The Last Unicorn (U.S. movie)

Christopher Lee who voiced King Haggard, showed up to the recording sessions armed with his own copy of the book, with several places marked to indicate things that according to him must not be excluded from the film. He did the same thing during the production of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) and its sequels in which he also showed up on the sets with his own copy of the books, and was often a stickler for the exact fidelity to the novels.

While negotiating for this movie to be made, author Peter S. Beagle told associate producer Michael Chase Walker that he particularly didn't want to work with the Rankin/Bass Company as he had hated their adaptation of "The Hobbit" (1977) and their famous Christmas TV specials. However, when Walker informed Beagle that Rankin/Bass had already signed a deal, he was horrified and had threatened to pull out of the project but he eventually relented as they were the only major animation studio who’d agree to adapt the book. Despite having skepticism towards the way the film will turn out, when Beagle met with Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., and he liked their ideas and was happy that they were determined to be faithful to the novel, so he ended up agreeing to work with them.