The Princess and the Pea (2002 film) facts for kids

The Princess and the Pea is an animated musical fantasy film from 2002. It is based on the famous 1835 fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea" by Hans Christian Andersen. Mark Swan directed the movie. It was released on August 16, 2002. This film was a joint project between America and Hungary, made by Feature Films for Families and Swan Productions. Forrest S. Baker and Ken Cromar wrote the story.

The film won two Accolade Competition Awards of Excellence. These were in 2003 and 2004 for the music score by Alan Williams. The movie was also nominated for a Young Artist Award in 2003. It was nominated in the "Best Family Feature Film - Animation" group.

Plot

A long time ago, an old kingdom faced hard times and war. The special story of how a true princess was found by a pea was lost. Sebastian, a smart raven, wants to bring this story back. He finds an old tapestry with the story, but it is torn. The tapestry says that if the pea legend is lost, the kingdom will fall. This will happen when the 18th king rules.

Prince Laird is the main choice for the throne. He is selfish and greedy. He believes that being greedy is the best way to rule. But his kind younger brother, Prince Heath, becomes King instead. This happens with help from Sebastian and Prince Rollo. Heath is crowned because he is the "first" son to enter the throne room during the ceremony. Laird is very upset.

Heath becomes a much kinder and fairer ruler. He sends Laird to rule the Pig Kingdom. Laird promises to get revenge. Nine months later, King Heath's wife, Mariana, has a baby girl. Sadly, Mariana passes away. Laird's greedy wife, Helsa, also has a daughter at the same time. Laird then plans to get the crown back. He sends Helsa to care for Heath's baby. He makes King Heath believe Helsa lost her own baby. That night, Laird swaps his daughter with Heath's daughter. He wants his own daughter to rule one day. Helsa feels bad for Heath's baby. She also lost her mother young. She begs Laird to give the baby to a loving family.

Years pass. Heath's daughter, named Daria, grows into a beautiful and kind young woman. Laird did not keep his promise to Helsa. He placed Daria with lazy pig herders. They treat her badly and make her do all the chores. Meanwhile, her cousin Hildegarde, Laird's daughter, has become mean and selfish. She takes Daria's place as the princess. She treats everyone badly, which does not help the kingdom. King Heath, thinking Hildegarde is his daughter, struggles to raise her. Hildegarde does not know she is Laird's daughter.

Prince Rollo, now a young man, returns to Heath's castle. He dreams of finding a perfect wife. He thinks she must be kind, gentle, and from a noble family. Hildegarde sees him and hears about his wealth. She decides she wants to marry him. Rollo is disgusted by her greed. He refuses and runs away. Hildegarde tries to follow him but loses him. Helsa meets Laird during the chase. Laird is happy with how Hildegarde turned out. He tells Helsa it is time to tell Hildegarde about her true parents. Hildegarde reacts with anger.

Rollo continues his search for a bride. He meets Daria and her pig friends: Princess, Hungry, and Fearless. Daria takes him to her "secret place." Rollo is charmed by her kindness. They fall in love but must separate. Rollo likes Daria, but he thinks he cannot marry her because she is not a princess. He keeps looking for a "real" princess. He wants someone noble, beautiful, and graceful. But the princesses he meets are spoiled and disappointing. Rollo then realizes that titles do not matter. He should love someone for who they are. He understands Daria is the right person. He rushes back to tell her how he feels.

Sebastian has been searching for an old prophecy. It says: "to find true nobility, a pea must be placed under twenty mattresses." He has not found the answer yet. King Heath is very disappointed with Hildegarde. But he is happy that Rollo has found a girl he loves. Her personality reminds him of his late wife. He decides to make Rollo and his chosen bride the heirs to the kingdom. He asks Sebastian to tell Rollo. Helsa learns about Heath's plan. She uses her and Laird's pet falcon, Plague, to stop the message. Plague takes it to Laird.

