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Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria ... see more see more... , Bernadette Peters , Kirsten Dunst , Angela Lansbury , Liz Callaway , Lacey Chabert , Jim Cummings , Jonathan Dokuchitz

Timeless Tales: Anastasia offers a family friendly animated story about the daughter of the last Russian Czar. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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70% liked it

406,049 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

51 critics

G, 50 min.

Directed by: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman

Release Date: November 14, 1997

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DVD Release Date: November 16, 1999

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Stats: 16,007 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,007)

  • jmanard52
    May 11, 2008
    jmanard52
    Not Disney but Don Bluth puts together a nice fresh movie with a solid voice cast!
  • spielberg00
    August 12, 2011
    spielberg00
    Bad+
  • ajv2688
    August 11, 2011
    ajv2688
    Disney adapts yet another old story, this time from Russia. Like all of these movies, they're not entirely accurate, but still they're fun and well made. This is a good one too, I liked it.
  • jennifxu
    May 31, 2011
    jennifxu
    I was embarrassed to admit that I found Dimitri hot (as a 20-year-old, mind you!), but then I realized that he was voiced by John Cusack. This somehow made it all okay.
  • fb535316333
    May 30, 2011
    fb535316333
    Easily beats any "Disney Princess Classic" for me. Anastasia often commands more sophistication on many levels: story, characters, themes, animation, dialogue...

    It manages to reach a level of majestic beauty that previous attempts at the genre don't simply because it wiggles lo... read moreose from the child-target-audience-restraints that Disney puts on its productions.

    The results are evident, finally a "princess movie" I can say I enjoyed without feeling like a little girl.

    If there are any gripes it's the music. Songs like "Under the Sea" and "A Whole New World" stick to you for life but when I remember Anastasia all I can think of are the visuals. The music is subsidiary.
  • skeletonking101
    May 22, 2011
    skeletonking101
    its kind of annoying, but it is all made up with Rasputin played by Christopher Lloyd. All the songs are annoying, the animation is okay, and the acting is to, but overall its not one of the best animated films ive seen
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    December 29, 2010
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Very talented voices behind the characters thus the story is vague and a lil boring but still a great disney ending like always. Watch it with your kids!!!

    In St Petersburg, Russia, in 1916, a lavish ball is held to celebrate 300 years of the rulling of the Romanov family. Atten... read moreding the event is the Dowager Empress Marie (Angela Lansbury), whose son Nicolas is the Tsar of Imperial Russia. At the event, Marie is happy to see her granddaughter Anastasia (Kirsten Dunst), who is sad that Marie will be going to Paris, France. Marie has chosen to give Anastasia a music box as a gift, which plays a melody that both of them know. The wind-up key to make the music box work is on a pendant, inscribed with the words, "Together in Paris."

    The mood of the party is soon silenced as Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) enters, claiming to be Nicolas' "confidant." Nicolas instead brands Rasputin as a traitor, and orders him out of the Palace. Angered at Nicholas, Rasputin claims that he and his family will be dead within the fortnight, and vows to not rest until all the Romanovs are dead.

    Rasputin then sells his soul for the power to destroy the Romanov family. With his stronger dark powers, Rasputin uses them to cause dissent among the people, who soon revolt and charge the Palace gates. Anastasia and Marie are in a room in the midst of the chaos, but escape through a secret entrance with the help of a servant boy. As they attempt to make their way across a frozen river on the Palace Grounds, Rasputin confronts them, but ends up on thin ice, which cracks and gives way under him, causing him to sink into the cold waters, leaving behind his magic reliquary and a little fruitbat named Bartok (Hank Azaria).

    Anastasia and Marie attempt to board a train, but in the process, Anastasia loses her grip on Marie's hand, falling to the platform, where she hits her head and goes unconscious.

    10 years after the revolution, St Petersburg is filled with gossip that Anastasia may still be alive, with the Dowager Empress Marie (who still resides in Paris) promising to pay a reward for the return of her granddaughter. A conman in St Petersburg named Dmitri (John Cusack) and his assistant Vlad (Kelsey Grammer) are attempting to find a woman to pass off as Anastasia, in hopes of bilking Marie out of the reward.

