The World of Hans Christian Andersen
The World of Hans Christian Andersen (アンデルセン物語, Andersen Monogatari) is a 1968 Japanese animated family fantasy film from Toei Doga, based on the works of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It was released in Japan on March 19, 1968. The film was licensed in North America by United Artists in 1971.
The World of Hans Christian Andersen | |
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American theatrical poster | |
アンデルセン物語 | |
Directed by | Kimio Yabuki |
Written by | Hisashi Inoue Morihisa Yamamoto |
Music by | Seichiro Uno |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Toei Company |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes 73 minutes (United States) |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Synopsis
A young Hans Christian Andersen, while seeking an opera ticket, suddenly discovers the inspirations and talents he will later have for his fairy tales.[1][2]
Release
The World of Hans Christian Andersen was released by Toei on March 19, 1968, three years prior to a thematically similar series produced by Zuiyo/Nippon Animation.[1][3] The film was dubbed for U.S. audiences by Hal Roach, who hired Chuck McCann and Al Kilgore to assist him;[3] this was one of his last efforts before his studio closed down.[4] In February 1971, United Artists announced its partnership with Hal Roach Studios to distribute this edit,[5][6] which opened in theaters on March 1.[3]
Cast
- Chuck McCann as Uncle Oley
- Ruth Bailew as Grandmother
- Sidney Filson as Karen
- Hetty Galen as Hans
- Earl Hammond as Ducks / Theater Manager
- Jim MacGeorge as Kaspar Kat / Governor / Han's Father
- Corinne Orr as Elisa / Kitty Kat / Little Boy / Match Girl / Mice
- Frances Russell as Mice
- Lionel Wilson as Hannibal Mouse / Mayor / Watchdog
- Jim Yoham as Mice
Reception
In his Family Guide to Movies on Video, Henry Herx wrote that "the animation is colorful and creative, though stylistically comparable to Saturday morning TV shows. It provides a wonderful world of fantasy to absorb the small fry at a matinee."[2] The writers of Jerry Beck's Animated Movie Guide gave it three stars out of four; as contributor Fred Patten commented, the film "is pleasant children's fare; a stereotypical and clichéd 'fun for the whole family' animated feature."[3]
Home media
The World of Hans Christian Andersen was first released to VHS by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video in the 1980s. In 2004, Digiview Productions released it on DVD
References
- Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). "Tales of Hans Christian Andersen*". The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 (Revised & Expanded ed.). Stone Bridge Press. p. 641. ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
- Herx, Henry (1988). "The World of Hans Christian Andersen". The Family Guide to Movies on Video. The Crossroad Publishing Company. pp. 304–305 (pre–release version). ISBN 0-8245-0816-5.
- Beck, Jerry (2005). "The World of Hans Christian Andersen". The Animated Movie Guide. Chicago Reader Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 1-55652-591-5.
- "Hal Roach Studios Agrees On Selling Its Film Assets". The New York Times. February 1, 1971. p. 48. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Hal Roach Films Andersen Story". Hartford Courant. February 7, 1971. p. 10F.
- Peacock, Bruce (February 8, 1971). "Stage and Screen". The Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. p. 7 (Entertainment). Retrieved August 8, 2011.
External links
- Andersen monogatari on IMDb
- Andersen Monogatari: Match Uri no Shōjo (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia