Nico the Unicorn is the name of a 1996 juvenile fiction book and its 1998 film adaptation. The book was written by Frank Sacks; he also wrote the screenplay for the film, which was directed by Graeme Campbell. Book The book was written by Frank Sacks and first published by Tom Doherty Associates in 1996 with the front cover art by David Gaadt. Sacks is a writer and film producer and Nico the Unicorn was his first novel intended for children. Plot After the accident which resulted in his leg being injured. Billy visits the Starlight Circus. There he meets and buys a pony who gives birth to a unicorn who he names Nico. Later the pony gets killed by a mountain lion and Billy has to do what he can with his secret to protect his new friend. Characters Billy - The Protagonist whose leg gets injured by a drunken driver. Nico - Billy's magical unicorn. The Pony - Nico's mother. Bruce - The bully who always calls Billy a gimp. Julie - Billy's mother. Carolyn - Billy's friend who lets slip about Nico to Bruce and his gang. Film The film was directed by Graeme Campbell based on a screenplay by Frank Sacks, who authored the book. Filming took place around Canada's Eastern Townships and Montreal. The Canadian production was released in 1998. It was originally set to be distributed by CineTel Films but the distribution rights were later sold to Moonstone Entertainment. Cast Anne Archer ... Julie Hastings Michael Ontkean ... Tom Gentry Kevin Zegers ... Billy Hastings Pierre Chagnon ... Ben Willett Elisha Cuthbert ... Carolyn Price Plot Billy and his mother moved from Boston to rural Vermont after a car accident which left Billy fatherless and with a gimpy leg. Billy has a hard time adjusting to life in Vermont and has trouble making friends. While shopping at the mall after school one day, Billy stumbles upon a ramshackle petting zoo, where the animals are kept in poor conditions. After seeing a small pony with a horn taped to its head and finding out that it is about to be sold for slaughter, Billy instead makes a deal with the zoo keeper and buys the pony. Once Billy takes the pony home, he cleans her up and cares for her. The pony appears to be pregnant and eventually foals, under the watchful eye of Billy