Anastasia - A Movie Review

Life is full of choices. Anything is possible.

Anastasia was released to theaters in 1997. Loosely based on the events of the attack on the Russian Dowager empire, Anastasia loses her memory. Years later, joining two con men, they attempt to reunite her with her grandmother, the royal empress.

Anastasia was one of my favorite animated films when I was a kid. During my most recent watch of the film, it was a mesmerizing experience. It is based on a true story, but it is a fictional detail. Designed as a ‘what if’ tale on the story of Anastasia, the film is a beautiful story.

Before and following this film, viewers should research the story behind Anastasia. She was a unique figure. With the information that they found, the writers did an excellent job with the representation of Anastasia’s character. Anastasia is a headstrong young woman though she has never had it easy.

The journey she goes through with Dimitry and Vladamire feels genuine. I enjoyed the dialogue and their sarcasm. You never know who you are going to meet in life. But it is always important to give someone a chance.

Voice credits include the talents of Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Llyod, Hank Azaria, and Bernadette Peters. It also includes the musical vocal talents of Liz Callaway, Jonathan Dokuchitz, and Jim Cummings. Everyone did an incredible job of connecting to their characters and not just adding their voices.

Out of all the voice actors, I was most impressed by Angela Landsbury. She emotionally connected to her character’s pain. Her scenes with Anastasia were staged very well. I wonder if animators acted out the scene to present a dramatic representation of the scene. The film provides an integral message to share a bond with a grandparent.

Ironically, though I liked him when I was a kid, I didn’t see much of a point in Pooka, the dog that Anastasia befriends. His purpose is to get in the way and just be a cute dog.

Filmmakers did incredible research. The animation is a splendid work of art. It looks realistic. Animators worked long and incredible hours on the film incorporating neat tricks. The costume designs are especially noteworthy. One of the dresses that Anastasia is seen wearing was an actual dress that the real person wore.

Beware the dark imagery, especially Rasputin’s character. Little kids might be scared of his character due to his body coming apart. The animation was spectacular mixing a dark atmosphere in a romantic and bright story.

Part of me feels like we could have done without Rasputin’s villainous arc because it was not realistic. The main focus of this story is Anastasia and her journey. Rasputin’s villain also took away from the story, feeling more like filler. Bartok didn’t feel like a necessary character. Thankfully, he had his own movie a couple of years later.

Anastasia has several noteworthy songs, especially ‘Once Upon a December’. Other songs include ‘A Rumor in St. Petersburg’, ‘In the Dark of the Night’, and ‘Paris Holds the Key (To the Heart).’

I’m surprised that Anastasia is not talked about more. It is an underrated film. Don Bluth and Gary Holdman created a bold story about a figure in life who was taken too soon. Bluth has always been one of my favorite animators. His attention to detail is impressive. He incorporated a commemorative message about being happy with who you are.

Anastasia is a breathtaking story that you have to see. If you have not seen it I recommend that you find it on Disney+.