    Meanwhile, Anastasia has grown up in an orphanage, under the name of Anya. Having developed amnesia after falling off the train onto the platform, no memory of her past life remains, except for the key/locket to the music box. The head of the orphanage has deemed it time for Anya to go to work, and sends her off to work at a fish factory. Anya soon comes to a fork in the road, with one way leading to the town where the fish factory is, and the other leading to St Petersburg. Unsure which way to go, Anya is surprised when a little puppy appears, and seems to lead her to St Petersburg.

    Once there, she attempts to take a train to Paris, but is denied transit because she does not have an exit visa. A woman who hears this tells Anya to see a man named Dmitri, who she claims can help her. Anya is informed that Dmitri can be found near the now-abandoned Royal Palace, and soon enters. Once inside, she is overcome by various memories, as she enters the now-dusty grand ballroom.

    Suddenly, a voice rings out, and Anya finds herself face-to-face with Dmitri and Vlad. Looking at her, Dmitri feels that Anya would be perfect for his plans, and convinces Anya that he can help her get to Paris if she will accompany him and Vlad to see the Dowager Empress and see if she may really be the missing Anastasia Romanov. Naturally, Anya goes along with the plan, having no knowledge of who she really is.

    Meanwhile, in a little alcove of the ballroom, Bartok has been hiding, and notices that Rasputin's reliquary has started to glow. As he lays a hand on it, it suddenly rockets the little bat into 'limbo,' where Rasputin has been for 10 years. Since Anastasia survived, he was not able to die completely, and has been stuck in limbo as a rotting corpse. When Bartok presents him with the reliquary, Rasputin uses its powers to conjure minions to destroy Anastasia.

    Anya, Dmitri, and Vlad board a train headed to Paris, but end up having to hide in the baggage car when their passports' coloration is overheard to not match the proper color. Rasputin's minions also intend to derail the train, but our group manages to escape before it plunges into a canyon.

    They continue on foot, with Vlad telling of the Dowager Empress' first cousin, who questions anyone claiming to be Anastasia. Anya gets indignant that no one told her she had to prove she was Anastasia. Vlad convinces her that there's nothing for her back in Russia, and that Paris could hold something special. His words convince her, and they begin going over proper etiquette and Romanov history.

    Eventually, they take a ship from Germany to Paris, where both Dmitri and Anya perform a waltz, which seems to bring the two a bit closer together. That evening, Rasputin invades Anya's dream, and causes her to almost sleepwalk over the edge of the boat, until Dmitri saves her.

    After the two setbacks, Rasputin decides he will return to the living world and deal with Anastasia himself. Bartok reluctantly follows.

    Anya, Dmitri and Vlad eventually make it to Paris, unaware that the Dowager Empress has had enough of the various impostors claiming to be her granddaughter, and decides to forgo the search.

    Just moments after this decision, Anya and the others arrive at the Empress' mansion, and Sophie answers the door. Even though she has been privy to the Empress' wishes, she still questions Anya. Eventually, the questioning turns to just how Anastasia was able to escape from the Palace. Dmitri thinks that they will be found out, but is shocked when Anya explains that a young boy opened a secret passage for her and the Empress to escape through.

    Sophie explains that Anya appears to have answered all the questions correctly, but explains about Marie's wishes to not see anyone else. Vlad insists that Marie meet Anya, and Sophie hints that Marie will be attending a performance of the Russian Ballet that night. Sophie then takes the three of them shopping for new clothes.

    Later that evening, Dmitri takes Vlad aside, and explains that with the escape story that Anya told, he is sure that their intended impostor is the real Anastasia, telling Vlad that he was that boy in her story. However, their talk is interrupted as Anya arrives, and they go to their box in the Opera Hall.

    During the intermission, Dmitri and Anya go to the Empress' private box, where Sophie allows Dmitri to meet with the Empress. However, Marie explains that she's heard about Dmitri, and knows about his schemes to deceive her. Dmitri leaves, but realizes too late that the door to the box was partially open, and Anya heard the entire conversation. Dmitri tries to explain who she really is, but she storms off and heads back to their residence.

    Dmitri waits until Marie leaves the Opera House, and then takes the place of her chauffeur, driving her to Anya's residence, and demanding Marie see her. Marie still refuses, until Dmitri produces the music box that she had given Anastasia long before (the music box was left behind after Marie and Anastasia escaped through the secret door).

    Marie then gives into Dmitri's wish, and talks to Anya. Anya explains that all she wants is to find where she belongs. As they talk, Anya shows Marie the locket she has, and when Marie produces the music box, Anya's memory fully returns, and Marie is overjoyed that she has found her granddaughter again.

