David Copperfield (1993 film) facts for kids

David Copperfield is a cartoon movie from 1993. It's based on a famous book by Charles Dickens called David Copperfield. This movie was made for NBC and directed by Don Arioli. It features the voices of famous people like Sheena Easton, Julian Lennon, and Howie Mandel.

In this animated version, the human characters from the book are changed into talking animals. The story also leaves out some characters and adds new, fantastical things. For example, there are strange "moldies" and a "cheese monster"!

What Happens in the Movie?

The story begins with a cat named Betsey Trotwood. She is rushing through the Christmas streets to see her niece, Clara. As she passes, two bad guys, a lion named Edward Murdstone and a rat named Grimby, are looking for new "workers." They are actually taking orphans and kids from the streets.

At the Copperfield home, David is born and named after his dad, who has passed away. Aunt Betsey arrives, thinking Clara had a girl. When she finds out David is a boy, she gets very upset and leaves.

David's Difficult Life

Years later, Clara marries Murdstone. He tells her it's for the best, but David doesn't like Murdstone at all. When Clara gets sick, Murdstone sends David to London. David has to work in Murdstone's factory. David doesn't want to go, but he is forced to.

Before he leaves, David meets Agnes Wickfield. She is the daughter of the Duke. Murdstone then cruelly throws David into the factory. There, Murdstone's guards treat him badly.

David finds a place to stay with the Micawber family. He also becomes friends with a dog named Mealy. Mealy was taken from the streets the same night David was born. The Micawbers act mean to David and the others when Murdstone is around. But when Murdstone isn't there, they are kind to the kids.

Murdstone tells Grimby that he has been hiding Clara's letters to David. This means David doesn't know how his mother is doing. David wants to escape the factory. Mealy warns him about the "Cheese Monster." This is a huge vulture that flies around, catching anyone who tries to run away.

David tries to make the factory a better place to work. Murdstone finds out and punishes David and Mealy. He locks them in the factory's tower. Later, Murdstone threatens the Micawbers. He says their children will have to work in the factory if they are nice to David.

Agnes Tries to Help

Meanwhile, Agnes dresses up like a beggar. She goes to Murdstone's factory. She sees how terrible life is for the workers there. During the night shift, David sees strange "Moldies" in a drain. These "Moldies" were an experiment by Murdstone that went wrong. They spread a moldy slime that traps workers. Anyone who touches it gets covered too.

Agnes and David meet again, but Murdstone appears. He forces Agnes to leave. The Duke, Agnes's father, is more worried about his reputation than listening to his daughter.

When Clara dies, Peggotty arrives. She tells Micawber to hide Clara's will in his chimney. She also gives David the sad news about his mother. Later, Mealy tells David that Murdstone and Grimby have been feeding the Cheese Monster. They plan to eat the vulture themselves! The Cheese Monster hears this and gets very angry.

The Escape and Happy Ending

Murdstone and Grimby find the will. They are happy, thinking David is defeated. But Mealy and David plan their escape. Agnes comes to find David but is captured. Mealy fights Murdstone and Grimby so David can get over the gate. Agnes also gets away from the guards.

The Cheese Monster helps David catch up to Agnes. They both head to Dover, where Aunt Betsey lives. Micawber and Mealy are thrown into the sewers where the Moldies live. Peggotty and Mrs. Micawber are kept under guard.

Later that night, Agnes gets separated from David. Wild boars chase her and trap her in a tree. David finds her the next morning. He pushes a big rock to scare away the boars. But the rock also knocks over the tree. Agnes's cries for help get the attention of Murdstone and Grimby.

Both Agnes and David fall down a waterfall. But they come out of the water near Aunt Betsey's house. Aunt Betsey, even though she was angry before, is happy to see David. She agrees to help them get back at Murdstone and Grimby and free their workers.

Murdstone and Grimby try to make the Duke sign over control of the cheese factory. But Aunt Betsey arrives with the police! They arrest Murdstone and Grimby. David fights them off. The workers are freed and celebrate as Murdstone and Grimby are taken away.

David finds Mealy and Micawber. They are mostly covered in mold. He helps them escape, along with the Moldies. The bright sunlight coming through the open drain breaks the Moldies' cheese shells. This turns them back to normal!

The movie ends on Christmas. David opens the Copperfield Orphanage, where all of Murdstone's former workers now live. Everyone cheers for David and Agnes's love.

Meet the Characters! Voice Actors

Songs from the Movie

The songs in David Copperfield were written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn.

• "I Hate Boys!" – Sung by Aunt Betsey (Andrea Martin)
• "I'll Be Your Hero" – Sung by David (Julian Lennon)
• "Welcome to my Warehouse" – Sung by Murdstone and Grimby (Michael York and Richard Dumont)
• "Is There Anyone?" – Sung by Agnes and David (Sheena Easton and Julian Lennon)
• "Something's Gonna Turn Up" – Sung by David and Micawber (Julian Lennon and Joseph Marcell)
• "Imagination" – (Groulx)
• "Everyone's a Big Cheese Here" – (Groulx)
• "Street Smart" – Sung by Mealy (Howie Mandel; this song was not officially credited)
• "Family Christmas" – Sung by Agnes, David, Micawber and Aunt Betsey (Sheena Easton, Julian Lennon, Joseph Marcell and Andrea Martin)

See also

• List of animated feature-length films