Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2014

The Mouse House take on Hans Christen Anderson’s “The Snow Queen” is about a queen who, unable to control her magical powers over ice and show, 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. I 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. (108 min)