Thumbelina

So here I am, watching Thumbelina on a late Saturday night alone to send myself back to childhood. Oh!  Jacquimo is so wonderful!  But I must say he reminds me a LOT of Henri the Pigeon from An American Tail.  Especially the similar songs: "Never Say Never" from An American Tail and "Nothing is Impossible" from Thumbelina. These two songs have, pretty much, the same meaning.  Plus they are both the same type of character; the carefree, independent foreign bird.  It really makes me wonder if they weren't the same company. Fortunately, I had to look it up, I found Thumbelina is from Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc. and An American Tail is from Universal Studios.  Jacquimo is always optimistic and that is why he is loved and remembered by young children.

On a different note.  I think it is pretty interesting that Prince Cornelius falls in love with her just by hearing the sound of her voice.  This happens in many children's stories such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Prince Cornelius is a handsome 16-year-old boy whose only drive is to take the young Thumbelina as his wife.  The song "Let Me Be Your Wings" gets me in tears everytime.  The song is so beautiful and the lyrics are powerful.  Well in my mind they are. :D  His voice gets me in a state that makes me wish I were a girl no bigger then your thumb.

One of my favorite scenes is when Thumbelina wakes up in a small boat owned by "Mama" the toad and her three sons.  I am a bit biased because I am part Hispanic.  I love Mama's attitude.  Typical Hispanic woman: exciting, fast-talker, gaudy fashion attitude.  Her pink hair tops off the scene with the two red dots as blush.  The song livens up things and makes Thumbelina have hope.  After the song, she feels wonderful and loved.  Then as usual in movies such as this, the story takes a turn: Thumbelina being told she has to marry a toad.

Beetle, the singer/dancer at the Beetle Ball, tries to sweet talk Thumbelina into joining his group.  Instead she becomes humiliated in front of the crowd because she wasn't of their KIND.  Thumbelina goes between feeling beautiful and feeling ugly throughout the whole movie.  Back and forth between the two she becomes more confused and loses hope to finally get home.  Thankfully Jacquimo always comes along and cheers her back up to give her confidence in herself and her future husband.

The little bugs in the story are so adorable and, in a way, brave.  They come across the ugly toad and the beetle.  They also are the ones who fill Prince Cornelius on Thumbelina's status and defrost him towards the end.

My next favorite scene is when Thumbelina wakes up in Miss Fieldmouse's underground home.  This woman thinks she is so innocent: claiming to know her and making soup and giving her something warm to drink.  She is actually very inconsiderate and never thinks about what she is saying.  She is only helping Thumbelina for money and even sets her up with Mr. Mole, convincing Thumbelina to MARRY Mr. Mole with a delightful song: "Marry the Mole".  Apparently money is better then love according to Miss Fieldmouse.

This silly and romantic animation takes you quickly from happy to sad back to happy again many times.  Her decision-making problem reminds me of when I was growing up from a young teenager to a young woman.  Jacquimo is like an optimistic best friend on steroids.  He dodges dying from a thorn in his wing, flies great distances to find the Vale of the Fairies, and does everything in his power to keep Thumbelina from giving up. When she receives her wings I feel as if I have earned my wings for making it through this wondrous family film