The World of Hans Christian Andersen

1968 Japanese film

The World of Hans Christian Andersen

American theatrical poster

アンデルセン物語
Directed by| Kimio Yabuki
Written by| Hisashi Inoue
Morihisa Yamamoto
Music by| Seichiro Uno

Production
company

Toei Doga

Distributed by| Toei Company (Japan)
United Artists (United States)

Release dates

* March 19, 1968 (1968-03-19) (Japan)

* March 1, 1971 (1971-03-01) (United States)

Running time

| 80 minutes
Country| Japan
Languages| Japanese
English

The World of Hans Christian Andersen (アンデルセン物語, Anderusen Monogatari, lit. 'Andersen Stories'; also known as: アンデルセン物語 マッチ売りの少女 (Anderusen Monogatari: Matchi uri no shōjo, lit. 'Andersen Stories: The Little Match Girl')) is a 1968 Japanese animated fantasy film produced by Toei Doga, based on the works of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Theatrically released in Japan on March 19, 1968, the film was licensed in North America by United Artists in 1971.

## Synopsis[edit]

A young Hans Christian Andersen, while seeking an opera ticket, suddenly discovers the inspirations and talents he will later have for his fairy tales.[1][2]

## Release[edit]

The World of Hans Christian Andersen was released by Toei on March 19, 1968, three years prior to Andersen Stories (Anderusen Monogatari, 1971), an eponymous and thematically similar series produced by Zuiyo Enterprise and Mushi Production.[1][3] The film and the series also have in common composer Seiichirō Uno, screenwriters Hisashi Inoue and Morihisa Yamamoto, and voice actress Eiko Masuyama. The film was dubbed for U.S. audiences by Hal Roach, who hired Chuck McCann and Al Kilgore to assist him;[3] this was one of his last efforts before his studio closed down.[4] In February 1971, United Artists announced its partnership with Hal Roach Studios to distribute this edit,[5][6] which opened in theaters on March 1.[3] Toei will continue to adapt Andersen's works in feature length movies such as: Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid (1975), The Wild Swans (1977) and Thumbelina (1978), and in the TV series World Fairy Tale Series.

## Cast[edit]

Character  | Original  | English

|
|

Uncle Oley  | Tadao Takashima | Chuck McCann
Hans  | Toshiko Fujita | Hetty Galen
Elisa  | Kazuko Sugiyama | Corinne Orr
Kitty Kat  | Katsue Miwa
Little Boy  | Unknown
Match Girl
Karen  | Eiko Masuyama | Sidney Filson
Kaspar Kat  | Yasushi Suzuki | Jim MacGeorge
Governor  | Arihiro Fujimura
Hans's Father  | Kōsei Tomita
Hannibal Mouse  | Chiharu Kuri  | Lionel Wilson
Mayor  | Ryōichi Tamagawa
Watchdog  | Shinsuke Minami
Mice  | Unknown  | Corinne Orr
Frances Russell
Jim Yoham
Grandmother  | Ruth Bailew
Ducks  | Earl Hammond
Theater Manager

## Reception[edit]

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."[2] 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."[3]

## Home media[edit]

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). "Tales of Hans Christian Andersen*". The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 (Revised & Expanded ed.). Stone Bridge Press. p. 641. ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
2. ^ a b Herx, Henry (1988). "The World of Hans Christian Andersen". The Family Guide to Movies on Video. The Crossroad Publishing Company. pp. 304–305 (pre–release version). ISBN 0-8245-0816-5.
3. ^ a b c d Beck, Jerry (2005). "The World of Hans Christian Andersen". The Animated Movie Guide. Chicago Reader Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 1-55652-591-5.
4. ^ "Hal Roach Studios Agrees On Selling Its Film Assets". The New York Times. February 1, 1971. p. 48. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
5. ^ "Hal Roach Films Andersen Story". Hartford Courant. February 7, 1971. p. 10F.
6. ^ Peacock, Bruce (February 8, 1971). "Stage and Screen". The Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. p. 7 (Entertainment). Retrieved August 8, 2011.

