The Little Matchgirl

[Disneykid]

The short was very beautiful, and I'm glad it didn't shy away from the ending. The animation was very impressive and reminded me a lot of Mulan. I'm glad, though, that they left the abusive father aspect out of this. That would've thrown this into an unbearable and despressive state. I'm slightly bummed that Fantasia 2006 got canned, because this would've been amazing on the big screen in the midst of all those pieces.

[my chicken is infected]

I LOVED the short. Minus the mean father, it stayed VERY true to the story. It's been one of my favorite stories for a long time.

[Kenai]

I found it on Youtube. It's very moving & sad, indeed. I really felt bad for her, but I'm glad she's finally happy. I actually cried a bit. If "Baby Mine" or Bambi's mom didn't make you cry, this one will.

Here's a little fact: this short is the last to use the CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) at Disney's.

For those who don't know what CAPS is, check the description out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_A ... ion_System

I didn't find it on YouTube. Searched and it didn't give me no results.

Also interesting enough to know is that it was done at both the Burbank and Paris studios. Took almost 4 years to fully finish.

[FantasiaMan]

Now if only they could release the new Fantasia with all these great shorts. Destino, Lorenzo, One by One, The Little Matchgirl... see, you got about half the segments they need right here!

Or they could make a DTV Fantasia with these segments, but a concept as great as Fantasia is too good for a DTV film. Plus the fact that they would be double-dipping all these shorts.

I wish Walt's original idea for this form of entertainment lived on today, but nowadays it's all about $, $, $. Cash, dinero, wampum, moolah, dough, income, profit, capital... whatever they call it, it's all they're after. It's a shame, they took Walt's original motto, "Quality, not Quantity", & flipped it upside-down.

My God, I just turned a appreciation thread to a rant/death dedication! I'm as bad as THEM! I'm sorry for all this junk!

[slave2moonlight]

I actually loved Fantasia 2000, DID see it in theaters, and would be happy to see another one.

Anyways, I finally watched disc 2 of the Little Mermaid. Haven't watched disc one, but I did watch disc 2. I'll post my opinions about that in the main LMPE thread to express myself until I have time to watch disc 1 and review it on Amazon. However, to the point at hand, LOVED "The Little Match Girl." It was a beautiful piece. Yes, it was very sad, but beautifully handled. I hope we'll see Destino and Lorenzo on upcoming Disney DVD releases... Not sure if I've even seen "One By One" yet, though I do have the DVD it's on (Lion King 2, 2-disc edition, isn't it?). Looking forward to checking that out soon.

[xxhplinkxx]

wow, I watched this having no clue what-so-ever what it was about or without having read the story.... It was very sad when I realized the little girl was dead. I wasnt expecting that at all.

[Super Aurora]

This waas a very moving and sad short that almost made me cry, yet it was so beautiful and gorgeously done. I just love it. Now with that type of animation styling, story and CAPS, they could make fantasic new Disney animated film. The girl dying at the end is an unexpecting ending for a disney film as most Disney films go for the Happy ending but this went the other direction with some warmth. I truly love this short. ALOT.

[akhenaten]

arghh how to find it in youtube?

[The Little Merman]

I adored this short, because I can remember my Mom reading the story to me during Christmas. I, personally, think they should've left the section including the abusive father in--- if not only for consistency's sake. Then, at least the poor thing would have a reason for not going back to her home. (I suppose they just made her homeless then?)

*tlm

[Key]

Ahhh... the story of the little match girl has always remained with me ever since I was little because, well, it was a rather tragic story.

I was eating watermelons while watching this and almost choked on my tears + watermelon juice. So beautiful and sad (well, maybe bittersweet, since she finally found her peace in the end).

[singerguy04]

A friend of mine and I watched this short right after watching TLM. we had never heard the story before so we're caught completely off guard by the little girl's death. We both cried, and since then i've watched it 2 times on my own. I'm in love with it! it's so amazing how in 7 mins you can grow so attached to a character that never speaks. Everything in it was beautiful!

