| “ | I am the great and mysterious Blackstone. Now, look into my hands. Yes, the lights. When I, the Amazing Blackstone, snap my fingers you will follow my every word, perform every deed I command. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone's charismatic and manipulative nature, as he uses his hypnotic powers to control and dominate others. |
| “ | As much as it shocks me Norman, it appears we aren't so different. What you want to do is put people in a trance. Do you not? You rely on expensive gadgetry of course. While I employ my priceless natural talents. But still, it is hypnosis. Partners? Excellent. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone's cunning and insight, as he recognizes the similarities between his hypnotic powers and Norm's manipulative tactics. |
| “ | I'm really so sick of your screaming. Too many years I've been in your shadow. Considered your inferior. Tonight it's time to reveal the truth: the truth is, I've always outclassed and outsmarted you but you were always to stupid to realize it. But unlike you, I’m a patient person. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone's superiority complex and resentment towards Norm, as he seeks to assert his dominance and prove his intellectual superiority. |
Bob “Blackstone” Blandsford (better known known as Blackstone) is one of the two main antagonists (alongside his brother Norm Blandsford) of the 2017 animated film Bunyan and Babe.
He is Norman’s twin brother who is a magician that aids him in his schemes on making Delbert County into BunyanWorld using his hypnosis powers to brainwash the citizens into signing over their properties to him.
He was voiced by comedian actor Kelsey Grammer who also voiced Norm Blandsford in the same film, Doctor Frankenollie from Runaway Brain, Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons, Stinky Pete from Toy Story 2, Dr. Ivan Krank from Teachers Pet The Movie, and Hunter from Storks.
Personality[]
Blackstone is a ruthless, cunning, and manipulative individual with a grandiose sense of self-importance. He is driven by a desire for power and control, and has no qualms about using underhanded tactics to achieve his goals. Blackstone is highly intelligent and calculating, always thinking several steps ahead of his opponents. He is also incredibly arrogant, often belittling others and flaunting his own perceived superiority.
Despite his polished exterior, Blackstone has a volatile temper and can become unhinged when his plans are foiled or his ego is threatened. He is a master manipulator, using his charm, wit, and hypnotic abilities to bend others to his will.
Biography[]
Blackstone appears when he is hosting a magic show as he shows the audience by hypnotizing a person while Gustav takes his cash out of his wallet as Blackstone performs while having the contestant turned into multiple things such as Monkey, Rcokstar, and sleeping.
Blackstone is dismayed because of the audience’s lack of interest of his magician show asking Gustav how long there would live at the venue with his henchmen replying that they didn’t renew their contract, frustrating Blackstone. Iris calls in to inform him that Norm wants to his help with a deal of making him rich, making Blackstone interested.
Blackstone and Gustav entered Blandsford Development where they are welcomed by Iris who orders her to inform Norman that he’s here. Norman tells him that he has tried everything with the citizens (offers or muscle etc) but none of them don’t want to sell to him, explaining he needs his help in order to obtain the town by having him hypnotize them to sign their property to him, which Blackstone happily accepts.
Blackstone and Gustav enter the General Store while ordering his guard to watch while they wandered into the store. Blackstone asks Mrs Mundy if she can sign her deed to him from Blandsford Development but she refuses, having him hypnotize her into doing it while Travis watches him. After turning her back to her gaze, Blackstone witnesses Travis watching it After Travis escaped, Gustav informs him about it, Blackstone angrily leaves him while his guard goes after him. Norm tells Bob that he has tried everything to convincer the citizens to sign their properties to him, asking him if he can hypnotize them into in which he responds on helping him with that.
In the evening at his office, Blackstone gives him the property with Norman not being pleased. Norman asks him what happened, Blackstone explains that a young boy, Travis, saw him at the General Store watching him hypnotizing Mrs. Mindy, and escaped from Gustav chasing him. Norman tells Blackstone that his whole plan is to make BunyanWorld where he wants to force people into being indebted and wants to make it into his land.
