As said many times, have always had a lifelong love of animation, old and new. Disney, Studio Ghibli, Hanna Barbera, Tom and Jerry, Hanna Barbera, Looney Tunes and also the works of Tex Avery and Fleischer. With a broader knowledge of animation styles, directors, studios and how it was all done actually love it even more now.
It's not just animation held in very high regard by me. Have also had an undying lifelong love of Hans Christian Andersen's classic stories, they're beautifully written and full of magic, emotion and memorable characters. His timeless appeal is more than justified and there is a reason why his name is so commonly associated with fairy tales, along with the darker stories of the Grimm Brothers. Would see any adaptation of his work, animation or live-action, and there have been numerous times where his work has lent well to animation.
To me this Danish animated series 'The Fairytaler' is one of the best examples and should be more widely known. For good animation, characters that have lost none of what made them so great in the first place and wonderful storytelling that has its own spin yet treats the stories with respect. This is obvious in 'Little Ida's Flowers'.
As with 'The Fairytaler' in general, 'Little Ida's Flowers' is rightly short, being one of the slighter and simpler stories of Andersen's, and holds the attention of even the most hyper of youngsters, so engrossing it is even when it is not one of Andersen's most well known or best stories and the minutes just fly by.
In terms of animation, 'Little Ida's Flowers' is simple but doesn't go overboard with this. It is still beautifully coloured and meticulously detailed with characters that are remarkably life-like and a lot of smoothness and crispness. The music is whimsical at times, haunting in others and poignant in others, matching with the images more than appropriately. The intro is magical and impossible to forget and loved how Andersen himself is briefly written in.
Here, 'Little Ida's Flowers' told with elegant style and entertaining wit, the energy never wavering while never being rushed. The dialogue is never too complicated and not too simple. Yet the spirit and essence of 'Little Ida's Flowers' are captured well, with no effort to dumb down or make it too saccharine. The storytelling charms, entertains and moves and nothing is juvenile.
'Little Ida's Flowers' story is slight but doesn't feel dull or stretched too far. Nothing will traumatise younger viewers and adults should feel nostalgic, traditionalists will find a lot to admire still and making it accessible to present day viewers is handled with intelligence and no awkwardness at all. Those who have been through similar situations with flowers will relate.
Characters are all round endearing, without being too cutesy. The flowers, where an effort is made giving each different personalities to each other, have a little more personality than Ida, but she is one of those characters that is hard to dislike. The voice acting is dynamic and well suited for the characters. Any narration never falls into the trap of telling/explaining too much.
Summing up, very charming. 10/10 Bethany Cox
It's not just animation held in very high regard by me. Have also had an undying lifelong love of Hans Christian Andersen's classic stories, they're beautifully written and full of magic, emotion and memorable characters. His timeless appeal is more than justified and there is a reason why his name is so commonly associated with fairy tales, along with the darker stories of the Grimm Brothers. Would see any adaptation of his work, animation or live-action, and there have been numerous times where his work has lent well to animation.
To me this Danish animated series 'The Fairytaler' is one of the best examples and should be more widely known. For good animation, characters that have lost none of what made them so great in the first place and wonderful storytelling that has its own spin yet treats the stories with respect. This is obvious in 'Little Ida's Flowers'.
As with 'The Fairytaler' in general, 'Little Ida's Flowers' is rightly short, being one of the slighter and simpler stories of Andersen's, and holds the attention of even the most hyper of youngsters, so engrossing it is even when it is not one of Andersen's most well known or best stories and the minutes just fly by.
In terms of animation, 'Little Ida's Flowers' is simple but doesn't go overboard with this. It is still beautifully coloured and meticulously detailed with characters that are remarkably life-like and a lot of smoothness and crispness. The music is whimsical at times, haunting in others and poignant in others, matching with the images more than appropriately. The intro is magical and impossible to forget and loved how Andersen himself is briefly written in.
Here, 'Little Ida's Flowers' told with elegant style and entertaining wit, the energy never wavering while never being rushed. The dialogue is never too complicated and not too simple. Yet the spirit and essence of 'Little Ida's Flowers' are captured well, with no effort to dumb down or make it too saccharine. The storytelling charms, entertains and moves and nothing is juvenile.
'Little Ida's Flowers' story is slight but doesn't feel dull or stretched too far. Nothing will traumatise younger viewers and adults should feel nostalgic, traditionalists will find a lot to admire still and making it accessible to present day viewers is handled with intelligence and no awkwardness at all. Those who have been through similar situations with flowers will relate.
Characters are all round endearing, without being too cutesy. The flowers, where an effort is made giving each different personalities to each other, have a little more personality than Ida, but she is one of those characters that is hard to dislike. The voice acting is dynamic and well suited for the characters. Any narration never falls into the trap of telling/explaining too much.
Summing up, very charming. 10/10 Bethany Cox