The Wild Swans

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, this second collaboration between Lightyear Entertainment, Klassika Studio Moscow, and narrator Sigourney Weaver (the first was The Snow Queen, reviewed in our December 1992 issue) is also disappointing. Although the story of a young girl who must help free her brothers from the curse laid on them by a wicked stepmother (consigned to the skies all day to fly as wild swans, landing as humans each night) is a timeless tale, the animation is not terribly exciting nor is the narration particularly vivid. In addition, the "new" animation carries some tell-tale age marks and may even have been edited. The music by Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian liven up the proceedings somewhat, but this doesn't hold a candle to the great earlier pieces from Lightyear producer Joshua M. Greene like Beauty and the Beast and Noah's Ark. An optional purchase. (R. Pitman)