BeachballSP

I'm very grateful this beautiful short film is available to the public after the plans for a third Fantasia film were scrapped. It's a startling contrast to the cheery The Little Mermaid on the same DVD it shares space with since the story isn't sugar-coated and there aren't splashes of bright colors all over. The Little Matchgirl is similar in ways to Tim Burton's Corpse Bride with its bittersweetness, the heroine's hope of freedom, and the use of soft greyscale tones to make the settings and characters well-suited for the somber story. The chosen music piece is the perfect theme to Matchgirl's emotions and memories.

The design for the Matchgirl has to be my favorite animated little girl design ever. She's simply precious.