Laird turns the Pig Kingdom against Daria. He says she is a witch who talks to animals. A crowd chases her and burns her hiding place. This is where she and Rollo first met. Rollo returns to save Daria. He does not know she escaped with her animal friends. Sebastian finally finds the full prophecy. It is in the ballroom of Daria's old hiding place. This place turns out to be the original palace. Above the prophecy is a stained glass window. It shows an unnamed queen, Daria's ancestor. She brought a Golden Age to the kingdom.

The prophecy says: "To Reveal the Heart of True Nobility Place the Pea Twenty Mattresses Deep The Princess True is Love and Sensitivity Upon Such, She Can Never Sleep"

Sebastian is happy to solve the mystery. He does not know the building is on fire. Rollo rescues him. They leave the burning building. Rollo is weak from smoke. He calls out for Daria before passing out. Laird lies to the crowd. He says Rollo called for Hildegarde and wants to marry her. Rollo is taken to the castle and treated. King Heath hears that Rollo wants to marry Hildegarde. He plans the wedding. Hildegarde wants the wedding to happen as soon as Rollo heals. Rollo is sad, thinking Daria is dead. He agrees to the wedding, feeling he has nothing left.

Daria is tired of being treated badly. She leaves her stepfamily to find Rollo. People rudely push her aside. She helps Sasha, a servant who fell. Sasha lets her into the castle. Sebastian wakes up from a head injury. He learns about the wedding. Daria sees Sebastian's twenty feather beds. She decides to lie down for a moment. Sebastian lets her test the pea under the mattresses. At first, she seems to sleep peacefully. But soon, Daria cannot sleep. She feels something hard underneath. Sebastian realizes Daria is the true princess. She felt the pea through twenty mattresses. He then sees Daria's birthmark, a heart on her foot. He remembers the princess having it as a baby. He realizes Daria is Heath's real daughter and the true heir.

Sebastian plans to tell everyone about the birthmark. But Laird and Helsa capture him. He escapes with Fearless's help. He interrupts the wedding and tells the truth. Everyone asks Hildegarde to show her foot. It has a birthmark like Daria's. But Rollo's dog, Winthrop, licks her foot. This shows the birthmark is just paint. Before Sebastian can reveal the real princess, Laird appears. He holds Daria hostage. He tries to drop a chandelier on Rollo. Heath saves Rollo but seems to be killed. Miraculously, Heath wakes up. He demands Daria's release, making Laird angry.

Laird, Helsa, and Hildegarde run away with Daria. Laird sets a trap for Rollo, knowing he will follow. Fearless sets off the traps. Rollo confronts Laird and survives another attack. On the castle tower, Rollo finds Hildegarde holding Daria. She threatens to throw Daria off. Laird pushes Rollo off the edge. Rollo hangs on for his life. Laird orders Plague to finish him. Sebastian and Daria save Rollo. They defeat Laird by throwing him into the moat. Hildegarde tries to kill Daria and almost falls. Rollo saves Daria. Fearless scares Hildegarde, who also falls into the moat. Laird, Helsa, and Hildegarde are arrested. Fearless, who was once scared, finally acts bravely.

Rollo and Daria are reunited. He introduces her to King Heath. Heath had not seen Daria since she was a baby. Heath is happy Daria grew up just like Mariana. He celebrates being reunited with his daughter. Rollo and Daria marry in the ancient kingdom. They live happily ever after.

Voice cast

• Amanda Waving as Princess Daria
• Steven Webb as young Prince Rollo
• Jonathan Firth as Prince Rollo
• Dan Finnerty as Prince Rollo's singing voice
• Nigel Lambert as Sebastian the Raven
• Lincoln Hoppe as King Heath
• Ronan Vibert as Laird
• Eve Karpf as Helsa
• Liz May Brice as Hildegarde
• Richard Ridings as King Windham, Button
• Patsy Rowlands as Sasha

See also

In Spanish: Rolo y el secreto del guisante para niños