Hansel and Gretel (2021 film)

Hansel and Gretel (Russian: Ганзель, Гретель и Агентство Магии, romanized: Genzel' i Gretel', lit. 'Hansel and Gretel and Secret Magic Control Agency') is an upcoming Russian 3D computer-animated fantasy comedy family film. The film is produced by Wizart Animation studio and CTB Film Company and is based on the 1812 story of the same name by Brothers Grimm.

Hansel and Gretel
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlexey Tsitsilin
Produced by
  • Sergey Selyanov (ru)
  • Vladimir Nikolaev (ru)
  • Sasha Shapiro
Written by
  • Alexey Tsitsilin
  • Vladimir Nikolaev
  • Alexey Zamyslov
  • Analisa LaBianco
  • Jeffrey Spencer
Based onHansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm
Music by
  • Gabriel Hayes
  • Brad Joseph Brick
Production
company
Distributed bySony Pictures Productions and Releasing (SPPR)
Release date
  • 18 March 2021 (2021-03-18)
CountryRussia
LanguageRussian

The mystery film depicts a high profile case at the Gingerbread House Palace. Only Hansel and Gretel can find the King, for they are expert agents of a confidential bureau of magical investigation. The story follows Gretel, one of the top agents in the top-secret Department of Magical Security, as she investigates the crime of the century. Her partner becomes her own brother Hansel — a well-known fraudster. The scammer Hansel and Gretel super-agent will team up for a crime thriller plot.

The film's production has been presented in a variety of international film markets. The film will release on 18 March 2021 by Sony Pictures Productions and Releasing (SPPR).

Plot

Hansel and Gretel find themselves embroiled in incredible adventures in a magical forest where they meet many fairy tale characters. Gretel is one of the best agents of the top-secret Department of Magical Security. It is she who is assigned to investigate the crime of the century – the mysterious disappearance of the King. An already difficult case is complicated by the fact that her brother Hansel becomes her partner – a well-known fraudster who casts a shadow on the impeccable reputation of the super agent. But perhaps it is his tricks that will help you find the King and save the Kingdom. Together, they will penetrate the eerie secrets of the magical world, fight the forces of evil and challenge a powerful Witch.

Concept

The German folklorists Brothers Grimm's collection of fairy tales compiled in Grimm's Fairy Tales (1812) has had tremendous influence on Russian culture that spans over two centuries. The story has been adapted into feature films in many countries such as South Korea and Japan.[1]

Germany and Russia have influenced each other in literature to the point where the culture of the nations are interlinked. In 1812, the German folklorists Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm decided to publish and preserve the fairy tales, parables, folk songs, rhymes, and legends from the people of Germany. Their first volume Kinder-und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales) Grimm's Fairy Tales was an influential precedent for the future folklore traditions in Europe.[2] This model greatly influenced folklorists from Russia such as Alexander Pushkin and Alexander Afanasyev.[3][4]

Russian fairy tales known as skazki began to compiled in the 1800s by folklorists. They describe a wide variety of stories ranging from heroic valor, talking animals, magic, and household tales.[4][5] Russian poet Alexander Pushkin was one of the fable writers of Russia whose literary career has published fairy tales such as The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. The presence of parallels between Pushkin's fairy tales to the Brothers Grimm's stories has opened a new frontier in literature. In this literature field, scholars devote their time to find the source of Pushkin's stories.[3] Critics and historians have pondered how such similarities could occur with some surmising Pushkin knew of Grimm through his upbringing.[6][lower-alpha 1] Others see the stories as coincidentally similar that developed in concurrent time periods.[7][8]

Another Russian folklore storyteller who had a definitive link to the brothers was Alexander Afanasyev, the archivist and historian from Boguchar, Voronezh Governorate. His readings of folklore fairy tales as a child greatly influenced his decision to carry on the legacy of folklore literature of Europe. In the 1850s, Afanasyev focused on Slavic mythology. At the Bobrovsky District of the Voronezh province on 14 August 1851 Afanasyev sent a letter to Pyotr Kireevsky, a folklorist. The letter stated his intention to start a magnum opus called Russian Folk Fairy Tales. Afanayev wrote, "The publication will be a scientific one, modeled on the publication of Br. Grimms. The text of the fairy tale will be accompanied by philological and mythological notes, which will give even more value to this material; in addition, identical fairy tales will be compared with German fairy tales from the Grimm edition, and similar places of different fairy tales are indicated. It will also include a comparison of fairy tales with folk songs."[9] The fairy tale volumes published between 1855 and 1863 is considered the world's largest collection of fairy tales, that features the stories from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.[4] Critics consider Afanasyev as the Russian counterpart to Brothers Grimm.[10][2]

