Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails

Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails is a 2021 American computer-animated musical fantasy adventure film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with animation provided by Reel FX Animation. A sequel to the 2011 animated film Swan Dream Pool, it was directed by Steve Hickner from the screenplay by Joe Stillman, Allison Schroeder, Eyal Podell and Jonathon E. Stewart and a story by Hickner, Akiva Goldsman, and Schroeder. The film stars the reprised roles of Janet Varney and Ben Kingsley alongside new additions of Skylar Astin (replacing Josh Hutcherson), Dylan O'Brien, John Cena, Karen Gillan, Robert De Niro, Kelly Clarkson, and Rob Riggle. The story takes place nine years after the events of the first film and continues Andy Clark and Wendy's journey as they go on a quest to the magic trails to recover the magic of Swan Dream Pool.

Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails was released on January 22, 2021, by United Artists Releasing simultaneously in theatres and on premium video-on-demand. Universal Pictures distributed the sequel internationally, replacing Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised the animation, voice acting, and songs, but was deemed inferior to the original movie. Despite grossing $151 million worldwide against its $65 million budget, becoming the thirty-third highest-grossing film of 2021 and the fifth highest-grossing animated film of the year, the film was still considered a box office disappointment due to limited theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is Kelly Asbury's final project, following his death on June 26, 2020, from abdominal cancer and the film was dedicated to his memory.

Plot
Nine years after the events of the first film, Andy Clark now works in the music shop (which was a little bit near the Swan Dream Pool) for customers that were interested in musical instruments. Meanwhile, Wendy was setting up a party (with the help of her father) around the Swan Dream Pool ("It's Such a Wonderful Day"). However, a wicked sorcerer Gaster was willing to take all of the magic from the pool. Wendy tries to get all of the magic back, but Gaster escaped.

Wendy feels sad about it, so she have to find a way to restore the pool ("Restore the Pool"). Kenneth reveals that "The Magic Trails" could lead to get the magic back to the pool. She then calls Andy Clark for help. He recognizes her voice and then reminds the customers and his boss Ray "he has a quest to do" before leaving the music shop. Wendy tells him what happened with its magical pool and how can they get the magic back. He accepts Wendy's quest and they both follow directions to The Magic Trails ("To The Magic Trails").

Meanwhile, Gaster was planning to use his stolen magic to create storms around, but his storm machine stated that he didn't get enough magic yet, much to his disappointment, but now thinking of a better plan thanks to Janet's help ("A Better Plan"). In The Magic Trails, Andy and Wendy find Dominic being trapped by the monsters. They both try to rescue him, but the monsters surrounded both of them, which led Andy and Wendy to defeat the monsters and rescue him. Dominic befriends Andy and Wendy afterwards. After reaching the end of The Magic Trails, they all discover another magical sorcerer Freya, who welcomes guests at the end. Wendy asks if she can make new magic to restore the Swan Dream Pool. Freya was happy to help make new magic ("We Can Help").

Freya made new magic in her potion for the Swan Dream Pool for Andy and Wendy to take a potion to the Swan Dream Pool. When Andy and Wendy arrived back to the Swan Dream Pool, she realized her father was missing and the pool was fully drained. Andy and Wendy then both went into argument over being too late to restore the pool, causing Wendy to end her friendship with him while he goes back to the music shop. Wendy gets captured by Gaster and his guards when she found out that he captures her father.

Dominic goes to the music shop to convince Andy that Gaster captured Wendy, Kenneth, and Freya. Andy now realizes he made a mistake, so he and Dominic went to Gaster's castle to rescue Wendy, Kenneth, and Freya. Gaster was about to make a storm magic at last, but Andy and Dominic stop his magic machine by destroying it. While both rescue the magical people (including Wendy), they all battle Gaster and his guards and defeat them. Wendy gets her magical potion back and they all escape when Gaster's castle was collapsing, leaving Gaster to get crushed to his death.

The magical people thank Andy and Dominic for helping them, and Wendy resumed her friendship with Andy. Andy, Wendy, and Kenneth returned back to the Swan Dream Pool to restore the pool with a new magic potion. After the Swan Dream Pool was fully restored, Wendy invites Andy, Dominic, and Freya for a party around the pool to have fun.

Cast

 * Skylar Astin as Andy Clark, an adventurous music shop owner.
 * Janet Varney as Wendy, a magical lady in the Swan Dream Pool.
 * Ben Kingsley as Kenneth, Wendy's father.
 * Dylan O'Brien as Dominic, an explorer who befriends Andy and Wendy.
 * John Cena as Ray, a boss of Andy Clark's music shop.
 * Karen Gillan as Freya, a sorcerer in The Magic Trails.
 * Robert De Niro as Gaster, a wicked sorcerer who steal magic.
 * Kelly Clarkson as Janet, Gaster's servant who helps on his plan.
 * Rob Riggle as Trail Monster.

