The Snow Queen (2012 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Snow Queen |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Release date(s) | 31 December 2012 (Russia) |
| Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | Russia |
| Budget | $7.0 million |
| Money made | $13.6 million |
The Snow Queen is a 2012 Russian 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film. It was written by Vadim Sveshnikov and directed by Vladlen Barbe and Maxim Sveshnikov. The movie was made by Wizart Animation and is based on the famous 1844 story by Hans Christian Andersen.
The film tells the story of Gerda, a brave orphan girl. She lives in a magical land that has been covered in ice by the evil Snow Queen. The Snow Queen has captured a young man named Kai. It is up to Gerda to save him. Gerda teams up with a funny weasel named Luta. They travel across the frozen land. On their journey, they face many challenges. They also meet new friends, like the trolls. Together, they go on a polar quest to rescue Kai.
The Snow Queen was very popular when it came out. It received good reviews from critics. Many people thought it was a great example of Russian animation. The movie also earned a lot of money, making about $13 million worldwide. It became an important film in the history of Russian animation.
Contents
Story of the Film
The Snow Queen has covered the whole world in ice. Only Master Vegard stands against her. His special mirrors can show not just what people look like, but also their true feelings. One day, a strong polar wind takes Vegard and his wife, Una, away. But they manage to hide their children, Gerda and Kai.
Years later, the Snow Queen's helper, a troll named Orm, finds Kai. Orm can change into a black weasel. He believes Kai is Vegard's heir. Kai is living at an orphanage called St. Peter’s Kids Shelter, where Gerda sews mittens. After a struggle, Kai is taken by the polar wind to the Snow Queen's palace. Gerda decides to go on a journey with Orm and her pet white weasel, Luta. They travel across the icy lands to rescue her brother.
Gerda's Journey Begins
Their first stop is a garden dome run by an old lady. She seems kind, but she plans to trick Gerda. She wants to make Gerda stay and grow flowers for her. Orm and Luta discover her plan and stop it. The lady sends her dangerous plant, Ivy, after them. But the trio manages to escape. Meanwhile, at the ice palace, Kai arrives. The Snow Queen takes him to her throne room. Her magic mirror shows that Master Vegard has two heirs. Kai tries to hide the truth. But the Snow Queen sees Gerda's painting in Kai's heart.
Gerda thanks Orm for saving her. They start to become friends. Next, the three friends find Imana's caves. This is where trolls were born. Orm explains that the Snow Queen ruined the trolls' peaceful lives. She made their clans fight each other. Only the shy Orm survived. The souls of the other trolls are trapped in Lake Gow. While Gerda and Luta explore, the Snow Queen contacts Orm. She orders him to bring Gerda to her. Orm helps Gerda and Luta cross the dangerous Lake Gow. Gerda avoids its curse, which surprises Orm.
New Friends and Dangers
Outside the cave, the trio meets a king who is on a royal hunt. The king tries to hunt Orm (in weasel form) and Luta. But he crashes into a tree. The trio is then taken to the king's castle. The king has a problem: the Snow Queen split his castle in half. His wife, Queen Anself, was lost. Now his children literally own half of his property. The king takes Gerda as his prisoner. But Gerda shows how much she cares for her brother. The king and his children argue and accidentally start a fire. Gerda saves them all. As a reward, the trio gets a sleigh for their journey.
Later, pirates capture the trio and take them to their ship. But Gerda convinces them to let them continue their quest. The captain's daughter gives them a reindeer to help them travel. Meanwhile, in the Snow Queen's ice palace, Kai is frozen by the Snow Queen. Gerda then meets the Lady of Lapland in a tent. The Lady tells Gerda how the Snow Queen came to be. She was once a girl named Irma with magic powers. People treated her badly. She went to Imana's caves. There, Lake Gow granted her wish to hurt people. This turned her into the Snow Queen. The Lady of Lapland gives the trio a snow boat. She sends them to the Snow Queen's palace, which is located in Spitsbergen.
The Final Battle
Orm tries to protect Gerda and make her change her mind. But Gerda is determined to save Kai. Inside the ice palace, Gerda finds her brother frozen. Then the Snow Queen appears. Orm refuses his reward to be free. He begs the queen to spare Gerda. Since the queen will not listen, Orm stops serving her. The Queen calls for ice trolls and giants. But Orm turns into a polar bear! He fights the monsters. This allows Gerda to reach the throne room. However, both Orm and Luta are trapped by the polar wind.
Gerda finds the queen's mirror. She walks through it, entering a mirror world. The Snow Queen tries to freeze Gerda's heart. But Gerda remembers her family. She gets her hope back and fights back with the magic mirror. The Snow Queen's curse is finally broken! Irma turns back into her old self. Irma then brings Kai back to life. Orm turns back into a troll, and Luta wakes him up. The endless winter finally ends. Gerda, Kai, Orm, Irma, and Luta all go home. Gerda and Orm become best friends.
At the end of the movie, during the credits, you can see scenes showing how the lives of the people they met changed. Everyone lives happily after the Snow Queen's defeat.
Characters and Voices
| Character | Russian Voice | English Voice | Description |
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| Gerda | Nyusha | Jessica Straus | The main hero of the story. She is a brave, kind, and honest girl. She has a strong will and a warm heart. |
| Orm / Troll | Ivan Okhlobystin | Doug Erholtz | Orm is a troll who is not very strong physically. But he is smart and clever. |
| Snow Queen | Galina Tyunina | Cindy Robinson | The ruler of an icy palace. She can create strong polar winds that turn lands into winter. |
| Kai | Ramilya Iskander | Marianne Miller | Gerda's brother. He loves to dream, draw, and write poems. |
| Luta | Erin Fitzgerald | Luta is a pet weasel. She is Orm's true friend and his conscience. She is very quick and agile.
Luta often wins arguments with Orm. |
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| Daughter (Alfida) | Liza Arzamasova | Wendee Lee | A true pirate! Alfida is strong and determined. But she also has a kind heart and a strong sense of fairness. |
| Shopkeeper | Olga Shorokhova | ||
| Flower Lady | Lyudmila Artemyeva | ||
| Lapp Woman | Anna Ardova | ||
| Housemaster | Dmitry Nagiyev | Kirk Thornton | |
| Una | Olga Zubkova | Erin Fitzgerald | |
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| Prince | Mikhail Tikhonov | Christopher Smith | |
| Master Vegard | A craftsman who makes special mirrors that show people's souls. He is Kai and Gerda's father. | ||