The folklore tradition continues in Russia, with Voronezh animation studio Wizart Animation adapting Brother Grimm's fairy tale. Wizart chose the gingerbread house fairy tale Hansel and Gretel as their focal point for their script that will be based on an animated film. However the animated version will not be limited to plot collisions, locations, and characters from the original literary source. The characters Hansel and Gretel in the film will be much more active than in the fairy tale who will become participants in comic situations.[11]

The creators of the film stated the production will be based on three components, "The main ingredients are a story that is easy to understand all over the world, high-quality animation, well-produced visual effects and well-designed backgrounds." They noted the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale would be an apt addition to their studio ventures because of the parental qualities associated with the story since it revolves around the siblings Hansel and Gretel. This allowed them to target the family audience. They also targeted children older than six years old by adding adventure elements to the story.[1]

However, the studio did accept the original story has elements of horror. They retold the archetypal horror tale in a way that it can be appealing to all the audience by adding elements of comedy.[12]

Production

Development

In 2018, the press service of the animation studio revealed the news that they are planning on a Hansel and Gretel film.[13] On 6 November 2019, American FIlm Market, at Santa Monica, California, Wizart revealed the exclusive poster and preliminary collection of artwork for the film Hansel and Gretel. The film is featured as a building block to the Wizart's previous series, The Snow Queen as Wizart already has prior experience in adapting 19th century fairy tales for the film industry. It is intended that Wizart will utilize their inspiration and knowledge from their previous series to adapt a story from the globally recognized brand known as Brothers Grimm fairy tales.[14][15]

At the 2019 MIPCOM in Cannes, Wizart showcased a preview of Hansel and Gretel to the cinema industry. The events coincided with Made in Russia event that earned a spot in the mipcom News magazine.[16][17] On 13 October 2019, a presentation of domestic animation projects under the banner Made in Russia was held at MIPJunior. Presented by Evgenia Markova an official representative of the international markets MIPCOM, MIPJunior, and MIPTV, new material for Hansel and Gretel was featured.[18]

Shortly thereafter, Wizart engaged with American-based film production studio QED International.[19] As a major international distributor under the parent company Media Content Capital, QED has managed to release such critical films as District 9. Both companies agreed to creatively bolster the prospects for an international distribution collaboration, as Hansel and Gretel became their first joint-project.[14][20]

Yuri Moskvin, producer for Wizart, was in attendance as the managers from both sides signed a production pact. The arrangement is intended to assist Wizart in obtaining distribution targets to countries quickly with more quality than was once possible earlier. Sasha Shapiro, managing director of MCC and CEO of QED, stated: “We have been looking into both investment possibilities and creative expansion within the family/kids’ genre, and I believe that Wizart has all necessary potentials we have been looking for.”[21] The collaboration is Wizart's first foray into the American film market, as they never had thorough motion picture theatrical release in the United States due to the countries' high throughput.[11]

At the September 2019, Toronto International Film Festival, as well as the 2020 EFM film market in Berlin, Wizart was one of the animation studios that represented Russia who presented work on the film.[22][23] At the 2020 Miami Kidscreen Summit, Wizart presented materials for the film. The marketplace ventures comes at a time when the animation industry in Russia is finding its footing again in retrospect to the last ten years. The Soviet Union dissolution of the industries in 1991 was a major economic downturn for the animation industry in Russia. However the industry has been revived ever since 2010.[24]

The scriptwriters focused on character development.[1] In context to their previous films, Wizart is honing on the key areas of story integrity and humor. While the fairy tale is historically known for the different horror films adaptations, Wizart took a different route and based an adaptation of the fairy tale within the genres of comedy and film family.[25][1]

The writers intend to keep the main characters Hansel, Gretel, and Gingerbread House sorceress intact while expanding the magic forest and Gingerbread House universe. Wizart noted the scale at which they developed the fairy tale universe is intended to keep the knowledgeable viewers of the fairy tale engaged.[14]

Animation

Ever since Wizart revealed Hansel and Gretel was in development stage, the media has come to the public knowledge that the animation quality for the film will be beyond what was used in The Snow Queen series.[11] Animation for the film was considerably influenced by works from prominent artists. The gingerbread house will be based on the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. The animators were influenced by Tim Burton's ability to transform horror elements to charming characters featured in such films as the stop-motion animated film Corpse Bride.[1]

Furthermore, the film is based on a new animation operating system, the animation studio itself engineered. The system is based on the studio's own pipeline. Developed as a unique Russian technology, the prototype was used in The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands. The graphics technology will avail of new special effects and facial and skeleton setup.[14][11] Wizart is willing and ready to share the system to other independent studios.[11]

Release

Theatrical

The grand release of the fairy tale epic animation movie Secret Magic Control Agency was confirmed by the press service of Sony Pictures on 27 January 2021. The press emphasized the audience will be able to comprehend a new look to the classic fairy tale of Brothers Grimm.[26] The mystery film will involve spies and agents.[27] The film will delve on the effects of fraud and the concept of gentleman thief conceptualized by the character Hansel. The heroine of the film will be Gretel.[28] The script was a collaboration between the Russian team and a script writing team from abroad.[29]

