A young assistant pig-keeper named Taran is frustrated working for his boss, Dallben, as he would rather prove his heroism in battle. Dallben swears Taran to secrecy, then shows the boy how a special pig named “Hen Wen” is able to produce magical visions. The prophecy produced by Hen Wen reveals that the Horned King is hunting the “Black Cauldron,” a mystical object that has been hidden for centuries and will unleash a powerful evil army. The Horned King also knows of the pig’s powers to bring forth visions, and plans to use Hen Wen to locate the Black Cauldron. Dallben orders Taran to hide the pig at a secret cottage in the forbidden forrest, and warns that the Horned King is a threat to all. In the woods, Hen Wen runs away, and is captured by the king’s dragons. When Taran journeys to the castle to rescue the pig, he is caught by the Horned King. The boy and Hen Wen are forced to conjure visions, but flee as the king’s henchmen give chase. Although Taran is captured and imprisoned, he throws the pig to safety into the castle moat. In captivity, Taran is visited by a young girl named Princess Eilonwy, who reveals that she is also a prisoner because the king believes her magic orb will reveal the Black Cauldron’s whereabouts. Eilonwy leads Taran through the castle’s secret passageways as they try to escape. The two stumble upon the burial chamber of the previous king, where Taran uncovers a sword. When Eilonwy and Taran are chased by guards, Taran uses the sword for protection, and it magically destroys a henchman’s axe. Taran leads Eilonwy through the castle, with newfound confidence. Battling their attackers along the way, they escape, along with fellow captive, Fflewddur. Safely in the woods, the three are joined by a friendly creature named Gurgi, who offers to help them find Hen Wen. The friends fall into a whirlpool, and awaken in a fairyland, where they meet the affable fairies and find Hen Wen. The ruler of the fairies, King Eidilleg, reveals the whereabouts of the black cauldron and Taran plans to destroy the vessel before the Horned King can claim it. Leaving Hen Wen behind, Taran, Eilonwy, Ffewddur, and Gurgi are escorted by a fairy named Doli to the Marshes of Morva. Once there, they are met by three sister witches who agree to trade the Black Cauldron for Taran’s sword. The witches explain that while the cauldron can never be destroyed, its powers will be destroyed if someone climbs inside the chalice. However, that person can never return alive from inside the cauldron. Taran regrets trading his sword but Eilonwy expresses her confidence in him. They are soon captured by the king’s henchmen, but Gurgi escapes. In the castle, the Horned King shows his captors his master plan, then places a skeleton into the cauldron to awaken the evil army. Later, Gurgi sneaks into the castle and frees his friends. Despite their protests, Taran makes his way to the Black Cauldron and prepares to climb inside, but Gurgi jumps in before him. As the dark army begins to dissipate, the Horned King returns to the cauldron to insert another skeleton, but the vessel’s dark spell is broken, and the king is destroyed. As the castle crumbles, Taran and his friends escape by boat, and the Black Cauldron later surfaces in the open water. When the witches return to reclaim the cauldron, Fflewddur demands they negotiate a trade. Instead of asking for the sword, Taran requests his fallen friend, Gurgi, and the witches return the deceased creature. To their surprise, the furry critter springs to life. As the friends cheer, Gurgi tricks Taran and Eilonwy into kissing each other.