Hey everybody! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!! It’s a time of family, joy, and commercialism! Come on, let’s face it. It’s a perfect opportunity for companies to sell their products. Other than that, it’s about warmth and comfort with the people you love. And who else remembers watching Christmas movies and specials on this special occasion?
The list goes on and on: A Christmas Story, which surprisingly for me and everyone else I have yet to watch, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, freaking Die Hard, and most notably A Christmas Carol. There are so many that some of the other great ones tend to get overlooked. When I have the time, I’d love to watch Joyeux Noël, which I heard was an amazing film.
Because of that, in the holiday spirit, from me to you, I’d love to present this underrated Disney short from 2006. This short can only be found in the Platinum Edition DVD of The Little Mermaid and a few versions on YouTube, so there’s no wider release for this. This is a shame, because I think this is one of Disney’s finest works. This is The Little Matchgirl.
I’m sure some people have seen it already, but I think most haven’t (I could be wrong). If you haven’t seen it, then do watch it during Christmas. The story’s not exactly Christmas related, because the focus isn’t around the holiday. But it does have a Christmas-y feel to it and it has a Christmas tree, so it counts. Whether or not you’re aware of the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, it’s a touching story about hope and love using beautiful visuals. It’s depressing but uplifting at the same time. I got a bit teary-eyed through the whole thing, especially with the musical score Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major by Alexander Bordin that plays an important role in the short. After all, this was originally going to be a segment for the scrapped Fantasia 2006. Not much else to say about it other than it really shines through and you should watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZmu3MBF5jw1
Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you enjoy this festive season and stay close to the people you love.