In the morning at his office, Blackstone discusses with Norman on forming equal partnership. Iris informs him that Babe is unconscious, as the group goes outside seeing him hurt. Norman orders her to to take him off his property even though Iris informs him that he needs to go to a vet. He angrily responds that he doesn’t care and tells her to get rid of it as he leaves. However, having an idea after a comment from Gustav about the ox, Norman tells Blackstone that they will have Babe be painted and become an attraction at the fair, with Blackstone interested in the plan.
Norm and Blackstone discuss their plans with Norm panning to make BunyanWorld while Blackstone wants to burn the land down with it quickly, horrifying both Iris and Babe. After seeing Iris leaving, Norman snarlingly states that she’s fired. Babe tries to escape just as Norman takes out a tranquilizer gun while shooting him unconscious. He and Blackstone take Babe to The County Fair. In the carnival, Blackstone announces the folks attention and showing them Babe The Great Blue Ox (who is chained) with a shock and horrified Whitney watching as he hypnotizes the citizens. Blackstone and Norman have the citizens (including Travis and Whitney’s grandparents) sign their deeds with Whitney being horrified.
After finishing the deeds being signed, Norman angrily demanded Blackstone to give him the property deeds before being brainwashed by him. Blackstone and Gustav leave Norman along with the hypnotized citizens behind, but not before being confronted by Paul Bunyan. He blackmailed him into choosing on either stopping him or saving everyone from the fire just as Gustav comes in but Paul leaves to rescue the citizens. Blackstone and Gustav leave but the water floods as they attempted to escape from it but not before
Travis uses the hypnotist words, (the same ones Blackstone used while hypnotizing his victims) to turn them back to their own lives, saving them from being brainwashed and killed. Blackstone and Gustav leave but the water floods (which Paul uses to stop the fire) as they attempted to escape from it but not before being washed out back inside the tent. Blackstone, Norman, and Bob get exposed by Travis for their crimes of trying to brainwash everyone to make it into a land. Norman then argues and fights his brother for betraying him while they try to take the case away before Paul exposes the evidence of it. As Blackstone and Gustav gets arrested, Norman tries to avoid escape only to be thrown into the car while accusing his brother of ruining his plans, with Blackstone responding him to shut his mouth, as the trio get sent to prison for their crimes.
Quotes[]
| “ | I am the great and mysterious Blackstone.
Now, look into my hands. Yes, the lights. When I, the Amazing Blackstone, snap my fingers you will follow my every word, perform every deed I command. You are now a chicken. Monkey. Rockstar. Asleep. When you awake, you’ll remember nothing. |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone’s first line using his hypnosis on a contestant |
| “ | Blackstone: Unnapprefiative neantherdals, don’t they respect brilliance once they see it!? How many weeks are we booked in this so called venue?
Gustav: |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone’s frustration on his audience from his magician show |
| “ | Iris: Hello… Mr. Blackstone? I’m calling from Blandsford Office. Blackstone: And your point is? |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone being called by Iris that he’s being hired by Norm |
| “ | Iris: Can I get you gentleman something to drink? We have root beers, sassafras tea, or prune juice.
