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The Snow Queen (2012 film)

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The Snow Queen
International Movie Poster
Directed byVladlen Barbe
Maxim Sveshnikov
Written byHans Christian Andersen (story)
Vladlen Barbe
Vadim and Maxim Sveshnikov
Produced byAlexander Ligaiy
Yuri Moskvin
Sergey Rappoport
Timur Bekmambetov
StarringAnna Shurochkina[1]
Ivan Okhlobystin
Dmitry Nagiev
Yuri Stoyanov
Anna Ardova
Lyudmila Artemyeva
Kirk Thornton
Erin Fitzgerald
Wendee Lee
Cindy Robinson
Doug Erholtz
Jessica Straus
Music byMark Willott
Brainstorm (Prāta Vētra)
Production
company
Distributed byInlay Film
Bazelevs Distribution
Warner Bros. (UAE)[2]
Universal Studios (France)[3]
Vertical Entertainment (U.S.)[4]
Release dates
  • December 31, 2012 (2012-12-31) (Russia)
  • January 3, 2013 (2013-01-03) (International)
  • October 10, 2013 (2013-10-10) (United States)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryRussia
LanguagesRussian
English (for international release)
Budget7 Million USD[5]
Box office$14 million[2][6][7]

The Snow Queen (Russian: Снежная королева, Snezhnaya koroleva) is a 2012 Russian 3D computer-animated film directed by Vladlen Barbe and Maxim Sveshnikov.[8] It was produced by Wizart Animation studio in Voronezh and is based on the story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, co-produced by Moscow's Inlay Film, and distributed by Timur Bekmambetov's company Bazelevs. The movie was released on December 31, 2012 in Russia,[9] and internationally on January 3, 2013,[10] a year before the release of Disney's counterpart project, Frozen,[11] that is currently scheduled to be released on November 27, 2013. In the U.S., it will be released in VOD on October 10, 2013;[12] in theaters stateside on October 11, 2013;[13][14] and DVD on January 28, 2014.[15]

Plot

Wishing to create a new world where clean lines replace emotions and the polar wind cools human souls, the Snow Queen has blanketed the world in ice and set out to destroy all art. According to the predictions of a magic mirror, the last threat to the Snow Queen comes from the master glass-maker Master Vegard, whose mirrors reflect not only appearances but also souls. One day the polar wind takes away Vegard and his wife Una. But they manage to hide their baby-boy Kai and daughter Gerda

Time passes, the servant of the Snow Queen, Orm the troll - who can shapeshift into a black weasel, finds Gerda's brother Kai at an orphanage called "Saint Peter's Kids Shelter," whom he believed to be Vegard's successor. When Kai is abducted to the Snow Queen's palace, Gerda embarks on a journey across the icy wonderland, facing difficult obstacles and finding new friends on her quest to set Kai free, defeat the Snow Queen and warm the hearts of people everywhere.[16]

Gerda and Orm (black weasel) encountered a cruel garden lady at the garden dome, who wants to give her a tea which contaminated a forgetting potion that would make her forget. She would enslave her since her power unexpectedly grew her flowers, and use her to make money. When Orm (troll) witnessed it, he saved her life and the garden lady unleashed her ferocious living plant named Ivy. She pursued Gerda and Orm, but successfully escaped.

Meanwhile in the Snow Queen's ice palace, the polar wind brought Kai, and she took him into her throne room. She commanded to look into her reflection of the mirror, the mirror examined Kai, and told her that there are two heirs of Master Vegard. Kai tried to defend Gerda, but the Snow Queen's knew from his heart.

Gerda and Orm (troll) journeyed through the Imana's caves, the birthplace of the trolls. Orm told her a story about how trolls were once friendly creatures, until conjured by a chest of the Snow Queen which plunged their hearts into darkness, turning against each other. Orm himself, was not conjured, for he survived. After the war, the trolls's bodies were buried in the lake called Gow. Ironically, he did not mention himself in the battle field, and lied to Gerda that one survived. While Gerda went to the lake Gow, the Snow Queen called out to Orm to bring Gerda to her, and he obeyed. Next, Orm saved Gerda from looking into the lake Gow since it was evil. When Orm almost fell into the lake, Gerda was about to save him, but he shouted to her to not look at the lake, but she did. However, she broke through Gow's curse, and she and Orm escaped.

