What is Willy McBean & His Magic Machine?
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist. Task: Write a factual, original 150-190 word overview of "Willy McBean & His Magic Machine" (1965).
- Type
- Film
- Year
- 1965
- Release date
- Jun 23, 1965
- Genres
- Animation, Family, Adventure
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 5.5/10
Trailer
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Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a factual, original 150-190 word overview of "Willy McBean & His Magic Machine" (1965).
Constraints:
ONLY verifiable facts from provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No inventing/guessing titles, names, dates, counts, awards, ratings, box-office, viewership, or plot points.
Omit details not in the material.
Style: Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Format: Plain text (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Word Count: 150-190 words.
First sentence must not contain spoilers.
Title: Willy McBean & His Magic Machine (also Willy McBean and His Magic Machine).
Year: 1965.
Release Date (US): 06/23/1965.
Genres: Animation, Family, Adventure, stop motion animated time travel musical film.
Runtime: 1h 34m.
Plot: Little Willy McBean joins up with a Mexican monkey named Pablo to travel back in time and stop the evil Prof. von Rotten from changing history.
Production: Produced by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass ' Videocraft International (now Rankin/Bass Productions) in the United States and Dentsu Motion Pictures in Japan.
Presentation: Presented by Marshall Naify.
Release: Released by Magna Picture.
Director: Arthur Rankin Jr.
Should you watch it?
“A young boy and his monkey companion travel through time to thwart a villainous history-altering plot.”
- Features a unique collaborative production between American and Japanese studios.
- Showcases the distinct stop-motion animation style of the mid-1960s.
- Offers a lighthearted, fast-paced narrative spanning various historical eras.
- The dated animation techniques may not appeal to viewers accustomed to modern digital effects.
Watch it if you are a fan of mid-century stop-motion animation and historical adventure stories.
This is a family-oriented musical adventure with a brisk pace and a whimsical, vintage tone.
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Your verdict
Is Willy McBean & His Magic Machine worth watching?
Frequently asked questions
Is this film worth watching?
It is a significant piece of animation history for fans of the Rankin/Bass studio style.
How long is the movie?
The film has a runtime of one hour and thirty-four minutes.
Where can I stream this film?
Availability varies by region and platform, so please check your local digital rental or streaming services.
Is this a series or a standalone film?
This is a standalone feature-length motion picture released in 1965.
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