The Magic Store

The Magic Store is a 1989 British animated made-for-television film produced by Charles Hill Films, Orion Pictures (uncredited) and Michael Shires Pictures and distributed by Montague Pictures, Pentagon Pictures and Orion Pictures based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Ronald Davis. It was directed by Chris Randall and written by James Herbert. The film first premiered in Odeon Cinemas across the UK on November 3, 1989. The film was first shown on December 25, 1991 on ITV in the UK.

Cast

 * Paige O'Hara as Major Doctor Gloria
 * Martin Jarvis as General Scar
 * Robby Benson as Dagon
 * Cathy Cavadini as Princess Matilda
 * Michael Hordern as Mr. Tyke
 * Gregg Berger as Henry the Brain
 * Martin Short as Stomach the Mouse
 * Frank Welker as Card Commando
 * Frank Oz as Beast the Bear

Production

 * According to Chris Randall the director of the film, Ronald Davis was very supportive to the studio in production. The film was actually completed in 1989, and premiered in the same year in Odeon Cinemas across the UK.

Initial release

 * The Magic Store was originally released by Montague Pictures at their Odeon Cinemas on November 3, 1989, including the one in Newcastle upon Tyne where the film premiered. The Magic Store was a box office success.
 * The theatrical run ran from November 1989 to April 1990.

Media releases

 * The film was first released on VHS by Video Collection International in 1992 (with Thorn EMI's Thames Video), and again in 1996 and 1998 in the United Kingdom.
 * Roadshow Home Video and ABC Video released the film on VHS in Australia in 1994, while its first video release in the United States was by Orion Home Video in 1997.
 * In 2002, FremantleMedia released the film on DVD and VHS the same releases, followed by the Daily Mirror DVD.
 * Other releases followed in 2008 by FremantleMedia's release. The American DVD release was distributed by MGM DVD in 1999 and Warner Home Video in 2006.
 * In 2010, Michael Shires Studios Home Entertainment released a digitally restored DVD and Blu-ray Disc in widescreen; the first time it had been seen in widescreen since its original release in 1989.
 * In 2017, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment UK released the film on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.