Taran

Taran
Background information
Feature films	The Black Cauldron
Video games	The Black Cauldron
Park attractions	Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour
Voice	Grant Bardsley Vincent Croiset (Dutch)
Character information
Other names	Taran of Caer Dallben, Pig boy, Master
Personality	Handsome, heroic, brave, headstrong, courageous, occasionally foolhardy
Appearance	Slender, 13 years old, red hair, green eyes, green vest, yellow long-sleeved shirt, green pants, brown boots
Occupation	Dallben's assistant pig keeper, farmboy, warrior, Princess Eilonwy's lover
Goal	To destroy the forces of evil
Home	Caer Dallben farm in Prydain
Pet(s)	Hen Wen (pig)
Allies	His guardian Dallben, his pig Hen Wen, his girlfriend Princess Eilonwy, Gurgi, Fflewddur Fflam, King Eidilleg, Doli, Fair Folk, Witches of Morva
Enemies	Horned King, Creeper, Cauldron Born
Likes	Heroics, dreaming about glory
Dislikes	Gurgi's fears and thefts, being treated like a simple peasant, evil, villains
Powers and abilities	Average strength
Paraphernalia	Magic sword
Fate	Skips along home in Caer Dallben with Princess Eilonwy, her bauble, Fflewddur, and Gurgi.
Quote	"Look at me, Hen! I can do it!"

Taran is the main protagonist of The Black Cauldron and is the deuteragonist in Disney's The Black Cauldron II. He was voiced by Grant Bardsley.

History

Taran is headstrong and courageous, though occasionally foolhardy, and harbors an intense desire to prove his worth and heroism through noble acts. Indeed, much of the movie centers on Taran's search for his own worth. Taran was a foundling discovered by Dallben, the enchanter and farmer. As Taran grew up, he became restless and longed for adventures beyond the borders of Caer Dallben. His time would eventually come when, just after being granted the position of Assistant Pig Keeper for Hen Wen, Dallben's oracular pig, the animal escapes her enclosure.

Personality

Taran is headstrong, and genuinely brave if a bit foolhardy and scared at times, with a great deal of determination to prove his worth to the world. He has the youthful foolishness and recklessness fitting for his age, but proves resourceful and loyal to his friends, going so far as to give up a magic sword that would cement his future as a famous warrior known to the world, in order to bring back a friend who had performed a heroic sacrifice.

Role in the film

Taran follows Hen Wen and soon finds himself caught up in an epic struggle that will determine the fate of the land of Prydain. During his adventures he meets (and eventually falls in love with) the beautiful Princess Eilonwy. With her help, he frees the ancient, magical sword Dyrnwyn from King Rhitta's tomb, an event that will set in motion the war that could bring about the defeat of the Horned King. Taran is assisted in his quest by many friends, including the self-styled Bard Fflewddur Fflam, the shaggy creature Gurgi, and the stalwart dwarf warrior Doli.

Disney Parks

A portrait of Taran appeared in the Tokyo Disneyland attraction Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour in the entry room of the walkthrough attraction. It switched to a picture of the Horned King when the Magic Mirror enters the scene and begins to establish that a hero is nothing without their villainous counterpart.

Also during the release of The Black Cauldron, Taran and Eilonwy were walk around characters at the parks.

Trivia

• Taran is the first human Disney protagonist to have red hair and green eyes. Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the second.