The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie Review

The Snow Queen is based on the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen. The tale told is the same one Disney used to adapt and make into the modern favorite Frozen. The Soviet classic animation is a far darker telling of the fable. Produced by Lev Atamanov. The Snow Queen is notable as being the favorite film of master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke).

The young girl Gerda decides to set forth on an epic mission to save her close friend Kay from the clutches of the frozen Snow Queen. The journey is one that is full of surprises. The adventure explores a number of themes about humanity – from the will to survive and the will to do good. Can Gerda rescue her friend?

The animation is exceptional. The beauty of the animation shines through from scene to scene. There is so much wonder and magic in the animation style. The texture and detail given to every nuance makes this a classic animated film in every sense. The level of care and attention is breathtaking. A majestic animated gem. The art direction by Leonid Shvartsman (A Kitten Named Woof, How the Camel and the Donkey Went to School) and Aleksandr Vinokurov (The Adventures of Mowgli, The Key) is well highlighted throughout.  

The cinematography by Mikhail Druyan (The Adventures of Buratino, The Great Battle Between the Elephant and the Whale) is lush and beautiful. The visual language of the film is important to the storytelling. The cinematography helps to tell the story and bring it to life.

Composed by Artemi Ayvazyan (The Wolf and the Seven Kids, The Thieves of Color Paints), The Snow Queen is a special score. The music plays a big role throughout the feature film. The score adds so much wonder and whimsy to the production.

Edited by Lidiya Kyaksht (The Key, The Bath House), The Snow Queen is well paced throughout. The editing was well done across the board. There is so much to appreciate about the editing style. A fantastic effort and it brings out the best in the storytelling.

Written by Georgiy Grebner (Salamander, Kreyser 'Varyag'), Lev Atamanov, and Nikolay Erdman (Moscow Laughs, The Horsemen), The Snow Queen is a classic fable that audiences will cherish. Everything about the story is special. The fable is well adapted and the scripting handles the classic tale remarkably well.

Directed by Lev Atamanov (The Scarlet Flower, The Key), The Snow Queen is a masterpiece. It is no wonder it is so beloved by Hayao Miyazaki (my favorite filmmaker). Miyazaki learned a great deal about animation and storytelling from The Snow Queen as a young man that one can see the influence of this film on Miyazaki’s later works upon seeing The Snow Queen. The filmmaking is beautiful, lush, and enchanting. A must-see classic of Soviet animation.

The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile, The Snow Queen is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 widescreen. The high-definition video looks fantastic. The transfer is remarkably sharp and crisp throughout. The animation is beautifully reproduced and the cinematography shines. A well-done restoration effort that showcases the remarkable beauty of the animation in every frame.

The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Russian DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (with English subtitles). The English subtitles are well done. The subtitles are free from spelling or grammatical errors. The audio presentation is well reproduced. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The score is beautifully reproduced. A well-done lossless presentation.

The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

"Written with Ice Crystals: Master Soviet Animator Lev Atamanov and the Snow Queen" (HD, 19:05)

"Innocence & Cynicism: The Snow Queen and Hayao Miyazaki" (HD, 10:48)

Audio Commentary on The Snow Queen by Rolf Giesen

The Snow Queen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Snow Queen is a beautiful masterpiece. The classic animated film is a must-see gem of Soviet animation. It is no wonder Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service) considers it his favorite animated film – the influence vast and great on the filmography of the filmmaker. A must-see classic. Highly recommended.