Gerda and Orm (black weasel) encountered a king who was on a royal hunt. He was about to attack Gerda, but got unconscious after he got knocked out and stuck on a bark of the tree while riding on the horse. The king's servant and Gerda helped him return to his castle, which was split in half by the Snow Queen's cold. The king's explained that the king and his children, the prince and princess, lost his wife Queen Anself. As a result, he and his children split their kingdom and their possessions. When the king woke up from his unconsciousness, he took Gerda as prisoner, until the prince and princess showed up. They complained on how to divide Gerda, and Gerda said that he has to go save her brother Kai. When the king and his children heard her reply, they decided to burn half of their castle to show their dissatisfaction. But when the castle starts to really burn, the children cried out to their father, and the king came to them. Gerda saved with by pulling a chandelier up to the ceiling, and the king, while holding on to his children, slid down the rope safely to the ground. After they are saved, the king rewarded Gerda a couch to ride to the Snow Queen.

Gerda and Orm (troll) encountered pirates, lead by the pirate lade, who took them to their stranded pirate ship. The pirate lady's daughter decided to take Gerda and Orm for questioning. When Gerda said that the pirates cannot sail due to the Snow Queen, the pirate lady decided to hang Orm after she assumed that he was a talking dog. However, Gerda stood up for Orm, and said that he is going to help her defeat the Snow Queen, and bring the ocean back to normal so that the pirates can sail once more. The pirates lady's daughter believed that Gerda's right, and decided to give them their reindeer Ragnar to head forth to the Snow Queen.

Meanwhile in the Snow Queen's ice palace, Kai created a painting of her in a hideous figure. The Snow Queen destroyed his painting, and froze him to death.

Gerda and Orm (troll) ride on Ragnar to find the Snow Queen, one of the pirates accidentally let out a blow from their weapons, and caused Ragnar to react and gallop fast as the wind. Orm fell behind, and transformed into a black weasel to catch up with Gerda.

Gerda and Orm (black weasel) came to the Lady of Lapland in the tent, who believed that the magic mirror that Gerda has would defeat the Snow Queen. She told her that the Snow Queen was once Irma, a girl who had a gift of magic of all wizards of the North. But when children accused her, she went to Imana's caves and wished that those who accused her would be turned into ice. The lake Gow granted her wish, and turned her into the Snow Queen. The Lady of Lapland gave her and Orm (troll), who was not allowed to enter her tent, a snow boat and gave her magic snow wind to the Snow Queen.

Orm (troll) decided to save Gerda's life by turning the ship around. He told her that she was no match for the Snow Queen, but she refused since she has to save her brother Kai. Finally, she made it inside the Snow Queen's ice palace. There, she saw Kai frozen, and wept. Orm comforted her. Next, the Snow Queen showed up, and said to Gerda that she will join her family in death. She gave Orm leave, but he begged her to spare Gerda's life. The Snow Queen refused and gave him leave again, but he said that he no longer serves to her anymore. The Snow Queen taunts him in front of Gerda, to show how careless he was. When Orm could not stand it, he stood up by shouting his name. The Snow Queen summoned her ice beasts and ice trolls to destroy Gerda and Orm. Orm transforms into a polar bear to take down the ice trolls and ice beasts to give Gerda time to defeat the Snow Queen in the throne room. Luta stayed with Orm to join, and they both encountered the polar wind. In the throne room, she saw mirrors of the Snow Queen. She used her magic mirror to find the one mirror where the Snow Queen hides in. After she went through the mirror, the Snow Queen freezes her heart to defeat her. Within Gerda's spirit, she sees her parents, Vegard and Una, and her brother, Kai, giving her hope to win the battle. When Gerda broke through from being frozen by the Snow Queen, she pointed her magic mirror against her, and transformed her back into Irma. The Snow Queen, in Irma's body, was about to take her, but Gerda comforted her to save her life. The ice palace shattered, and the Snow Queen is no more. Orm (polar bear) was unconscious after defeating the polar wind, and transformed back into a troll. Irma restored Kai's life, and Luta woke Orm up by one bite on his long nose. Gerda embraced Kai and Luta embraced Orm.

