Based off of the novel, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and the ballet, "The Nutcracker", Sanrio shows their take on the classic story in a stop-motion animated film.
Practical Effects
Stop-motion puppetry so detailed it borders on obsessive.
Score
Tchaikovsky rearranged with unsettling synth undertones.
Production
Sanrio's entire aesthetic budget, poured into one bizarre fever dream.
Director
Takeo Nakamura
Kaoru Sugita
Clara (voice)
Kō Nishimura
Uncle / Street Singer / Puppeteer / Watchmaker (voice)
Shizue Natsukawa
Aunt Gerda (voice)
Atsuko Ichinomiya
Queen Morphia (voice)
Takao Yamada
Gar (voice)
Tarō Shigaki
Franz / Fritz (voice)
Hisao Dazai
Chamberlain (voice)
Haruko Kitahama
Queen of Time (voice)
Shiro Kishibe
Fat Mouse (voice)
Kiiton Masuda
King Godwin (voice)
Shinji Maki
Clovis (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Sanrio's only feature-length stop-motion film, produced when the company was pivoting beyond Hello Kitty merchandise into 'prestige' animation.
The English dub replaced most of the original score with new songs by Oscar-winning composer Leslie Bricusse, a choice so controversial it basically erased this version from history.
JP
