User reviews

I first saw this film streamed on youtube.com and had no idea that it was a Disney short. Sure it had Disney's beautifully fluid animation (in 2D no doubt, just like old times), but unlike Disney of late, it told a deeply emotional tale with inventive visuals and no compromises in its themes. Its based on the Hans Christian Anderson fable of a small Russian girl selling matchsticks on a harsh winter's evening, when no one seems to care less. Alone and without shelter, she rides out the night lighting her matchsticks for warmth in a street corner, allowing herself to be transported to hospitable, warmer places of fantasy.

By the end, i was deeply moved by what i'd seen, but as the credits rolled, i was astonished; directed by Roger Allers; executive produced by Roy E. Disney?! Who would've thought that the company currently responsible for such tat as "The Wild" and "Chicken Little" are still capable of such profound work as this? I thought that this kind of animation only existed in Japan. Apparently, Disney is still alive somewhere under all that commercialism. In a western culture that thrives on bland, generic animated comedies (fot the most part), in short and feature length, seeing this, and from the company that seems to have finally submitted its guard to that culture, is a breath of fresh air (to use a well worn cliché).

Get "The Little Mermaid" Platinum DVD release and give it a glimpse, the only place your likely to see this in an acceptable format. This is an improvement from Disney, hands down, not just on their most recent stuff, but from all their modern works. While the majority of the 90's showcased impressive and at times classic examples of Disney's animated division working at their best, no other film from their modern catalogue tackles such real ventures in human desperation and suffering. True, this is mostly due to the source text. But several of Disney's other adaptations of literature containing disturbing and tragic content have all but washed out those elements, so while the result was still universally great entertainment in an innocent way, it definitely missed out on the more emotionally rich possibilities that Japanese animation mines frequently, and Disney itself used to acquire from time to time in their earlier classics (Dumbo and Pinocchio to name a few). Not so here, Disney seems to have acknowledged this revelation from the east. In fact "The Little Matchgirl" is actually comparable to the profoundly depressing Studio Ghibli war time anime, Isao Takahata's "Grave of the Fireflies", in its sophistication, while also remaining fairly inexplicit to appeal to all but the youngest audience. Stuff like this has very rarely found its way into western animation, and pretty much never in the ones released as mainstream features. This may be only a short, but if Disney can somehow stick to this path of much more sophisticated and imaginative movie-making and implant that thinking into their feature output, we may well see their next Golden Age in animation sooner than planned. Fingers crossed.

'The Little Match Girl' is a Disney animated short of enormous quality. In fact, it's a surprise to know that this is a relatively recent short, such are its high standards. It means that Disney wasn't as lifeless as it seemed, after all.

This short has potential to become a classic, for it lacks no ingredients to achieve that. It has a simple but emotional story, beautiful artwork and backgrounds, great animation, magic and a classic atmosphere. The music is beautiful too, capturing the essence of this mini-film: "Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major" by Alexander Borodin. It feels much more like a short from Disney's good old days than something from recent years.

The story is sad and emotional, like I mentioned. It takes place in Russia and its artwork and backgrounds have a vaguely familiar feeling (resembling 20th Century Fox's "Anastasia"). The little girl of the story looks like Mulan, though.

This story is based on a Hans Christian Anderson's fable about a poor and homeless little girl trying to sell matches in a cold Winter night (when it's freezy and snowing), possibly to get some money for some food and possibly to find a warm and comfortable place. The story shows us the difficulties she has to deal with and her wishes. These wishes are shown through the visions she has (like being in a warm and comfortable place). There are no dialogs at all, but despite that it's very easy to understand the story and its message.

This short is included as an extra in 'The Little Mermaid' Platinum Edition DVD released in 2006. After getting that DVD, that is how I got to know this short.

One of the saddest cinematic displays I have ever seen. It is 2D rendered 3D animation overlaid with traditional illustrations as well. The animation is well done and coordinates well with the score. The film is very short, 11 min or so, but it is a simple plot with only one main character (the match girl), and by the end of the picture you are totally engaged in the girls plight. H.C. Anderson had a way with human despair, and this film captures that nature without one word uttered. I recommend this film despite its graphic illustration of society's malevolence and disregard. To be honest I have never read the original Anderson story, but it seems to have a similar tone to his other works (not the Disney adaptations).

I never read the original story, so I had no idea what this was about. Needless to say by the end of the short (which is about 6 minutes) I was felt a heaviness in my chest an my eyes were teary. Mind you, I'm an action/horror movie guy - I don't emote much. :-) THIS is the full potential of what animation can do - even without any words spoken. The expressions and fluidness of the characters simply would not emote the same way if it was CGI and as this was the final hand drawn 2d work by Disney's studio it looks to be their final true masterpiece.

Its BURIED in the Platinum edition of the Little Mermaid DVD, be sure to find it on the 2nd disk Why a person would tell this story to their child is really beyond me.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been deeply moved by Hans Christian Andersen's story. It is so beautiful, so touching and so poignant, yet I don't consider it depressing in any way. From the very start, I had immediate sympathy for the Little MatchGirl of the title, and I was hoping this Disney short would do this amazing story justice. And it does.

The Little MatchGirl in my opinion is a small Disney masterpiece, it is very short, but it is beautiful in every meaning of the word. I am a huge fan of Disney, not only of their films(Beauty and the Beast especially) but also of their Silly Symphonies like The Old Mill and Flowers and Trees. The Little MatchGirl is yet another favourite of mine from them.

