Thumbelina

1994
G
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

19K

YOUR RATING

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)

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Adventure Animation Family Fantasy Musical Romance

This retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale has the digit-sized heroine evading the clutches of various toads, moles, and beetles before she can proceed with her courtsh... Read allThis retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale has the digit-sized heroine evading the clutches of various toads, moles, and beetles before she can proceed with her courtship with her dream lover, Prince Cornelius.This retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale has the digit-sized heroine evading the clutches of various toads, moles, and beetles before she can proceed with her courtship with her dream lover, Prince Cornelius.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

19K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Mother
(voice)

Will Ryan

Hero
(voice)
…

June Foray

Queen Tabitha
(voice)

Kenneth Mars

King Colbert
(voice)

Joe Lynch

Grundel
(voice)

Charo

Mrs. (Ma) Toad
(voice)

Danny Mann

Mozo
(voice)

Loren Lester

Gringo
(voice)

Kendall Cunningham

Baby Bug
(voice)

Tawny Sunshine Glover

Gnatty
(voice)

Michael Nunes

Li'l Bee
(voice)

Gilbert Gottfried

Mr. Beetle
(voice)

Pat Musick

Mrs Rabbit
(voice)

Neil Ross

Mr. Fox
(voice)
…

Carol Channing

Ms. Fieldmouse
(voice)

Directors
- Don Bluth
- Gary Goldman
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The producers generated positive ratings during test screenings by playing the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the beginning, making viewers think they were watching a Disney movie. Ironically, Disney purchased this film through their acquisition of 20th Century Fox, who replaced Warner Bros. as the distributor due to Fox acquiring Don Bluth Ireland Limited, the production company.

Goofs
Around half the movie would have been avoidable if Jaquimo had carried Thumbelina on his back to her home when he first met her, rather than after she escaped her wedding to the mole.

Quotes
Mother: Now, here is the story of the noble dog, who saved the king from the wicked wizard. Once upon a time...
Thumbelina: Oh, mother, please. Are there any stories about... about little people?
Mother: Well, as a matter of fact, there are, Thumbelina. Look.
[lifts her on to the book, which is opened to a picture of fairies]
Thumbelina: Why, they are little! Just like me!
[points to wings]
Thumbelina: But... but what are those?
Mother: Those are wings, Thumbelina. These are fairies and fairies have wings so they can fly.
Thumbelina: Mother, have you ever seen a fairy?
Mother: Well, I thought I did once.
Thumbelina: Really?
Mother: [laughs] Yes.
[puts reading glass on to picture to magnify the image]
Mother: And here, the fairy prince and princess are having a wedding.
Thumbelina: And they live... happily ever after!
Mother: [smiles] Usually, my dear.
Thumbelina: [crawls under glasses so she is by the picture of the prince] I... suppose it works best if two people are about... the same size.
Mother: [unsure] Yes, of course.
Thumbelina: [crawls out from underneath the glasses] Well... well, that's not fair. I... I must be the only little person in the world. I wish I were big.
Mother: Oh, no, Thumbelina. No. Don't ever wish to be anything but what you are.

Crazy credits
After all of the credits Thumbelina runs across the screen and "a DON BLUTH presentation" follows her. A few seconds later Prince Cornelius on his bumblebee fly across the words and they vanish.

Alternate versions
The latest DVD version omits the Warner Bros. logos, as it was licensed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, which its logo appears instead.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Jimmy Hollywood/Thumbelina/The House of the Spirits/Major League II/D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)

Soundtracks
Follow Your Heart (Intro)
Lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman
Music by Barry Manilow
Arranged and Produced by Barry Manilow
Performed by Gino Conforti

User reviews95

Review

Featured review

10/10

I don't care that I'm all grown up! I love this movie!

So help me, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I just love this film. First time I saw it, I went with my 7 year old brother, and was determined to hate it - but, well, I just couldn't. It's soooo cute, and the songs are so good, and the story is so well told - it's just impossible not to like it.

The first thing that I really like about this film is that it (unlike, oh so many Disney films) is actually very loyal to the original fairy tale by H.C. Andersen. They've added a few things, and changed a few details, but all of the things they changed I had to agree with (hey, why not let Thumbelina and the Prince meet at the beginning? It makes more sense for them to already be in love. And what's wrong with making the Fieldmouse a girl? It's Carol Channing!) This is very true to the original story - so much more than Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (which was supposedly based off another H.C. Andersen tale - but you'd never guess it).

The animation is good, it's not the best, but it's fine. The real star of this film is the music. A beautiful score by Barry Manilow helped out by fabulous voice work. The wonderful Jodi Benson heads the cast (she was also the voice of Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID) and she is delightful as Thumbelina. I've been lucky enough to meet Ms. Benson and I have to say, she is just the sweetest person you could ever hope to know. She's got a wonderful, child-like speaking voice, and a glorious singing voice - just the perfect choice for the lead. She's joined in the cast by Gilbert Gottfried, Barbara Cook, Carol Channing, and (another voice talent from THE LITTLE MERMAID) Kenneth Mars.

This film is just beautifully done. It's faithful to the original, it's lovely to see, and has a marvelous soundtrack. I don't care that I'm all grown up - this is a movie I can't help but love.