Thumbelina herself may be short in stature, but the adaptation is big in charm

'Thumbelina' to me is one of Hans Christian Andersen's classics, and this is coming from a big fan of Andersen's stories and one that grew up reading them. Can understand why some may find Thumbelina herself passive or question the beauty concept of the story. From personal perspective, the story is charming and touching and Thumbelina is likeable and relatable when portrayed well even if some may find the other characters more interesting perhaps.

Rabbit Ears Productions' series of animated/audio children's literature adaptations has many winners. Their 'Thumbelina' from 1989 is yet another one of the winners, or should that be gems, and one of my favourites of theirs. It is also one of my favourite versions of the story, Soyuzmultfilm's version from 1964 being the number one favourite. As an adaptation of 'Thumbelina' is as good as one can get, even with a few minor changes it is one of the more faithful renditions of the story. It is even more successful on its own terms and one probably doesn't even need to have read Andersen's story to recognise the merits here.

Of which there are so many, almost everything in fact done beautifully. It is beautifully drawn for one thing. Simple, while not limited, but very expressive and delicate, especially the attention to detail in the backgrounds. The music also has an understated beauty, the instrumentation is simple but the way the music is used manages to make this simplicity elegant and interesting, instead of being potentially pedestrian.

Kelly McGillis provides very sensitive narration, perfect for when telling a child a soothing bedtime story. The narration itself does a great job in making Andersen's prose accessible and inviting, like all the other Rabbit Ears Productions adaptation it was like the original story brought to life in animation from its pages.

Can't fault the storytelling either, which is very charming and also very touching as ought. Thumbelina herself is likeable and did appreciate that the adaptation gave her more personality and purpose, rather than her be little more than a passive, over-negative title character. The supporting characters are engaging and even more colourful in personality.

In summary, wonderful. 10/10

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

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John Hurt, Charo, Jodi Benson, Carol Channing, Gino Conforti, Kendall Cunningham, Tawny Sunshine Glover, Gilbert Gottfried, Gary Imhoff, Joe Lynch, and Michael Nunes in Thumbelina (1994)

Thumbelina

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