Anastasia [PG]

Separated from her family when she was eight years old and being raised in an orphanage, Anya has few memories of her past. Her only clue to her family is a necklace that says “together in Paris” and with the help of a con man named Dimitri, she sets off for Paris to see the dowager Empress of Russia and learn whether or not she is the long lost princess Anastasia. But along the way, they find themselves waging battle against the evil monk Rasputin who has vowed never to rest until the last of the Romanov family is destroyed. 

Based on the supposed true story, which in recent years was proved false I believe, Anastasia is another classic animated film from producer/directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. IT’S NOT DISNEY! Let me just clear that up. Just because it’s animated and a musical and resembles a Disney film, it is in fact not a Disney creation and Anastasia cannot be counted amongst the classic Disney heroines. Sorry to start this review with a lecture, but it annoys me when people who claim to be “Disney fans” call this film “Disney’s Anastasia”. 

Separated from her family when she was eight years old and being raised in an orphanage, Anya has very few memories of her past. Her only clue to her family is a necklace that says “together in Paris” and with the help of a con man named Dimitri, she sets off for Paris to see the dowager Empress of Russia and learn whether or not she is the long lost princess Anastasia. But along the way, Anya and Dimitri find themselves waging battle against the evil monk Rasputin who has vowed never to rest until the last of the Romanov family is destroyed. 

I remember really loving this movie when I was younger and watching it as an adult, although I do love the songs and the characters, I just didn’t love it as much. I think my only problem with it is that everything just sort of happens to quickly, like Anya suddenly having memories of her past when the situation demands it, that slight detail just irritates me. 

On the brighter side, the animation is gorgeous, the characters are highly entertaining and memorable, and the songs are equal to any of those in a Disney film. Once Upon a December is just beautiful and up there with Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid or Reflection from Mulan. 

Featuring the voice talents of Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Hank Azaria, Andrea Martin, Bernadette Peters, Kirsten Dunst, Christopher Lloyd, and Angela Lansbury, Anastasia is a classic animated adventure, one that I am quite pleased to have in my collection. Filled with action, romance, mystery, magic, music, and comedy, I do love it.