[MikeyMouse]

This story was beautifully done and very moving. I had my hopes up at the end when the old woman approached the little girl in the snow, but the reality of her death was handled with the utmost sensitivity. The animation had a bit of a "Don Bluth" look to it, though I know he left the studio almost a decade before this was done. The transfer seemed to have some "scan lines" in it, that's as best as I can describe it, but I've only watched it once and will have to go back and watch again. Maybe I'll take a screen grab.

Anyway...wow...the heroine dies at the end. Decidedly UN-Disney, but quite touching.

[Kenai]

Question. Like "One by One" on the LK2 DVD, does this short display the Walt Disney Pictures banner before playing?

[The Little Merman]

Question. Like "One by One" on the LK2 DVD, does this short display the Walt Disney Pictures banner before playing?

No, it does not. A short intro from the director precedes the short.

This story was beautifully done and very moving. I had my hopes up at the end when the old woman approached the little girl in the snow, but the reality of her death was handled with the utmost sensitivity.

Not to sound ridiculously morbid, but I was afraid she was going to live! In the original story, she realizes that she cannot go home out of fright that her father will beat her for not being able to sell any matches that day. Thus, she stays out in the cold, liting the matches one-by-one seeing each of the glorious sights as in the short. On the last few, she does indeed see her deceased grandmother (but not at her house? ) and then after frantically using them up to see her at longer periods of time, her soul is taken away from her body and the two fly up to heaven, while her frozen body is found with a smile on her face the next morning.

I really loved the "new" ending where we see she and her grandmother turn to color, walking through her darker frozen body. While it may be heartbreaking, it is also a comfort to realize that she was taken to a better place with someone she loves.


*tlm

[The Merman]

The Little Match Girl was a recent addition to the Efteling park in The Netherlands. The way they depicted this story in the attraction is amazing. The castle like building where she stayes at is made with amazing detail. The story is so hardwarming that it makes you feel very sad when you leave the attraction. It also follows the original storie of TLMG where she dies in the end. It also looks so real and fits so well in the medieval park atmoshpere that its my favourite attraction.



I cant wait to see this short clip!!

[goofystitch]

I heard a rumor that "The Little Matchgirl" was originally made to be part of the cancelled "Fantasia 2006." Does anybody know if this is true? And wasn't "One By One" from "The Lion King 1.5" supposed to be part of it as well? Does anyone know if there were anymore parts animated that could potentially be released on other DVDs?

[FantasiaMan]

I heard a rumor that "The Little Matchgirl" was originally made to be part of the cancelled "Fantasia 2006." Does anybody know if this is true?

Yes. Roy Disney wanted to make a film after Fantasia 2000, but it would substitute world music instead of classical.

One by One uses African music
Lorenzo uses a South American music (specifically, a tango)
The Little Matchgirl uses Russian music
etc...

Unfortunatly the project was cancelled & some of the shorts were released on DVD as bonus features (One by One was on the Lion King II DVD, Matchgirl on Little Mermaid) & some are yet to be released.

In fact, this concept came along way before Fantasia 2000, back in the 70's. The idea was called "Musicana", & it used traditional music & stories from all across the globe. One segment had singing frogs down on the bayou with a jazz rhythm, while another was based on the story "The Emperor's Nightingale" starring Mickey Mouse (John Lasster came up with the idea & did concept drawings for it). That was scrapped, too.

[DARTH KNITE]

Most of the people I know haven't bothered to watch this animated short on The Little Mermaid PE, but I personally loved it. I was so glad to see the studio incorporate their more realistic animation style which I haven't seen since Hunchback and make a more mature film. I'm also happy because it has been nominated for the Oscar in the short animation category. Maybe it was me, but was anyone else happy to see them return to this old style, and do so successfully if you ask me?

[sambadude]

I wasn't going to but I like to watch all the special features on the platinum titles and I'm so glad I did. Such a beautiful short film. Made me cry my eyes out!

[Aladdin from Agrabah]

It was so filled with emotion! I loved it.
I also have to say that the girl reminded me of Mulan and maybe Lilo a little bit. But it was so bittersweet and that music...it was just awesome!