Twice Upon a Time

Nightmares are manufactured in the Murkworks and good dreams in Frivoli. Synonamess Botch, who runs the Murkworks, hatches a plan to turn everyone's sleep into one endless nightmare. The only ones who can stop him are the two least capable residents of Frivoli, Ralph and Mumford. Neither of them is a hero; they are two odd characters who happen to be in the wrong place. John Korty and Charles Swenson made the film with a technique they called Lumage: cut plastic pieces moved by hand on a light table. The result looks like nothing else animated at the time. Most of the dialogue is improvised. Although it was the first animated feature George Lucas produced, it barely played in cinemas and turned into a cult item over the years. Two versions went into circulation, one closer to adult language and one milder.