Loop Group

 * Kimberly Bailey
 * Ryan Bartley
 * Dave Boat
 * Theo Borders
 * Chris Cox
 * Grey DeLisle-Griffin
 * Ben Diskin
 * Jason Harris
 * Phil LaMarr
 * Scott Menville
 * Cassandra Morris
 * Grace Rolek
 * Peter Pamela Rose
 * Michelle Ruff
 * Warren Sroka
 * Shane Sweet
 * Fred Tatasciore
 * Brittanny Tuerpe
 * Scott Whyte
 * Adam Wylie
 * ViviAnn Yee

Development
Following the success of the original Swan Dream Pool in 2011, director Steve Hickner was open to sequel ideas that if the script works out then he'll direct the sequel.

In 2015, MGM has greenlit plans to make a sequel for Swan Dream Pool with Steve Hickner returning to direct and Janet Varney reprising her role and Skylar Astin replacing Josh Hutcherson as Andy Clark. Joe Stillman was announced as screenwriter of the sequel. Reel FX Creative Studios also returned to animate the sequel.

In 2016, Warner Bros. opted to drop out from the sequel due to its distribution rights expired after the TV series. Allison Schroeder (of Hidden Figures and Christopher Robin fame), Eyal Podell and Jonathon E. Stewart (of Cars 3 fame) were hired to rewrite the screenplay for Stillman in July 2017. Steve Hickner, Akiva Goldsman, and Schroeder would later be credited as story writers. In February 2019, Dylan O'Brien, John Cena, Karen Gillan, Robert De Niro, Kelly Clarkson, and Rob Riggle joined the voice cast with MGM and Annapurna Pictures handling domestic distribution through United Artists Releasing joint venture and Universal Pictures handling international distribution rights.

Production of the film done and shifted to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Music
On January 12, 2020, MGM announced that Marc Shaiman will return to score music and write songs with Scott Wittman for its sequel. It was also revealed that Joel McNeely would join Shaiman to score the sequel. On December 1, 2020, Shaiman and Wittman reveal details for the soundtrack album, including "Restore the Pool" by Janet Varney. The soundtrack album was released on January 8, 2021, by Lakeshore Records.

Theatrical
Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails was originally scheduled to be released on August 28, 2020 in theaters in time for the first film's 9th anniversary, but following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MGM announced that the sequel was delayed later in 2020 with Bill & Ted Face the Music taking its old slot before being moved to October 16, 2020. On October 2, 2020, voice actress Janet Varney announced that the film was pushed back to January 22, 2021. On November 5, 2020, director Steve Hickner announced that the United States release will also be available in premium video on demand. It was released in 2D, RealD 3D, and Dolby Cinema. On September 28, 2020, it was confirmed that it will get an IMAX release in some territories.

The film was originally going to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland and some European countries (including the Netherlands on January 7), two weeks before its North American release. Most of the international releases would later be delayed until February 2021 while it opened in Australia and Mexico on January 21 and in China on January 29.

Marketing
The first trailer of the film was released on June 16, 2020. The second trailer was released on October 14, 2020.

The studio spent about $15 million promoting the film. The Wendy balloon debuted at the 94th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2020. McDonald's released 6 Happy Meal toys based of it on January 12, 2021.

Video game
A video game based on the film was released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC on January 15, 2021. It was developed by Climax Studios and published by Outright Games.

Home media
Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails was released on digital on April 6, 2021, and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and DVD on April 20, 2021, by MGM Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. All releases include a short film Abracadabra Challenge.

Box office and VOD
Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails grossed $36.6 million in the United States and Canada and $114.7 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $151.3 million, making it the fifth highest-grossing animated movie of 2021 worldwide (behind Cool Spot: Spot Goes to Hollywood, Alaina Gleen: World's Most Wanted, Sing 2, and Encanto).

In the United States and Canada, Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails was projected to gross around $9 million from 2,075 theaters in its opening weekend. After making just $2.5 million in its opening day, weekend box office projections were lowered to $7 million. It ended up debuting $7.3 million, making it the second animated title to top the box office weekend during the COVID-19 pandemic after The Croods: A New Age (or third when counting the Canadian theatrical releases of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run), but 85% less than its predecessor's opening weekend ($49.2 million). That same weekend, it was the top-rented film on FandangoNow, Vudu, Apple TV, and Google Play. In its second weekend, the film fell 58% while grossing $3 million, dropping into second place at the box office behind newcomers The Little Things. It also remained number 1 on Apple TV, FandangoNow, and Google Play. The underperformance was blamed on the limited theaters during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic whether the audiences felt going back to movie theaters or watching it at home via premium video-on-demand. It however performed better in PVOD sales with $71 million.

In its first international opening weekend, the film grossed $1.2 million in Australia and $800,000 in Mexico. The film then made $15.4 million in China.

In April 2021, director Steve Hickner expressed his disappointment as he thought audiences would fully come back to movie theaters.

Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 175 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Swan Dream Pool: The Magic Trails makes an agreeable musical magic comeback in nearly ten years, even if it cannot recapture brilliance of its predecessor." On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 55 out of 100 based on 35 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale (lower than the first film's "A−"), while PostTrak reported 79% of those gave the film a positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.

Main
To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

Trailers
To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.