The short has no dialogue or voices, all through visuals and music, and this worked. The animation is simply stunning, the backgrounds, character features, the architecture of those beautiful Russian buildings and colours are consistently amazing. And I have to say the music is outstanding, this was a piece of music- Borrodin's String Quartet no. 2, Nocturno- that I really underestimated, it is a truly beautiful work that is put to perfect use and beautifully performed. The story is still poignant and touching in tone, the title character I related to immediately and the pacing is just right.

Overall, a superb short, like I said with The Old Mill, I forgot I was watching a cartoon and thought I was watching a work of art. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I had heard a lot about this short film called "The Little Matchgirl" in the last few months, like how it was originally created for an aborted "Fantasia" sequel, how it was based on a short story by "Little Mermaid" author Hans Christian Andersen, yadda yadda. But, when I finally got the 2-disc "The Little Mermaid" Platinum Edition DVD on which "Little Matchgirl" is found, I was totally blown away. Roger Allers did a (pardon my language in a comment on a Disney film)damn fine job on this short. I do believe that if nominated for an Oscar, "The Little Matchgirl" will blow all those other shorts out of the water.

Just a friendly word of advice, folks: bring a lot of Kleenexs...

This short cartoon is about a poor homeless girl in a snowy winter. She tries to sell match sticks but faces constant rejection. She can only find comfort in her imagination.

I have great sympathy for the little girl. She enthusiastically approaches strangers, hoping someone would buy a matchstick, but people coldly reject her. Her disappointment and sadness cannot be missed. She then curls up in a corner, cold and hungry. She faces a dilemma about what to do with the match sticks, and struggles painfully. It is saddening to see her in such a state.

This short animation has no dialog, but conveys endless emotions. It has got that special touch, that resonates into viewers' hearts. It has great potential to be transformed into a full length film. Watch this if you have the chance.

A little girl, living in Russia in the winter, has a few matches to sell. She is shunned by all who see her. They have no empathy. Finally, she finds a corner between some buildings. She begins to strike the matches. As each one burns, she experiences (in her mind) all the things that she doesn't have: heat, food, safety, and love. There is that same ending that we have come to know.

Although this short was beautiful and magical it was also definitely not for children. I found it in an hour and a half long collaboration of shorts on Netflix. They recommended that my two year old son watch it based on what he'd watched in the past. A lot of those are not appropriate for children under twelve years old, I'd say. I am aware that it was based on the classic, therefore not actually Disney writing, but still, not okay for a two year old. Maybe Netflix is at fault for suggesting something inappropriate. But, it's a solid reminder that not all things Disney umbrella are okay for kids to watch.

I find this Christmas special is very beautifully bittersweet, because at the end of this story, that the little match girl and her grandmother are reunited together in spirit, that are implied that they are spirits, the music is beautifully composed by Alexander Borodin is called String Quartet No. 2 in D Major the 3rd instalment notturno Andante, it is based on the Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tale for the namesake, instead of it's taking place in Denmark, It's takes place in the 19th Century Russia, I feel very sorry for this little girl, because she lived in poverty and her life is very poor, This Animated short film makes my feel very sad in a wonderful way, I'm giving this a 9/10 and Merry Christmas.

As a native of H.C. Andersens homeland Denmark it seems odd to me why the movie doesn't take place here. Why pre-revolutionary Russia? The story doesn't say anything about time or place. maybe it's just my national pride and the story could just as well have any other setting. beside that i really liked the animation and Disney have well managed to capture the feeling of the story. It is nice to see some 2D animation with all that 3D computer graphic junk that floods the movie theaters nowadays. The biggest plus in this movie is the watercolored backgrounds. all in all a great short animation, and I hope to see more of this kind, perhaps even full length animated movies.

it is one of films who are not defined but story - well - known - but for art to translate in image a classic text. the science to present new nuances for Andersen story . and, in that case, the job is remarkable.for the grace of details, for the smart solutions, for the lovely animation, for the blue and white and gray, for the magic and for the last images. a film like an embroidery. delicate, simple, touching, honest and hard careful work. the little girl is different by the original character but the new details are beautiful homage to the author. a lovely short film.useful for the remember of childhood emotions.

Hans Christian Anderson was truly many years ahead of his time since this story about the poor little girl peddling matches on the street being ignored by people hustling and bustling while doing their Xmas shopping offering no comfort or compassion to this needy child truly defined the result of the over-commercialization of Christmas and people losing sight of the true meaning of the season.

This was a beautiful short to watch courtesy of Disney. It's one of the few shorts where there's no happy ending. Then again, it's based on the tale of the same name and anyone who's read it know the ending(which I won't spoil). The animation, action and music go hand in hand well.

I don't have much else to say other than check it out if you can.

My eyes don't tear up, not even in real life least of all movies. But this Disney animated 2D short is a beautiful metaphor. It is about everything, from the children of the street in some country, to the well-off professional dying inside from loneliness, in ours. Yes, I watch it with family during Christmas, and yes, along with the other less somber animated specials to compensate :). It has a beautiful message and the humanity of it is enormous. For a seven minute short film, it packs a punch! Roy Disney, the last of the Disney family to actually work with the company, died in 2009. Given that a lot of junk is also constantly put on DVD by the Walt Disney Co., I'm hoping more gems like "The Little Match Girl" will continue to appear.

We all should see this short film because it helps us to be aware of human suffering and needs, specially now when we are more concerned about spending our time and money only in appearing better than the others and in buying such a trivial, absurd and useless things, and yes, specially now that we are making cult to vanity and selfishness while there are so many people around the world, and around us dying of cold, being homeless, being in despair and starving of food and affection.

A great story with a great music, sad but at the same time beautiful and tender, as we all humans are, after all.