The Thief and the Cobbler - DVD Release - Completed Version - Uncut - Unedited

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The purpose of this petition is to help influence those in power to release a completed version, abiding by Richard Williams' (animation director of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?") dream for the film, of "The Thief and the Cobbler". You may know of this film by the name "Arabian Knight" which was distributed in United States theaters in 1995 by Miramax. In 1968, Richard Williams began work on The Thief and the Cobbler, financing all the work on the film himself. The film to this day actually holds the world record for the longest production schedule of any film ever released, 28 years. In the early 1990's, Warner Bros. stepped in to help finance the film and help Williams complete his vision. But, due to Williams' long production schedules, he was fired from his own project. The film was handed over to a Korean animation company to finish the fifteen minutes that remained to be animated. Disney stepped in and bought the rights for the film (which would eventually be distributed by Miramax) and compiled a very sloppy, edited version of the film (with the inclusion of three song sequences and inclusion of dialogue spoken by the two main characters who remained speechless in the original film). The film received poor reviews and had poor reception at the box office. The film was panned off as an "Aladdin" rip-off, even though all the characters in Disney's "Aladdin" are pretty much exact look-alikes of the characters in "The Thief and the Cobbler".

What we are asking is for the current owners of this film, Disney, to either sell the rights to another company who will help Williams finish what he intended for the film, or you personally finance to help get a completed version of this film out there. We ask that the song sequences be removed and the dialogue by the main two characters be removed. We ask for the removed footage (the suffering King, the throne sequence, the Witch, the Thief getting caught stealing and being sentenced to have his hands cut off, and any other unfinished work print footage) to be put back in the film and completed.

Richard Williams' "The Thief and the Cobbler" is a mastermind vision of animation. It is regretful that because of those who have the most influence in the industry that the original concept of this film has not seen the light of day other than in a bootlegged work print version.

By signing this petition, you are agreeing that you are a supporter of Richard Williams and his vision, and that you will purchase the film on DVD if it is ever released in its completed format.

838 Signatures

  • Raphaele H
    • Comments
    • Please
  • Katherine
    • Comments
    • This is the most amazing film
  • kerri h
    • Comments
    • В
  • mike h
    • Comments
    • yes it should bereleased as originally planed with all sceens and dvd extrass
  • Lorrain O
    • Comments
    • I'll do my best to help. That great movie deserves to be seen by all in its original, beautiful form
  • Eunice H
  • fran k
  • Sanam
    • Comments
    • This animation masterpiece needs to be released in its original, brilliant version (and without the bad dubbing)
  • Valerie L
    • Comments
    • When I was a little girl, I used to think that this was the coolest movie - but could be drastically improved. Now, I know that the movie that I saw was just a poorly compiled, drawn, and edited version of the original, there is no doubt in my mind that Disney should release the rights to it - or re-release the movie in the way that it was supposed to be released, originally.
  • Morgan Arnold B
    • Comments
    • Very good i hope this will be successful but i think should be restored for theatres for it to become the success it was meant to be
  • sam
  • Vicor M
    • Comments
    • I can't beleive I had never heard of this until my animation prof. showed us the unbeleivably bad Miramax version. (thank God there's at least the recobbled version) It's disheartening to see such a wonderful work of artistic genius be hastily riuined. I certainly do hope to see it completed. it's only befitting of the big screen in all its rediculously well done glory and the world needs to watch. Richard Williams... You're the man.
  • Emma F
    • Comments
    • I grew up watching this movie, and it would be incredible to see it be realeased in it's true form, the way Richard wanted it to be.
  • Chrissy G
    • Comments
    • Please release this film the way it was MEANT to be seen!
  • Wylie E. C
    • Comments
    • Yes, please!
  • Jon G
    • Comments
    • this film needs to be released. over two decades of work went into this and its about time people got to see that.
  • Kevin S
    • Comments
    • It is the responsibility of Miramax to save this animated masterpiece from being lost forever. The loss of this film is one of the great tragedies in cinema. Help bring it back! We will gladly pay for a fully-restored, official, special features-loaded DVD of the TRUE version of Richard Williams' "The Thief and the Cobbler."
  • Richard
    • Comments
    • Save this amazing film! It is a true animated treasure! Thank you!
  • Louise C
  • Tuuli R
    • Comments
    • there is a very good film restauring studio in Finland and a sound restoring studio in St Petersburg.
  • Adelle U
    • Comments
    • I love animation so I would love to see this master piece come on dvd.
  • Tlaloc
  • Melissa C
  • David N
    • Comments
    • Please happen!
  • dino a
  • Kate D
  • Anthony J
    • Comments
    • What a hellish curse that makes us wait, with only fifteen minutes left to animate.
  • Paulina N
  • Schlusselhuber F
    • Comments
    • Help Richard!
  • Niv s
  • Brian R
    • Comments
    • Please let the world finally experience this film.
  • Sabrina D
  • Julian K
  • Colin F
    • Comments
    • This film deserves to be seen as it was meant to be seen.
  • Melanie
  • George W
    • Comments
    • I saw this on laserdisc and am surpised it hasn't been released properly on dvd
  • Rachel M
    • Comments
    • Please bring back the original vision of this wonderful film!
  • Ryan R
  • Kevin
    • Comments
    • This movie is a masterpiece. It is a sin for the public to not have it the way it was originally intended.
  • Philippe J
    • Comments
    • Shame on Disney studios for butchering a man's life work
  • chris
    • Comments
    • P-p-p-p-please get the DVD out!
  • Rebecca R
    • Comments
    • This is such a brautiful flim! It is painfully wrong to keep such a masterpiece from the public, and that it's only available in such a messed-up form. Why does Disney need the copyright, anyway? I doubt they've made much money off of it. Set it free!
  • Lucie R
  • Amy R
  • Laura R
  • Angi
    • Comments
    • This is the best animated movie ever made!
  • will
  • Carly C
    • Comments
    • Please, Disney, get this movie made.
  • Andy C
  • Holger L
    • Comments
    • I like the comment of signer 84 or 85, which expressed the wish for an immediate DVD release of the existing "Williams" footage, instead of "finishing" it. I also share the wish to include documentaries, Williams' shorts and other extras.