Orm narrates at the end that he saved the day, but Gerda, in the narration, interrupted him by his name since she too saved the day (mostly). And the film ends with Gerda, Kai, Luta, Orm, and Irma walking together away from the destructed ice palace, now that eternal winter is gone forever.

Cast

Russian

English

Production

The Snow Queen completed its production on October 22, 2012. This coincided with the anniversary date of October 22, 1957, the day The Snow Queen (1957 film) by Lev Atamanov was released.[18]

Original songs for The Snow Queen was written and composed by Mark Willott. The official soundtrack was heard in trailers 1 and 3. A Russian music video for the film was made and performed by Nyusha called "This New Year."[19] A track performed by Brainstorm called "Shine Clear" became the theme song in the animated movie The Snow Queen, which premiered on December 31, 2012.[20] Their song got translated into English titled Flashlight, which premiered internationally.[21]

The first trailer was released on June 27, 2011,[22] the second trailer on February 3, 2012,[23] the third trailer on February 27, 2012,[24] and the fourth and official trailer on October 25, 2012.[25] The Russian promotional trailer was released on December 7, 2012.[26] The official poster was presented on October 2012.[27]

The first four U.S. trailers for The Snow Queen was released on the last week of August 2013 on Vimeo.[28][29][30][31] The official U.S. trailer was released on Deadline.com and YouTube.[14]

Release

Theatrical

The Snow Queen was first presented for international buyers at the AFM (American Film Market) in November 2011. Olga Sinelshchikova, Business Development Director, explained, “At the AFM, we received very positive feedback from buyers from over 20 territories, including USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Korea and China, among others. Due to this fact, we decided to produce a version for international distribution, so this past January we successfully completed the English dubbing with Los Angeles-based production company Verité Films. The dubbing was recorded at Salami Studios with established, veteran animation actors – Cindy Robinson, Doug Erholtz, Kirk Thornton and Wendy Lee – who have more than 200 animated projects in their portfolio. The Snow Queen is now more than ever an international project. We are convinced that this kind of story as well as the stereoscopic 3D technologies have high commercial potential and will attract an extensive audience not only in Russia but worldwide. So we expect to close first deals for this project at the EFM.”[32]

Its next presentation was again at the AFM.[33] The AFM screening, which took place on November 1 at 9 am at the AMC Theater on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California, was the first time that buyers got a chance to see the complete film.

Just before the New Year, The Snow Queen has been released for the world distribution. The film was produced at Voronezh animation studio, but at a Hollywood scale. In 3D for $7 million with 1,000 special effects. "We have been working at it for three years. The story is classic, although there are new heroes," Dmitry Kchrustaliov reports in a new way about the old tale.[34]

The Snow Queen returned to the EFM for a 2013 presentation at the Berlin International Film Festival.[35] At EFM, it received massive appraisals from Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Indonesia, and the Middle East for distribution.[36] Rights to Wizart have gone to CCS Media for South Korea, MT Entertainment for Indonesia, PlayArte for Brazil, Film House for Israel, Shooting Stars for the Middle East, Big Sales for Baltic States and Aurora Distribution for the Ukraine.[37]

On April 15, 2013, The Snow Queen on Facebook has confirmed that it will be presented at the Marché du Film in Cannes from May 15 to 26, 2013.[38] On April 25, 2013, Cartoon Brew has announced that it will be presented at the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June 2013.[39] On May 22, 2013 at the Cannes Film Festival, it is confirmed that Vertical Entertainment will provide the U.S. distribution for The Snow Queen.[40] Plus, it received more international distribution from Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Serbia.[41] It competed at the IX International Animated Films Festival in Varna, Bulgaria. It was presented at their next festival in Denmark called the Buster Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children & Youth, from September 5–15 of 2013. It will present at the Asia Pacific Film Festival in late November 2013.[42] On September 18, 2013, it was announced that it will present their next festival at the Gijón International Film Festival in Spain.[43]

