The Little Matchgirl (film)
Encyclopedia
The Little Matchgirl is a 2006 animated short film directed by Roger Allers
and produced by Don Hahn
, who previously were involved in classic Disney
animated films such as The Little Mermaid
, Beauty and the Beast
, Aladdin and The Lion King
. It is based on an original story by Hans Christian Andersen
entitled The Little Girl with the Matches or The Little Match Girl
and was published in 1845. The story's popularity far exceeded Andersen's original intention, which was to call immediate attention to the plight of Europe's suffering children. For the Disney Studio the film is not about politics; it is a visual style piece set to music and told entirely without sound or dialogue. The film is set to the third movement, "Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major" by Alexander Borodin
.
The differences between the Disney version and the original Andersen text are slight but do include a change of geographical location from Denmark to Russia. The storytelling also places a reduced emphasis in the beginning of the film to the Little Match Girl's cruel and overbearing father and the death of her grandmother. These changes aside, Allers' version of The Little Match Girl does capture Andersen's original sentiment. This short also represents Disney's final use of CAPS
.
The film made its debut at the Annecy Film Festival in France
on June 5, 2006. It was released as an extra on The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD.
Roger Allers
Roger Allers is an Oscar-nominated American film director, screenwriter, storyboard artist, animator and Tony-nominated playwright...
and produced by Don Hahn
Don Hahn
Don Hahn is an American film producer who has produced some of the most successful Walt Disney animated films of the past 20 years. He currently owns his own film production company called Stone Circle Pictures.-Early life:...
, who previously were involved in classic Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
animated films such as The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
, Aladdin and The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
. It is based on an original story by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
entitled The Little Girl with the Matches or The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
and was published in 1845. The story's popularity far exceeded Andersen's original intention, which was to call immediate attention to the plight of Europe's suffering children. For the Disney Studio the film is not about politics; it is a visual style piece set to music and told entirely without sound or dialogue. The film is set to the third movement, "Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major" by Alexander Borodin
Alexander Borodin
Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian–Russian parentage. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five , who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music...
.
The differences between the Disney version and the original Andersen text are slight but do include a change of geographical location from Denmark to Russia. The storytelling also places a reduced emphasis in the beginning of the film to the Little Match Girl's cruel and overbearing father and the death of her grandmother. These changes aside, Allers' version of The Little Match Girl does capture Andersen's original sentiment. This short also represents Disney's final use of CAPS
Computer Animation Production System
The Computer Animation Production System is a proprietary collection of software programs, scanning camera systems, servers, networked computer workstations, and custom desks developed by The Walt Disney Company together with Pixar in the late-1980s...
.
The film made its debut at the Annecy Film Festival in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on June 5, 2006. It was released as an extra on The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD.
External links
- Shedding Light on the Little Matchgirl traces the path director Roger Allers and the Disney Studio took in adapting the Hans Christian Andersen story to animation.
- Director Roger Allers on The Little Matchgirl Animated News & Views interview
- The Little Match Girl at The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts