The story of The NeverEnding Story remains a staple of 1980s fantasy cinema. Its production featured elaborate sets, complex animatronics, and a very public legal battle involving the original author.
This quiz asks about the technical side of the film, from the creation of the 43-foot luckdragon to the filming conditions within the Bavaria Film Studios. You will also see questions about the injuries the cast endured.
If you like these questions, check out our fantasy movie trivia, look into book adaptations, or explore special effects history.
Which giant, ancient character lives in the Swamp of Sadness?
Gmork
Gmork
Falkor
Falkor
Morla
Morla
Artax
Artax
What animal does the character Atreyu ride in the Swamp of Sadness scene?
A horse
A horse
A lion
A lion
A bear
A bear
A dog
A dog
What is the name of the luckdragon character in the film?
Falkor
Falkor
Vermithrax
Vermithrax
Smaug
Smaug
Draco
Draco
How was the luckdragon primarily portrayed during the filming of the movie?
A giant animatronic puppet operated by a crew
A giant animatronic puppet operated by a crew
Stop-motion animation
Stop-motion animation
An actor in a full-body costume suit
An actor in a full-body costume suit
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Who wrote the original fantasy novel that the film was based upon?
Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Michael Ende
Michael Ende
George Lucas
George Lucas
What was the primary reason author Michael Ende filed a lawsuit against the production company?
He was denied the opportunity to direct the movie himself
He was denied the opportunity to direct the movie himself
The studio refused to cast the lead actors he wanted
The studio refused to cast the lead actors he wanted
He did not receive his agreed-upon royalty payments
He did not receive his agreed-upon royalty payments
The film deviated significantly from his original book
The film deviated significantly from his original book
What dangerous mishap did actor Noah Hathaway experience while filming the Swamp of Sadness scenes?
He was bitten by a trained snake on the set
He was bitten by a trained snake on the set
He fell from a tree branch and fractured both of his ankles
He fell from a tree branch and fractured both of his ankles
He suffered severe chemical burns from the artificial dye in the water
He suffered severe chemical burns from the artificial dye in the water
His leg got caught in a hydraulic lift, dragging him underwater until he was unconscious
His leg got caught in a hydraulic lift, dragging him underwater until he was unconscious
Where was the Swamp of Sadness sequence physically filmed?
In a natural lake in the Canadian wilderness
In a natural lake in the Canadian wilderness
In a massive indoor stage at a German film studio
In a massive indoor stage at a German film studio
In an outdoor backlot tank in Hollywood
In an outdoor backlot tank in Hollywood
In a real peat bog located in southern Spain
In a real peat bog located in southern Spain
How many operators were required to control the facial features and movements of the animatronic Falkor’s head?
14
14
26
26
18
18
22
22
Which of these major physical injuries did Noah Hathaway actually suffer while working on the film?
He lost a finger when a hydraulic set piece malfunctioned
He lost a finger when a hydraulic set piece malfunctioned
He fractured his skull during a stunt jump into a cave set
He fractured his skull during a stunt jump into a cave set
He cracked two vertebrae when a horse fell on top of him
He cracked two vertebrae when a horse fell on top of him
He broke his collarbone after falling off the animatronic dragon
He broke his collarbone after falling off the animatronic dragon
Which production company was the subject of Michael Ende’s famous lawsuit?
Constantin Film
Constantin Film
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Approximately how long was the full-sized animatronic luckdragon prop?
40 feet
40 feet
60 feet
60 feet
30 feet
30 feet
50 feet
50 feet
What kind of animal is Artax, Atreyu’s loyal companion in the film?
Luckdragon
Luckdragon
Horse
Horse
Turtle
Turtle
Snail
Snail
Which famous fantasy author filed a lawsuit against Constantin Film over the 1984 adaptation of his book?
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Astrid Lindgren
Astrid Lindgren
Michael Ende
Michael Ende
Approximately how much did the animatronic luckdragon’s head alone weigh?
150 pounds
150 pounds
200 pounds
200 pounds
250 pounds
250 pounds
100 pounds
100 pounds
Which quote is attributed to author Michael Ende regarding his feelings on the 1984 film adaptation of his book?
‘They turned my literature into a theme park’
‘They turned my literature into a theme park’
‘A total betrayal of the author’s vision’
‘A total betrayal of the author’s vision’
‘A gigantic melodrama of kitsch, commerce, plush and plastic’
‘A gigantic melodrama of kitsch, commerce, plush and plastic’
‘The book is like a tree, the film is just a branch’
‘The book is like a tree, the film is just a branch’
How exactly was Noah Hathaway injured by a horse during rehearsals for the film?
He was thrown off a horse, which then stepped on him
He was thrown off a horse, which then stepped on him
A horse stepped on his foot while he was feeding it
A horse stepped on his foot while he was feeding it
He fell off a horse and got kicked in the chest
He fell off a horse and got kicked in the chest
He was bitten by a horse during a close-up scene
He was bitten by a horse during a close-up scene
In which city were the Bavaria Film Studios located where the filming took place?
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Munich, West Germany
Munich, West Germany
Paris, France
Paris, France
London, England
London, England
What was the long-term impact of the accident Noah Hathaway experienced with the horse?
It left him unable to walk without assistance after filming wrapped
It left him unable to walk without assistance after filming wrapped
It prevented him from speaking properly for a year
It prevented him from speaking properly for a year
It caused decades of spinal issues requiring multiple surgeries later in life
It caused decades of spinal issues requiring multiple surgeries later in life
It resulted in a permanent loss of vision in one eye
It resulted in a permanent loss of vision in one eye
What material was used to construct the internal frame of the 43-foot-long Falkor animatronic?
Airplane steel
Airplane steel
Structural bamboo
Structural bamboo
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Lightweight fiberglass
Lightweight fiberglass
What was the eventual outcome of the lawsuit filed by Michael Ende?
The film company had to pay Ende royalties for the rest of his life
The film company had to pay Ende royalties for the rest of his life
The parties settled out of court and the film remained released
The parties settled out of court and the film remained released
Michael Ende won and the film was pulled from theaters
Michael Ende won and the film was pulled from theaters
The court ruled in favor of the film production company
The court ruled in favor of the film production company
Which of these statements regarding the technical setup of the Swamp of Sadness is factually correct?
Atreyu’s horse wasn’t really sinking in mud, but in a mixture of cellulose and water
Atreyu’s horse wasn’t really sinking in mud, but in a mixture of cellulose and water
The scene took three months to film in its entirety
The scene took three months to film in its entirety
The horse’s legs were physically tied down to prevent escape
The horse’s legs were physically tied down to prevent escape
The scene was actually shot on a beach in Italy
The scene was actually shot on a beach in Italy
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
Once you finish, you can also browse our articles on troubled film sets, see what else we have in family adventures, or view our cult classics collection.
