Anastasia (1997) - Beautiful blend of charm and historical intrigue!

It's easy to forget that Disney aren't the only giants when it comes to big screen 2D animated features. And whenever I've seen artwork for this film in the past, I always wrote it off as another generic kids film, trying to cash in on the Disney formula. But it wasn't until I begun to hear people tell me there was more to this film, that I felt it was worth giving a chance. And the surprises that awaited me are too many to count...

The attention to detail in this film is second to none. It was only after watching this film through, that I realised there was actually a base in history for this narrative. And while the narrative in this film is far more uplifting and hopeful than the actual outcome in real life, it is a brilliant gateway to get people young and old interested in history. And it doesn't just stop at the names of people in the film, even small details such as a child's drawing or the design of travel papers are historically accurate. People might argue that kids films don't need to be swimming in details like this, but that's where I feel it works the best. I find a lot of productions aimed at families and children are most successful, when they use child friendly visuals to demonstrate how the world around us was or still is. If a child watched a live action version of this film, they might still find some enjoyment, but it might also alienate them or frighten them. I remember seeing live action productions that scared me because how real it felt. Yet I could enjoy darker stories if they were presented through child friendly visuals. That's where I think this film really exceeds!

The cast here are sublime! Meg Ryan and John Cusack provide wonderful chemistry just through their voices, and Kelsey Grammar rounds out the trio of leads. I do feel Grammar's line delivery was a tad too fast in pace at times, but it's thankfully not too distracting, and generally is still very fun to watch. It's also worth praising their vocals during the songs, which all sound beautifully performed! I am still dumbfounded that Christopher Lloyd was the voice behind the film's antagonist, Rasputin. He is unrecognisable, providing such a dark and menacing performance throughout! He's got a level of threatening presence that isn't present in many modern films. Again, we see here how film makers use to trust their young audiences to accept the characters as they are, cheer for the heroes, and boo the threatening villains! I should also give praise to Hank Azaria, who's performance are Bartok was quite charming and funny. He does fall into the token "funny animal" trope, but he thankfully doesn't overstay his welcome, and doesn't spend his screen time screeching like a wannabe Gilbert Godfrey.

The animation also looks beautiful, and has upheld very well in the nearly 25 years that this film has been around! It doesn't feel like the team are just copying the Disney style of animation, the film feels like it has it's own identity, right down to how the film utilises CGI in order create some grand sweeping shots in a two-dimensional environment. Now are they shots all flawless? No, but so many of them blend in with the rest of the shots so effortlessly. It seems that as the film goes on, these kinds of shots get better. I also need to praise the editing, particularly how the opening was cut together. As our characters are torn apart at a very early stage, the whole moment is tense and suspenseful, ending with an early heartbreaking moment. It establishes the film's plot points and emotional core smoothly and clearly.

After giving this film a fair chance, it reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. It's more than just writing about films I think are worth talking about, it's about looking into hidden gems that deserve more attention, for better or worse. And in the case of this film, it's definitely for the better! What on the surface looks like generic kids film number 127, actually presents a fun filled interpretation of the past, with so much attention to detail, becoming a brilliant gateway for audiences to explore the real stories of the past. And the film doesn't need to sell you on being a look at history, because it's the beautiful animation and lively performances that will first draw people in, before the film unravels it's intriguing context. Overall, a very solid film!

SCORES

Story - 4/5

Characters - 4.5/5

Production - 4/5

Acting - 4.5/5

Music - 5/5

TOTAL - 8.8/10