Ronal the Barbarian
A weak barbarian must save his clan from an evil lord.
Ronal the Barbarian is a 2011 Danish adult animated fantasy comedy film. It was co-directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, and Philip Einstein Lipski, marking their third feature for the cinema. The movie pokes fun at barbarians and other clichés found in sword and sorcery stories, role-playing games, and films like *Conan the Barbarian*, *Lord of the Rings*, and the *Dungeons & Dragons* class system. It also winks at the 1980s fantasy craze and its link to traditional heavy metal. Released in Denmark on September 29, 2011, it flopped at the box office, earning only $2 million against a $3 million budget.
The story takes place in the land of Metalonia. The demon Zaal is defeated by Kron, the mightiest hero in the world. As Kron dies, a hundred warriors drink his blood to gain his strength, becoming the first barbarians. Ten thousand years later, the barbarian clan is the strongest and bravest in the world—except for Ronal. He is weak but clever, unable to swing an axe or fight. Ronal chooses to be the clan’s lookout, an easy job since no one dares attack them. During a feast, Ronal spots an army led by the evil Lord Volcazar. He tries to blow the warning horn, but his lungs are too weak, and the barbarians are caught off guard. Ronal’s uncle Gundar is killed, and all other barbarians are captured. Only Ronal and Aliberth, a traveling bard-in-training, are left behind.
Ronal visits an oracle for help, and Aliberth decides to join him. The oracle reveals that Volcazar wears a magical suit of armor, and the only weapon that can kill him is the sword Kron used to destroy Zaal. It must be wielded by a fearless warrior. Volcazar’s sorcerer tries to resurrect Zaal using the captured barbarians’ blood, but the spell fails because one barbarian—Ronal—is missing. Volcazar sends his army to find him. Ronal and Aliberth search for Elvengard, the elven kingdom, hoping to find a library containing all the world’s wisdom, including the location of Kron’s sword. They are confronted by a young shield-maiden named Zandra, who beats up any warrior who challenges her. Ronal tearfully begs for his life, and she reluctantly spares him since he is not a worthy opponent. Aliberth suggests she might be the fearless warrior the oracle mentioned, and Zandra agrees to help save the barbarians.
They travel to a village where an elf named Elric lives.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen / Thorbjørn Christoffersen / Philip Einstein Lipski
- Producer
- Trine Heidegaard
- Writer
- Thorbjørn Christoffersen
- Starring
- Anders Juul / Lærke Winther Andersen
- Music
- Nicklas Schmidt
- Editing
- Per Düring Risager
- Studio
- Einstein Film
- Distributor
- Nordisk Film
- Runtime
- 89 minutes
- Country
- Denmark
- Language
- Danish / English
- Budget
- DKK 18 million ($3 million)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Ronal and Aliberth consult an oracle, who reveals that Volcazar wears magical armor and can only be killed by Kron's sword, wielded by a fearless warrior. They seek help from a shield-maiden named Zandra and an elven archer named Elric. Ronal retrieves the location of Kron's sword from the elven library using an invisibility potion. Zandra is captured by Volcazar, and Ronal is later captured as well. Their blood is used to resurrect Zaal, who combines with Volcazar. Aliberth retrieves Kron's sword and passes it to Ronal, who stabs the same weak spot on Volcazar's skull that Kron once used, destroying both Volcazar and Zaal. Ronal is believed dead but wakes up, and he and Zandra marry.
Reader's Guide
Ronal the Barbarian is notable as a Danish adult animated fantasy comedy that parodies the conventions of sword and sorcery fiction, role-playing games, and 1980s fantasy films. Despite its ambitious parody of classics like Conan the Barbarian and Dungeons & Dragons, the film was a box office bomb, grossing only $2 million against a $3 million budget. Its voice cast includes sword and sorcery veterans Brigitte Nielsen and Sven-Ole Thorsen in the original Danish, and Dee Snider in the English dub. The film's significance lies in its Danish origin and its attempt to blend adult humor with fantasy tropes, though its commercial failure limited its impact. It remains a cult curiosity for fans of animated fantasy parodies.
Did You Know?
- The English-language dub features voice actors including Ben Bledsoe, Dee Snider, Ashley Acarino, Pierce Cravens, and Louis Lombardi.
- The film grossed only $2 million against a budget of $3 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ronal the Barbarian?
It is a 2011 Danish animated feature made for adult audiences that mixes fantasy with comedy. The film takes a satirical swipe at the archetypes of sword-and-sorcery storytelling, tabletop role-playing games, and the broader 1980s fantasy boom.
Who directed Ronal the Barbarian?
The project was co-directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, and Philip Einstein Lipski. It marked their third theatrical feature as a team.
What is the plot of Ronal the Barbarian?
The story centers on a physically underwhelming barbarian who is forced to protect his clan from a tyrannical lord. Despite lacking the conventional strength expected of a hero, he must step up to save his people.
What kinds of media does Ronal the Barbarian parody?
The film lampoons the conventions of classic sword-and-sorcery properties such as Conan and Lord of the Rings. It also riffs on Dungeons & Dragons class mechanics and the broader 1980s fantasy-and-heavy-metal cultural wave.
How did Ronal the Barbarian perform at the box office?
Released in Denmark on September 29, 2011, the film failed to recoup its roughly $3 million production budget. It grossed approximately $2 million, making it a commercial disappointment.
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