## External links[edit]

* Andersen monogatari at IMDb
* Andersen Monogatari: Match Uri no Shōjo (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

* v
* t
* e

Hans Christian Andersen

Bibliography

Short story collections|

* Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. (1835–1837)
* Fairy Tales Told for Children. New Collection (1838–1841)
* New Fairy Tales. First Volume (1843–1845)

Short stories|

* "The Angel" (1843)
* "Blockhead Hans" (1855)
* "The Elf Mound" (1845)
* "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1837)
* "The Fir-Tree" (1844)
* "The Flying Trunk" (1839)
* "The Galoshes of Fortune" (1838)
* "The Garden of Paradise" (1839)
* "The Goblin and the Grocer" (1852)
* "Golden Treasure" (1865)
* "The Ice-Maiden" (1861)
* "Little Claus and Big Claus" (1835)
* "The Little Match Girl" (1845)
* "The Little Mermaid" (1837)
* "The Most Incredible Thing" (1870)
* "The Nightingale" (1843)
* "Ole Lukoie" (1841)
* "The Princess and the Pea" (1835)
* "The Red Shoes" (1845)
* "The Shadow" (1847)
* "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" (1845)
* "The Snow Queen" (1844)
* "The Snowman" (1861)
* "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" (1838)
* "The Story of a Mother" (1847)
* "The Sweethearts; or, The Top and the Ball" (1843)
* "The Swineherd" (1841)
* "The Tallow Candle" (1820s)
* "The Teapot" (1863)
* "Thumbelina" (1835)
* "The Tinderbox" (1835)
* "The Ugly Duckling" (1843)
* "What the Old Man Does is Always Right" (1861)
* "The Wicked Prince" (1840)
* "The Wild Swans" (1838)

Novels|

* The Improvisatore (1835)
* O.T (1836)
* The Two Baronesses (1848)

Plays, operas|

* Little Kirsten (1846)
* When the Spaniards Were Here (1865)

Poems and songs|

* Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå
* Danmark, mit fædreland
* Hist hvor vejen slår en bugt

Other works|

* Christine's Picture Book (art book)

Works inspired by
Andersen's life and works|

* Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
* The Daydreamer (1966)
* The World of Hans Christian Andersen (1968)
* Andersen Monogatari (1971)
* The Fairytaler (2002–2003)
* Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale (2003 miniseries)
* Young Andersen (2005 serial)

Related|

* Hans Christian Andersen Museums
* Pleated Christmas hearts
* International Children's Book Day
* Hans Christian Andersen Award
* Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award

Category

* v
* t
* e

Toei Animation theatrical features (1958–1979)

1950s–60s|

* The White Snake Enchantress (1958)
* Magic Boy (1959)
* Alakazam the Great (1960)
* The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963)
* Doggie March (1963)
* Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (1965)
* Cyborg 009 (1966)
* Cyborg 009: Monster Wars (1967)
* Jack and the Witch (1967)
* The World of Hans Christian Andersen (1968)
* GeGeGe no Kitarō (1968)
* The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968)
* The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots (1969)
* Flying Phantom Ship (1969)

1970|

* Chibikko Remi to Meiken Kapi
* Tiger Mask
* 30,000 Miles Under the Sea
* Tiger Mask: Fuku Men League Sen

1971|

* Animal Treasure Island
* Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

1972|

* Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Nagagutsu Sanjūshi

1973|

* Mazinger Z vs. Devilman

1974|

* Mazinger Z vs. The Great General of Darkness

1975|

* Great Mazinger vs. Getter Robo
* Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid
* Great Mazinger vs. Getter Robo G: Kuchu Daigekitotsu
* Uchu Enban Daisenso
* Grendizer

1976|

* UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger
* Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Hachijū Nichi-kan Sekaiisshū
* Grendizer, Getter Robo G, Great Mazinger: Kessen! Daikaijuu
* UFO Robot Grendizer: Akai Yuuhi no Taiketsu

1977|

* The Wild Swans
* Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace tai Konchu Robo Gundan

1978|

* Thumbelina
* Candy Candy: The Call of Spring/The May Festival
* Ikkyū-san and the Mischievous Princess
* Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace: Uchū Daikaisen
* Candy Candy's Summer Vacation
* Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Mystery of the Arcadia

1979|

* Sci-Fi West Saga Starzinger
* Taro the Dragon Boy
* Triton of the Sea
* Galaxy Express 999

Not including Madhouse-animated features produced by Toei
Category
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