Dazzles with an engaging tale succinctly scripted which incorporates song as part of the narrative.
Anastasia (1997)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:47
Fresh:40
Rotten:7
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: Beautiful animation, an affable take on Russian history, and strong voice performances make Anastasia a winning first film from Fox animation studios.
Synopsis: Based on the legend of the real-life daugher of the last Russian czar, ANASTASIA combines imaginative animation and lively songs to tell the story of a princess who escapes a horrible execution and... Based on the legend of the real-life daugher of the last Russian czar, ANASTASIA combines imaginative animation and lively songs to tell the story of a princess who escapes a horrible execution and mysteriously reappears after being thought dead. When a team of swindlers, Dimitri (John Cusack) and Vladimir (Kelsey Grammer), recruit Anya (Meg Ryan), a spunky amnesiac orphan, in their plot to defraud the Dowager Empress (Angela Lansbury) with a faux Romanov heir, little do they know their carefully coached fake is the real thing. But the resurgence of the long-lost Anastasia also attracts the attention of the scary Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd), who, with his hilarious sidekick, Bartok the bat (Hank Azaria), schemes to do in the last Romanov. Though much lighter (thankfully for children) than the 1956 Anatole Litvak-directed ANASTASIA adapted from Marcelle Maurette's play, this movie is still packed with thrills, chills, and romance. The first animated feature from 20th Century Fox, the film is directed by longtime collaborators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. [More]
Starring: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd
Starring: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria, Bernadette Peters, Kirsten Dunst, Angela Lansbury, Liz Callaway, Lacey Chabert, Jim Cummings, Andrea Martin, Debra Mooney, Arthur Malet
Director: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
Director: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
Composer: David Newman
Producer: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
Composer: Stephen Flaherty
Reviews for Anastasia
This enchanting fairy-tale, the first release from Fox Animation Studios, is pure family entertainment.
There is much for tots to enjoy: decent songs, an amusing script and some surprisingly imaginative animation.
An ambitious, serious but not particularly stimulating musical feature that unconvincingly attempts to graft warm and cuddly family-film motifs onto turbulent aspects of modern history and mythology.
It does veer horribly towards the sentimental at times, but still provides proof positive that other people can do cartoons too.
...it's the typical boy-meets-girl-boy-annoys-girl-boy-and-girl-snipe-at-each-other-as-a-disguise-for-being-fond-of-each-other relationship.
Bluth has rediscovered the ingredients of quality mainstream animation...
Bluth and Goldman have created a quality animation work, with some individual scenes bordering on the extraordinary, that does a solid job in telling the mythical adventure.
Basically reduces the Russian Revolution to a big kaboodle of cuteness, which may give kids the wrong impression of what actually happened.
An entertaining romp through history and romance that is best suited to young girls who should enjoy its G-rated passion.
...Absolutely on a par with recent Disney greats like Beauty and The Beast and Aladdin...
The story may be a trifle complex for very young viewers, but for most, Anastasia serves up a tasty tale about a fairy-tale princess.
In a fall season that's already given us its share of turkeys, there should be room for any film as handsome and touching as this one.
This entertaining animated feature is a dream-catcher, tapping into the universal yearning for home and love.
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