In 1968, Toei Co. Ltd, the Asian animation studio which created such TV series as Gigantor co-produced, with The Hal Roach Studios, THE WORLD OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, Based upon the life and stories of the famous Danish storyteller. The film takes place in Odense, Denmark at the time when Hans was a young boy. His father (the voice of Gil Mack) is a struggling shoemaker who, despite his best efforts, is not well-paid for his work by the well-to-do but stingy and selfish citizens of the town. Even though his family's lot is poor, Hans manages to keep a postive outlook, and his entertains himself with his vivid imagination and talent for storytelling.

The town is preparing for a grand opera that is to be performed by the Governor of the state, who the mayor of Odense (the voice of Lionel Wilson) is trying to impress for the sake of earning funds for his village. The govenor arrives from Copenhagen and is not impressed with the trappings prepared by the mayor and his town council. Still he remains in town for the opera. Also coming to town is an elegantly-dressed fellow known only as Uncle Oley (the voice of Chuck McCann). Oley is impressed by Hans' talents and tries to get the boy to use them.

Sadly, no-one in Odense is interested in Hans' stories, and the boy is more interested in trying to help his father earn the money needed for his family to attend the opera. Uncle Oley gives Mr. Andersen a piece of red lether, which the gentleman says will help to create the most beautiful and enchanted red shoes imaginable. But he warns that the red shoes must never be exposed to music, or the wearer will dance non-stop.

A big contest is held by the merchants to see who can create the best shoes. The mayor picks Mr.Anderson's shoes but he pays less that what he feels that they are worth. Hans manages to save some money for the opera. When he sees a little match girl and her grandmother unjustly evicted from their home by the selfish and corrupt mayor, the boy gives her all of his funds thus, he has lost his last chance to see the opera.

Sadly, Hans and his talking cat pal Casper sit outside of the opera house to hear the music that eminates from the building. The mayor's vain and equally cruel daughter attened the opera, where the girl sports the red shoes. The shoes are exposed to the music and soon the miserible brat is dancing non stop all over the theater and out into the streets, as the mayor, govenor, the cast of the opera and the entire town chases after her.

The only person left are Hans, Casper and a sad little boy who is crying because he is missing the opera. Hans feels sorry for the little kid and at the urging of Casper and Uncle Oley, he calms the kid by telling him the tale of "The Little Match Girl". The scene shifts to a series of images of a match girl, trying to keep her hands warm by lighting a match. The match creates a series of dreams that the child finds enchanting. The final dream is the reincarnation f the girl's recently deceased grandmother, who takes the child away from her unhappy world and into heaven. The next day, the little match girl was found dead by the citizens of the town. But, she was discovered with a smile on her face and the people realized that the unhappy girl had finally found joy during her last moments.

Hans finishes the tale, to the thundrous applease of the mayor, govenor, townspeople and his parents. News of this brillant young author's talents come to the attention of the king of Denmark, who awards Hans a scholarship with The Royal Danish Academy. And a few days later, Hans leaves for the academy with the govenor to receive the education that he has earned and to embark on his long and successful career as a writer and teller of folk tales.

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THE WORLD OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN was released to movie theaters, but did not receive the publicity of Sam Goldwyn's fictional musical bio, HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN starring Danny Kaye, or Rankin/Bass' live action/animation musical fantasy THE DAYDREAMER, with Paul O'Keefe and it's all star cast, but it still did well with the Saturday Matinee set, and the talents of Chuck McCann, Lionel Wilson and Gil Mack make this film an enjoyable experience. Cartoonist Al Kilgore collaborated with Chuck McCann on the English translation of the story.

Kevin S. Butler

Video/DVD availability: VHS, DVD (various)