Secret Magic Control Agency will have a wide release in the Russian Federation by Sony Pictures Productions and Releasing on 18 March 2021.[30][31]

See also

Note
  1. pg 53

References
  1. Milligan, Mercedes (26 April 2019). "Wizart Brings Not-So-Grimm Fairy Tale 'Hansel and Gretel' to Cannes". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. Zipes 2016.
  3. Azadovksy-McGavran 1936.
  4. "Russian Fables and Folktales – The Gold Scales". oaks.nvg.org. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. Infourok. "Презентация: "Русские народные сказки"". Инфоурок. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. Bayley, John (2 June 1971). Pushkin: A Comparative Commentary. CUP Archive. ISBN 978-0-521-07954-9.
  7. Apollonov, A. "Сравнительный анализ сказки братьев Гримм "Белоснежка" и сказки А. С. Пушкина "Сказка о мёртвой царевне и семи богатырях"". school-science.ru. Sovetsky District of Kazan. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  8. Chandler 2011.
  9. "ФЭБ: Бараг и др. А. Н. Афанасьев и его собрание народных сказок. — 1984 (текст)". feb-web.ru. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  10. Gruel-Apert 2011.
  11. "Wizart". wizartanimation.ru. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  12. правды», Татьяна ПОДЪЯБЛОНСКАЯ | Сайт «Комсомольской (18 May 2019). "Воронежские аниматоры будут делать ужастик "Гензель и Гретель" вместе с американцами, которые продюсировали фильмы с Бредом Питом и Арнольдом Шварценеггером". vrn.kp.ru - Сайт «Комсомольской правды». Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  13. "Воронежская студия анимации снимет мультфильм "Гензель и Гретель"". РИА Воронеж (in Russian). 10 June 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  14. Milligan, Mercedes (1 November 2019). "Wizart Reveals 'Hansel and Gretel' Poster Art Ahead of AFM". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  15. "Воронежская студия Wizart показала героев нового мультфильма "Гензель и Гретель"". РИА Воронеж (in Russian). 6 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  16. "Russian film and TV breaking good". micpom News: 28. 15 October 2019. Pg 28
  17. "Wizart". wizartanimation.ru. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  18. "Российская анимация в центре внимания на MIPJunior". www.proficinema.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  19. pickdaily (17 May 2019). "Russian Animation Home Wizart, QED Ink Co-Manufacturing Pact – Selection". Story Pick Daily. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  20. "Wizart". wizartanimation.ru. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  21. Barraclough, Leo (17 May 2019). "Cannes: Russian Animation House Wizart, QED Intl. Ink Co-Production Pact (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  22. "Более 30 проектов столичные кинокомпании представили в рамках бизнес-миссии в Торонто". Сайт Москвы (in Russian). 16 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  23. "Кинобизнес / Отечественное кино покажут в 35 странах мира". Кинобизнес (in Russian). Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  24. "Russian animation goes for global growth". Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  25. "Воронежская анимационная студия переделает ужастик в семейное кино". МОЁ! Online. Все новости Воронежа (in Russian). 14 January 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  26. "Мультфильм «Ганзель, Гретель и агентство магии» выйдет в российский прокат 18 марта" [The cartoon "Hansel, Gretel and the Agency of Magic" will be released in Russia on March 18]. portal-kultura.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  27. "Мошенник Ганзель и суперагент Гретель будут расследовать преступление века" [The scammer Hansel and Gretel super-agent will investigate the crime of the century]. www.intermedia.ru (in Russian). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  28. "Весной Ганзель станет мошенником, а Гретель — тайным агентом" [In the spring, Hansel will become a fraudster, and Gretel will become a secret agent]. Tlum (in Russian). 28 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  29. "Премьера российского мультфильма по мотивам сказки о Ганзеле и Гретель состоится в марте" [The premiere of the Russian cartoon based on the fairy tale about Hansel and Gretel will take place in March]. ТАСС (in Russian). Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  30. "Дата премьеры мультфильма «Ганзель, Гретель и Агентство Магии» и первые кадры". MultTov Новости Анимации (in Russian). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  31. "April Club News - «Ганзель, Гретель и агентство магии»". www.aprilclubnews.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

Bibliography
  • Gruel-Apert, L.; Ivanova, Tatiana Grigorevna (2011), Du côté des frères Grimm et d'Alexandre Afanassiev [Around brothers Grimm and Alexander Afanasyev] (in French), Bibliothèque nationale de France
  • Zipes, Jack (2016), Grimm Legacies, Princeton University Press
  • McGavran, James; Azadovsky, Mark (1936), The Sources of Pushkin's Fairy Tales., Vremennik Pushkinskoi Kommissii/Pushkin Review
  • Chandler, Robert (2011), A Tale About A Fisherman and a Fish, Cardinal Points
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