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Review by Elizabeth Smith
Children have seen "Snow White," "The Jungle Book," "101 Dalmatians," "Aladdin," "Yogi Bear," "Ulysses" -- all animated cartoon movie features and all based on characters from mythology, fable or fiction.
Twentieth Century Fox is taking a different approach in "Anastasia," its first full-length animated movie, basing it on the story of the real historical daughter of the last Russian czar, Nicholas II. Now, some 80 years later, the mystery continues about whether or not Anastasia was actually assassinated with the rest of the family in 1917, as the Russian revolution was beginning. Assuming that she did escape but lost her memory of those dreadful events, what could have happened?
The film "Anastasia" answers this question with an entertaining and age-appropriate scenario as the orphaned princess makes her way to her grandmother Dowager Empress Marie in Paris with the help of Dimitri and Vladimir, former servants at the palace. The evil mystic Rasputin, a member of the "walking dead" in this version, and his minions are the obstacles; a key inscribed with a special emblem and the music box it activates are the final pieces to the puzzle.
Children can relive the film adventure with a number of Anastasia book products that are appearing in bookstores. For the youngest movie-goers (ages 3-7), there's "Princess Anastasia" by Jan Carr, illustrated by the Thompson brothers. This picture book with brief rhyming text and pages covered with full-color art from the film, goes from palace to palace, starting with Anastasia at the ball in St. Petersburg and concluding in Paris. Anastasia, a red-haired, blue-eyed beauty, is a bit like Cinderella as she goes from princess peasant to princess again. Little ones will enjoy seeing that she is always accompanied by her pet Pooka.
The 4-9 age group gets not only a story but also a piece like the emblem on the key to the music box in "My Anastasia Storybook & Necklace." Attached inside the front cover and visible in the see-through hole is a necklace with the flower-shaped emblem. And as girls are wearing the necklace they can read this good short rendition of the movie plot adapted by Diane Molleson.
"Anastasia: The Movie Novel" is an 88-page paperback adapted by Cathy East Dubowski for the next age bracket, ages 8-12. Eleven short chapters and a full-color insert in the center give this version a closer tie to the movie, and it emphasizes more the romance between Anya (Anastasia) and Dimitri.
Big fans of the movie, regardless of age, will love "Anastasia: Classic Edition." Ages 5-9 are suggested on the book jacket of this handsome storybook with full pages of color movie scenes, and the writing style makes the story feel more complete within itself, but the pages in the back about the movie itself also appeal to a larger audience. There readers learn that movie voice roles are played by Meg Ryan (Anastasia), John Cusack (Dimitri), Angela Lansbury (Grandmother Marie) and Christopher Lloyd (Rasputin). We also learn about the "sparkling, new song score" written by Broadway collaborators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The song melodies and background music may be as strong an appeal in the movie as the story and animation. "My Anastasia Musical Diary" includes the movie theme song and several of these lilting, singable melodies.
Other book-related products include a diary, a die-cut board book with a squeaky "Pooka" for the youngest, a pop-up, a key-board book, a set of mini books -- whatever the format and price, Anastasia has come to town in a big way! Young moviegoers will want to follow up with some basic research about the real events.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
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