming short film – 2006

A short film highlighting the role of traditional custodians in maintaining balance between the natural and spiritual worlds.

F

Feeling Sexy short feature – 1998

A young woman struggles to maintain her creativity within the confines of her new marriage and motherhood.

H

H20: Just Add Water – Hocus Pocus television program – 2007

H2O: Just Add Water is about three teenagers facing everyday problems but with a twist – they become mermaids when in contact with water.

Horace and Tina – Settling In television program – 2000

This program is an unusual combination of live action and animatronic puppets with Jasmine Ellis, the actor playing Lauren, the animation model for Angela Anaconda.

L

La Poule aux Oeufs d’Or short film – 1905

A fable of wealth and greed leads to disaster for a farmer and his wife. The Corrick family entertainers incorporated this early French film into their touring show.

Legacy of the Silver Shadow – The Feral Element television program – 2002

1950s superhero the Silver Shadow and his archenemy The Crab are revealed to four kids who carry on the struggle between good and evil.

Lift Off – A Load of Old Rubbish television program – 1992

EC has minimal facial features and doesn’t talk, communicating through gesture and movement. Children warm immediately to this doll and what it represents.

Lift Off – That’s Not Fair – Part A television program – 1992

Mixes live action, animation, puppetry and fantasy to challenge, intrigue and encourage children to think for themselves.

Lift Off – That’s Not Fair – Part B television program – 1992

Spruikers from the ‘Bonza’ cereal advertisement come out of the TV set to persuade Poss and Kim that buying Bonza will make all their dreams come true.

Long Weekend feature film – 1978

On a long weekend camping trip to a lonely beach, Peter and Marcia confront the despair of their marriage, as nature takes revenge on them.

M

Metal Skin feature film – 1994

Social misfit Joe is befriended by the cool and confident Dazey. Their shared passion for drag racing leads to conflict and tragedy.

More Winners – The Big Wish television program – 1990

The faeries in the Enchanted Realm are in trouble. Today is the last day to grant seven wishes to humans or they will lose their magic power – forever!

Moulin Rouge! feature film – 2001

Moulin Rouge! was a risky venture for director Baz Luhrmann but is a tour de force of imagination and appropriation.

Mr Squiggle and Friends – Cheer Up television program – 1990

A 1990s episode of iconic children’s series Mr Squiggle and Friends created and performed by Norman Hetherington, written by Margaret Hetherington and co-presented by their daughter Rebecca Hetherington.

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello short film – 2005

The film evokes an aura of mystery from the outset and is a superb example of how animation at its best can create a magical imaginary, yet convincing, world.

N

The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey feature film – 1988

Medieval Britons journeying through time and space find a contemporary city, where they attempt to fulfil a prophecy that will save them from the plague.

O

Ocean Girl – Series 2, Episode 3 television program – 1995

Ocean Girl is a beautiful alien that can swim at extraordinary speed and telepathically communicate with a humpback whale called Charley.

P

Petals – A Boot Full of Petals television program – 1997

Petals is an animated series for preschool children which revolves around the adventures of five tiny flower ‘petals’ who live at the bottom of an overgrown garden.

Playing Beatie Bow feature film – 1985

Playing Beatie Bow has the sumptuous look and feel of a period film, thanks to its award-winning cinematography and production design.

R

Redfern Beach short film – 2001

Redfern Beach is a love story between two people from different cultural backgrounds, set in a fish-processing factory.

Round the Twist – Series One – Skeleton on the Dunny television program – 1989

This first episode gives a real taste for the eclectic range of themes and elements which combine to create the Round The Twist magic.

Round the Twist – Series One – Spaghetti Pig Out television program – 1989

This is a clever and funny episode, based on a simple ‘What if…’ premise. There is loads of silly slapstick, and a spectacular dose of yuck at the end.

Round the Twist – Series Two – Nails television program – 1992

This episode is quite different from many others in the Round the Twist series. While it still has lots of humour, it is a rather more serious, romantic and sad story.

Round the Twist – Series Two – Next Time Round television program – 1992

The second series introduced new actors in many key roles but the change of cast didn’t have any impact on the popularity of Round the Twist.

S

Shadowland short film – 1988

In Anthony Lucas’s animated student film, humanity evolves in a savage landscape.

Shirley Thompson versus the Aliens feature film – 1972

Maverick filmmaker Jim Sharman’s first film is unique – an engaging potpourri of sci-fi, rock’n'roll, anarchic comedy and psychological drama.

T

That Eye, the Sky feature film – 1994

Twelve-year-old Morton ‘Ort’ Flack lives in the outback. When Ort’s father is paralysed in an accident, a stranger named Henry arrives, offering to help.

This Woman is Not a Car short film – 1982

An imaginative examination of sexual violence, This Woman is Not a Car turns the suburban dream of marriage and conformity into a nightmare.

Touch the Sun – Peter & Pompey television program – 1988

This lovely film has a delightful ocker Aussie feel, and is a quirky, fantastic yarn filled with mystery, greed, loyalty, betrayal, ancient curses and Roman history.

W

Wicked Science – Episode 1, The Gift television program – 2003

The spectacular dinosaur scenes and the transformation from nerd to villainous ice queen make this a not-to-be-missed episode.

Winners – Quest Beyond Time television program – 1985

Simply told, and not too frightening, Quest Beyond Time shows the changes that could occur in the world if a nuclear war takes place.

The Workman’s Nightmare short film – 1951

In the first short film from amateur filmmakers the Straford Brothers, a young man falls asleep on his work break and dreams that his ladder attacks him.