    Marie eventually calls on Dmitri, presenting him with the reward, and her gratitude. Even so, Dmitri refuses the reward, but is glad to see that he has reunited Anastasia with her true family. As he leaves, he encounters Anastasia, and the two exchange few words, with Anastasia believing that Dmitri got his reward after all.

    Later on that evening, Marie and Anastasia are in attendance at a social function in Paris, in which Anastasia will be revealed to those in attendance. Marie explains that her granddaughter should be happy, but she seems somewhat distant. Marie knows that Anastasia secretly loves Dmitri, and explains to her that he did not take the reward. Marie goes out to join the festivities first, telling Anastasia that whatever path she chooses should make her happy.

    After Marie leaves, Anastasia is distracted by her puppy, which leads her out into the garden near the building. As she makes her way to a nearby bridge, Rasputin emerges from the fog, and attempts to kill her. However, Dmitri (having had second thoughts) returns to try and save Anastasia. In the process, Anastasia manages to get ahold of Rasputin's reliquary, and destroy it, causing the 'mad monk' to finally be destroyed.

    In the aftermath, Anastasia and Dmitri confess their feelings for the other, and elope, with Anastasia choosing to forgo her royal heritage for love, much to the delight of her grandmother, who declares it a "perfect beginning" for the two young lovers.
  • 3niR
    November 13, 2010
    3niR
    Although some scenes were confusing (and I don't feel like pointing out which ones), this animation was quite charming. Good story and music. It's different than Cinderella and Snow White.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    October 6, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I'm sorry, but how the hell can you go wrong with John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria, Bernadette Peters, Kirsten Dunst and Angela Lansbury. I could give or take with Meg Ryan. But seriously. That line up is FANTASTIC. The story is so unhistorical, but who... read more cares!?
  • MizturY0da
    September 8, 2010
    MizturY0da
    not interested

View All Anastasia Reviews

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy
September 1, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

An ambitious, serious but not particularly stimulating musical feature that unconvincingly attempts to graft warm and cuddly family-film motifs onto turbulent aspects of modern history and mythology. Full Review

Peter Stack
June 18, 2002
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

A gorgeous piece of work. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Any film that echoes the landscape of Doctor Zhivago is hard to dislike for too long. Full Review

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Judging from their voices, about as close to Europe as most of these characters have ever gotten is probably Fresno. Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

Flawed but not fatally, this ambitious epic's strength lies not just with its haunting melodies, pretty pictures, star voices and kid-friendly sidekicks -- the usual shtick that makes Disney tick.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A promising launch for Fox's new animation studio, which has declared war on Disney. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The whole process of watching Anastasia is a thoroughly enjoyable one, and it proves that any studio willing to put forth the time, money, and effort can match Disney. Full Review

Tim Brayton
January 22, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

It's Bluth and company's skill as artists, as well as some of the better celebrity voice casting in an animated movie of the 1990s, that give Anastasia its merit. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 21, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Beautiful but inaccurate depiction of Anastasia. Full Review

Lisa Osborne
October 18, 2008
Lisa Osborne, Boxoffice Magazine

This enchanting fairy-tale, the first release from Fox Animation Studios, is pure family entertainment. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Anastasia [singing]: Dancing bears, painted wings. Things I almost remember, And a song someone sings. Once upon a December.
    • Anastasia: You think you're going to miss it?
    • Dimitri: Miss what? Your talking?
    • Anastasia: No. Russia.
    • Rasputin: Your Imperial Highness. Look what ten years has done to us: you a beautiful young flower and me a rotting corpse.
    • Anastasia: That face!
    • Rasputin: Last seen at a party like this one.
    • Anastasia: A curse...
    • Sophie: I will ask very hard questions.
    • Empress Dowager Marie Fedorovna: No. My heart can't take it anymore. I will see no more girls claiming to be Anastasia.
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Anastasia : Watch Free on TV

Anastasia Trivia

  • Which two actors did the voices oh Anastasia and Dimitri in the movie Anastasia?   Answer »
  • "Dancing bears, painted wings, things i almost remember." What movie is this song from?  Answer »
  • Who provided the voice of Dimitri in the cartoon motion picture Anastasia?  Answer »
  • Who did the vioce for Anastasia for the movie Anastasia?  Answer »
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