In Latvia, it was released on December 27, 2012.[44] In Estonia, it was released on January 4, 2013. In Korea, it was released on February 7, 2013.[45] In Kuwait, it was released on February 14, 2013. In Brazil and Lithuania, it was released on February 22, 2013.[46][47][48] In Israel, it will be released on March 7, 2013.[36] In Indonesia, it was released on March 13, 2013.[36] In United Arab Emirates, it was released on March 28, 2013 under Warner Bros.[2] In Turkey, it was released on April 5, 2013 under UIP. In Lebanon, it was released on May 2, 2013 under Joe Chacra.[2] In the Netherlands, it will be released on October 9, 2013.[49] In France, it will be released this fall of 2013 under Universal Studios.[3] In Poland, it will be released on December 26, 2013.[49][50] On September 15, 2013, it was confirmed that The Snow Queen will be released in U.S. theaters stateside on October 11, 2013.[14]

Home media

File:U.S. DVD Cover of Wizart's The Snow Queen.png
U.S. DVD Cover of Wizart's The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen, which was successfully launched in the domestic and international release last year, was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Real 3D Blu-ray in Russia. Released by "Misteriya Zvuka" it was released on January 31, 2013. In a deluxe edition of the DVD, it contains both 2D and 3D with 3D glasses attached.[51] It was released on VOD on Thursday, October 10, 2013.[52] It will be released on DVD in the U.S. on January 28, 2014.

Reception

Critical reception

The Snow Queen received 85% of positive reviews from critics, adults, and their children in Russia.[53] In the United States, it received mixed reviews. JM Willis reviewed that he like the characters in The Snow Queen, but could not understand why the Snow Queen would fulfill her purpose without a definite reason. He gave the movie a "B−."[54] Examiner gave it a "D" and criticized that, "A Russian animated version of “The Snow Queen,” which releases to limited theaters on Oct. 11, looks like it belongs with the “Hoodwinked!” films. That’s not mean to be a compliment. The animation looks incredibly cheap and ugly, and it doesn’t help that the film is filled with repeated and unfunny jokes."[55] Another from The Village Voice which said, "A Russian animated adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, Snow Queen proves both visually cruddy and narratively muddled."[56]

Box office

On January 6, 2013, The Snow Queen flopped at the Russian box office which made only $5.16 million on the first week.[57] But on January 31, 2013, it was considered a box office success as it had drawn 1.3 million viewers.[53] It grossed $7,580,435 at the Russian box office.[58] On February 1, 2013, it grossed $8.8 million.[59] On February 11, 2013 in Korea, it grossed $525,000 and took fifth place at the box office.[60] On February 15, 2013 in Korea, it grossed $1.5 million at the box office.[61] As of today, The Snow Queen made $14 million total at the box office. The profit was half the budget they have spent.[62]

Accolades

The Snow Queen won the award for "Best Animated Picture" in the "Reflection" festival.[63] It won a Grand Prix at the National Festival of Visual Arts in New Jersey and best animated feature in the 2012 Festival of Animated Films in Sudale.[64]

Sequel

After Wizart's success for The Snow Queen at the AFM, they have confirmed to produce a sequel titled The Snow Queen 2:[65] The Snow King.[66] The sequel talks about how Kai and Gerda help Orm the troll save his people from the curse of the titular villain.[67]

