Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2014

The Mouse House take on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” is about a queen who, unable to control her magical powers over ice and snow, banishes herself to a distant ice castle lest she harm her younger sister. Okay, this was not made for me. But I found this nicely animated, pro-girl animation diverting, despite featuring no less than eight pedestrian songs. It also adds not one but two new princesses to Disney’s royal arsenal. Disney ain’t dumb. The cute factor is served by a clever reindeer and a magical snowman who pines for the tropical life. “Minimally cloying” is hardly a rave, but there you are. Japanese title: Anna to Yuki no Joou. (108 min)