El Cid: The Legend

El Cid: The Legend (Spanish: El Cid: La leyenda) is a Spanish animated movie released on December 19, 2003, written by José Pozo, and based on the historical legend of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid.

Plot

Rodrigo's life as a child was a noble and happy one, he entered school at a young age. Often he went on adventures with his best friend Sancho and often visited his beloved one Jimena, the daughter of the count of Gormaz. His happiness did not last forever, after the death of the king Fernando, Rodrigo is seen wrapped in a world of plots and conspiracies that to will put an end to the life of Sancho and the consequent coronation of the infant Alfonso. All of a sudden, Rodrigo loses all that he has acquired, his best friend and the love of its beloved one, and is unjustly exiled to Castile without honor.

Music compositions

The principal musical theme of El Cid: The Legend was composed and interpreted by Luis Fonsi. It is called La fuerza del corazón.

They also collaborated with the Spanish rock group Diosa, which had already created music for other Spanish feature films.

Characters

• Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar/El Cid
• Jimena Díaz
• Yusuf ibn Tashfin/Ben Yusuf
• Prince Al-Mu'tamin
• Emir Al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza
• Count Gormaz
• Count Garcia Ordonez
• King Ferdinand
• Prince Sancho
• King Alfonso VI
• Princess Urraca
• Garces
• Fanez
• Babieca, Mare of Rodrigo
• Ruidoso, the Badger of Garces
• Vizier Al-Qadir of Valencia

Different from Reality

• Princess Urraca wasn't evil in real life. Her position as ruler of city of Zamora was never been confirmed as well.
• In reality, Alfonso was the one who against Sancho and want to be king of both Castile and León.
• Ben Yusuf never had his left eye scarred. His appearance in reality was "Brown color, middle height, thin, little beard, soft voice, black eyes, straight nose, lock of Muhammad falling on the top of his ear, eyebrow joined, wooly hair".

The left scarred eye is just the appearance for scary in animated only. But like in both reality and film, his voice is very soft.

• In reality, Prince Al-Mu'tamin was both prince and scientist of Kingdom of Zaragoza. While in the film, he is just a prince.
• Jimena never mentioned her older brother name Fernando, who was the leader of military of Kingdom of León.
• Count Gormaz real name is Diego Fernandez.
• In reality, Ben Yusuf was the honorable man and founder of city of Marrakesh. While in the film, he is a cruel, ruthless, unforgiving and evil man.
• Ben Yusuf and El Cid never met in person in reality. In reality, El Cid is mainly fought against his nephew name Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad and other two men of Yusuf during the second Battle for Valencia, not by Yusuf himself.
• Muhammad ibn 'A'isha, son of Ben Yusuf and governor of Murcia never been mentioned.
• In reality, the Almoravids had caused two invasions. It's the second invasion that they had planned to conquer whole Iberia Peninsula.
• Abu Ahmad Dja'far, the Emir of Valencia never been appear but it is possible that he is already get killed by Ben Yusuf. While in reality, he get executed by order of Rodrigo.
• In reality, Count Garcia Ordonez never have feeling for Jimena. He hates Rodrigo because Rodrigo publicly humiliated him during the Battle of Cabra and imprisoned him and his remaining knights for 3 days.
• Berenguer Ramon II, Count of Barcelona never been appeared or mentioned in the film.

Awards

• 2004
  • Goya Awards - Best Animated Picture

See also

• Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar
• El cid

External links

• Official Page of El Cid: La leyenda (Spanish)
• El Cid: The Legend
  Spanish: El Cid: La leyenda' at the Internet Movie Database