Bastian has sealed himself off from the world and finds himself in the sanctity of the school attic. He believes he’s about to delve into a fantastic book, a way to escape from the math test downstairs, from the mounting pressures and demands of the mundane world, and, most importantly, from the grief that threatens to consume him.
BASTIAN’S TIME
He takes a deep breath as if inspired, cracks open the book, and looks confused at first. But then begins to read.
He knows he’ll have to return this strange book to Koreander, and that his father will soon learn about his school absence. But not right now. For now, it’s Bastian’s time.
Just as any great fantasy book serves as a portal to another world, the moment Bastian begins to read, the movie itself becomes a portal fantasy.
But for Bastian it’s far more. Even though he doesn’t yet know it, even though he’s not even a self-insert or directly interacting, he’s very much a part of the world unfolding on the page, even moreso than the Pevensies were a part of Narnia.
Right away, we’re treated to a handful of fantastic characters and creatures that could only be birthed from brilliant imagination. But there’s also a dark edge to it all, an unsettling feeling. A foreboding wind blows and something big approaches. There’s something terribly wrong with this world.
It’s here the loveable fan favorite “Rock Biter” makes his silver screen debut.
A MOVIE ABOUT NOTHING
The rock giant describes a phenomenon far more terrifying than any fantasy antagonist I can think of: He describes The Nothing.
Rockbiter: Near my home, there used to be a beautiful lake. But then. Then, it was gone.
Tiny: Did the lake… dry up?
Rockbiter: No, it just wasn’t there anymore. Nothing was there anymore. Not even a dried up lake.
Tiny: A hole?
Rockbiter: A hole would be something. Nah, it was nothing. And it got bigger. And bigger. First there was no lake anymore. And then finally, no rocks.
Tiny and the Nighthob both agree this is a huge problem, as The Nothing has been eating up their homelands, too. In fact, all three were sent on journeys to the Ivory Tower, located in the heart of Fantasia.
Their hopes ride on Fantasia’s ruler, the Childlike Empress, believing she will somehow know what to do.
Book vs. Movie: Fantasia is “Fantastica” in the book. I prefer Fantasia.
But hearing that The Nothing is in so many lands puts even more fear into their collective hearts. The Nighthob suggests strongly that The Nothing might already be… everywhere. And that Fantasia might be coming to an end.
But an even more terrifying question lingers: How does one fight nothing? Not even a race as mighty as the Rock Biters can stand up to such a thing.
And as we’ll soon find out, the concept of The Nothing is central to understanding the true meaning of this film.
It’s also the biggest challenge for the director. How does one film nothing?
The answer soon comes, as The Nothing arrives just before the Rock Biter is able to depart. It’s a howling wind that sweeps away land more effectively than an EF5 tornado. The effects are plain to see.
But–as a testament to masterful directing and masterful puppetry alike–the look on Rock Biter’s face as he witnesses this horror says more than showing it ever could:
THE IVORY TOWER
The tower looks like a fantasy/sci-fi novel come to life from a time when most fiction novel covers still dared to evoke the imagination. It would truly be tragic if The Nothing were to swallow up such beauty.
Occult Lens: Atop the tower’s needle rests a trinity of circles (possibly symbolizing the Ajna) supporting the Empress’ palace. The palace, interestingly, was fashioned after a flower bud only beginning to bloom.
By the time the trio of travelers reach the tower, citizens from all over Fantasia have already arrived.
Occult Lens: Some of Fantasia’s denizens are beyond creepy, including more than a few races that would be right at home at an Illuminati Ball:
The Empress’ retainer confronts the crowd and explains he is aware of the problem of The Nothing, and announces further terrible news: that the Childlike Empress has fallen deathly ill.
He explains the Empress cannot help them, and that The Nothing and the Childlike Empress’ illness are somehow intertwined. (Could these two problems also be connected to Bastian, perhaps?)
He offers hope in the form of a brave warrior, the bravest of the plainspeople. A young man named Atreyu.
Nick Enlowe 
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