Blackstone: Just tell Norman his brother is here. Iris: Ohh, you’re Mr. Blandsford’s brother. Lamentable yes. |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone interested Norm’s offer |
| “ | Norman Blandsford: Hello, Bob. Blackstone Barclay: Blackstone, my name is Blackstone. |
„ |
| ~ Norman asking Blackstone to hypnotize the citizens to sign his deeds |
| “ | Norm: That’s it? You had all afternoon. That’s all you could get? You’re no better than Iris. Blackstone: |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone discussion with Norman with the property deeds while informing him about Travis |
| “ | Blackstone: Why do you even want that pitiful farm land anyway? You don’t even like the content. Norman Blansford: I don’t need to like it, I just need to own it. |
„ |
| ~ Norm informing Blackstone he is rich |
| “ | Norman Blandsford: This is the bigger picture, the biggest picture the world has ever seen. Blackstone: A mall? |
„ |
| ~ Norman and Blackstone teaming up on hypnotizing the citizens and turning the town into Bunyan World |
| “ | Blackstone:You know, I’ve been thinking. If I’m going to perform a mass hypnosis experiment for this scale, an increase in my fee is in order. Norman: What are you talking about?? I’m already paying you more than you make in five years. What more could you want? |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone discussing with Norman on an equal deal on cash |
| “ | Come see Babe! Come see Babe! The Great Blue Ox in the flesh. Tonight only! Get your tickets! Free tickets! Babe the Great Blue Ox. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone announcing the citizens on Babe |
| “ | Come see Babe! Come see Babe! The Great Blue Ox in the flesh. Tonight only! Get your tickets! Free tickets! Babe the Great Blue Ox. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone announcing the citizens on Babe |
| “ | Ladies and gentleman, allow me to interrupt. Please. May I have your attention? Tonight is a night you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. Tonight you will be part of history. Your eyes will be rest upon that animal other people only know as a legend. You will be able to say you saw this legend in person—— right here at your little county fair. Ladies and Gentleman,
represent to you- Babe, The great Blue Ox. |
„ |
| “ | This ladies and gentleman is your states beloved tall-tale, come to life. Look at his magnificent size. Gazed upon his stature. Stare at his blue coat. Stare at it. Listen to the sound of my voice. Feel yourself getting sleepy. Feel your mind fall under my control. | „ |
| ~ Blackstoen brainwashing the citizens |
| “ | Sign here, here, and initial. Next! Sign here, here, and initial. Next! Sign here, here, and initial. Next! Sign here, here, and initial. Next! | „ |
| ~ Blackstone |
| “ | Blackstone: I’m really so sick of your screaming. Too many years I’ve been into your shadow. Considered your inferior. Tonight it’s time to reveal the truth: the truth is, I’ve always outclassed and outsmarted you. But you were always too stupid to realize that but unlike you, I’m a patient person. But tonight. I will finally collect my just reward. Clearly you lack the grace to carry off my dramatic look. Still, I don’t think anyone will notice the difference. Do you?
From now on Norman, you will believe yourself to be me, in thought word and deed. Tell me you understand brother. Norman: (possessed) I understand, brother. |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone betraying Norman from his abuse and leaving him behind after brainwashing him |
| “ | Torch the place. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone ordering Gustav to burn the land |
| “ | Blackstone: Get out of the way! Paul Bunyan: Really? Blackstone: |
„ |
| ~ Blackstone taunting Paul while ordering Gustav to kill him |
| “ | Oh, of course it isn’t him. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone insulting Gustav after he asked if Paul Bunyan was real |
| “ | Coward! | „ |
| ~ Blackstone when Bunyan leaves to save the people |
| “ | Start pushing! | „ |
| ~ Blackstone ordering Gustav to push the car |
| “ | Oh shut it, you blithering waste of space. | „ |
| ~ Blackstone’s last lines to Norman when the latter tried to blame his for ruining his plans |
Trivia[]
- Blackstone's use of hypnosis and mind control is a reminiscent of classic comic book charactera like Professor X and Magneto from the X-Men series.
- His arrogant and condescending personality is similar to that of villains like Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The Joker from the Batman series.
- Blackstone's grandiose plans for world domination are similar to those of villains like Blofeld from the James Bond series and Sauron from The Lord of the Rings.
- Blackstone's intelligence and cunning are similar to those of Sherlock Holmes arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
- His use of manipulation and deception is similar to that of villains like Keyser Söze from The Usual Suspects and Hans Landa from Inglorious Bastards.
- Blackstone's charisma and charm are similar to those of villains like Tony Soprano from The Sopranos and Frank Underwood from House of Cards.