The World of Hans Christian Andersen


The World of Hans Christian Andersen 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.

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.

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. The film was dubbed for U.S. audiences by Hal Roach, who hired Chuck McCann and Al Kilgore to assist him; this was one of his last efforts before his studio closed down. In February 1971, United Artists announced its partnership with Hal Roach Studios to distribute this edit, which opened in theaters on March 1.

Cast

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." 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."

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