See also

References

  1. ^ В Воронеже за $7 миллионов рисуют 3D-мультик про задиристую Герду, Komsomolskaya Pravda report
  2. ^ a b c d SNEZHNAYA KOROLEVA (THE SNOW QUEEN) in Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ a b SPECIAL Annecy, The Snow Queen (4/5)
  4. ^ Cannes: Vertical Entertainment Snags 3D Animation ‘The Snow Queen’
  5. ^ KinoBizon about the film: Expensive but funny
  6. ^ Voronezh Wizart animation studio will release a continuation of the "Snow Queen," which grossed $ 14 million
  7. ^ Wizart Brings New Features to Cannes
  8. ^ THE SNOW QUEEN, A RUSSIAN 3D ANIMATED FEATURE
  9. ^ 89-й Российский Международный Кинорынок: Предварительная программа; Показ анимационного фильма «Снежная Королева», the Snow Queen was shown in the 89th Russian International Film Market November 27, 2012.
  10. ^ Finally "The Snow Queen" is completed!, official report, InlayFilm.com
  11. ^ Before Disney’s Frozen, A Russian Snow Queen
  12. ^ SNOW QUEEN - Exclusive Artwork Premiere
  13. ^ Snow Queen (2012) - Release Info in IMDb
  14. ^ a b c Hot Trailer: Russian 3D Animation ‘The Snow Queen’ in Deadline.com
  15. ^ Snow Queen in Amazon.com
  16. ^ The Snow Queen, official trailer 2012 in YouTube
  17. ^ "[1]". www.bcdb.com, October 6, 2012
  18. ^ Wow
  19. ^ Nyusha - "This New Year" (The Snow Queen Music Video) in YouTube
  20. ^ "Brainstorm" ieskaņojusi cartoon "The Snow Queen In 3D" title track
  21. ^ Flashlight, English Track for The Snow Queen
  22. ^ PREMIERE: "The Snow Queen" Trailer 1 in YouTube
  23. ^ "The Snow Queen" Trailer 2 in YouTube
  24. ^ "The Snow Queen" Trailer 3 in YouTube
  25. ^ OFFICIAL: "The Snow Queen" Trailer 4 in YouTube
  26. ^ "The Snow Queen" Promotional Trailer in YouTube
  27. ^ Wizart releases new pics, trailer for Snow Queen, Animation Magazine
  28. ^ SnowQueen 1080 TrailerCutdown V3REV 081613
  29. ^ SnowQueen TV20 TrailerCutdown V2 082613
  30. ^ SnowQueen TV10 TrailerCutdown V2 082613
  31. ^ SnowQueen TV30 TrailerCutdown V1ALT 082313
  32. ^ Wizart Brings ‘The Snow Queen’ to EFM
  33. ^ Check Out a Trailer For The Snow Queen
  34. ^ The Russian premiere of the animated film "The Snow Queen" In Moscow
  35. ^ Exhibitor's List EFM 2013/
  36. ^ a b c Cartoon "The Snow Queen" will be shown in Brazil and the Middle East
  37. ^ Wizart enchants buyers with Snow Queen
  38. ^ Снежная Королева / The Snow Queen in Facebook
  39. ^ Annecy Announces 23 Animated Features for 2013 Festival in Cartoon Brew
  40. ^ Vertical finds The Snow Queen
  41. ^ Wizart Animation storms Cannes
  42. ^ At the film festival at home Andersen "The Snow Queen", taken Voronezhtsev will show five times
  43. ^ Vor animators show "The Snow Queen" in Spain
  44. ^ The result of an animated film with "brainstorming" music
  45. ^ Park Bo Young, Lee Su Geun Record for ‘Snow Queen’
  46. ^ The Snow Queen | Playarte announces launch Russian animation in 2013
  47. ^ Animation 'Frosty The Kingdom' debuts in theaters on February Brazilians
  48. ^ Snow Queen 2012 Trailer dubliuotas Lietuviškai in YouTube
  49. ^ a b Snow Queen (2012) Release Info in IMDb
  50. ^ ANIMATOR. Gerda and Kai in a computer game
  51. ^ Release of "The Snow Queen" on DVD and Blu-Ray in Russia
  52. ^ The Snow Queen | iN DEMAND
  53. ^ a b In the "Snow Queen" -2 remain only the best characters
  54. ^ Snow Queen Movie Review
  55. ^ ‘The Snow Queen’ review: Don’t drink that potion; you’ll fart incessantly (Video) in Examiner.com
  56. ^ The Unintelligible and Underwhelmingly Animated Russian Adaptation of Snow Queen in The Village Voice
  57. ^ Why 3D cartoon Snow Queen flopped at the box office?
  58. ^ Cartoon created Voronezh, scored at the box office of more than 7.5 million
  59. ^ Wizart Closes New Sales for The Snow Queen
  60. ^ "The Snow Queen" is in international distribution
  61. ^ Went to Berlin. Voronezh 3D-animation in the world rolled out
  62. ^ Voronezh studio Wizart animation release a continuation of the "Snow Queen," which grossed $ 14 million
  63. ^ Mobile Uploads by Wizart Animation in Facebook
  64. ^ Voronezh cartoon "The Snow Queen" will present at the International Festival of Animated Film in Bulgaria
  65. ^ BEAUTY OF THE VORONEZH KAI
  66. ^ EFM-2013: RUSSIAN WIZART ANIMATION CONQUERS FOREIGN MARKETS
  67. ^ 89th Film Market: Again Timur again blizzard
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