Watch Anastasia

Anastasia is a dazzling animated musical movie that tells the story of the last surviving member of the Russian royal family, Anastasia Romanov. The movie, created by Fox Animation Studios, was released in 1997, and quickly captured the hearts of audiences all over the world with its captivating storyline, stunning animation, and unforgettable music.

The movie opens with a gripping scene that takes us back to the year 1916, where we meet the Romanov family, led by the Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra, living happily in their palace. However, their lives are turned upside down when the Russian Revolution begins, and their kingdom falls into the hands of members of the Bolshevik party. In the midst of the chaos, the Romanovs are executed, and rumors begin to spread that Anastasia, the youngest member of the family, managed to escape.

Jump forward to the present day, and we meet the feisty and independent Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan), a street-smart girl living in St. Petersburg, who has lost her memory and has no recollection of her past. She meets two con men, Dimitri (voiced by John Cusack) and Vladimir (voiced by Kelsey Grammer), who plot to take advantage of the situation by grooming her to impersonate Anastasia and cash in on a reward offered by the Dowager Empress Marie (voiced by Angela Lansbury) for the safe return of her granddaughter.

As they embark on their journey to Paris, where they plan to present Anya as Anastasia to the Dowager Empress, Dimitri and Anya start to develop feelings for each other. However, when they finally reach Paris, they discover that the Dowager Empress has become disillusioned with the possibility of Anastasia's survival, due to the many impostors who have tried to claim her throne over the years.

The rest of the movie follows the trio as they try to convince the Dowager Empress that Anya is in fact Anastasia, while navigating their way through various challenges that threaten to jeopardize their plan.

One of the most significant challenges they face is the villainous Rasputin (voiced by Christopher Lloyd), a power-hungry sorcerer who was banished to the spirit world but is now back and seeking revenge on the Romanov family. Rasputin's hilarious sidekick, Bartok (voiced by Hank Azaria), adds another level of humor to the movie. Rasputin is determined to kill Anastasia once and for all and keep the Romanov dynasty from being resurrected. His evil magic threatens to stop the trio in their tracks, but the determined trio is not going down without a fight.

The movie boasts music that is almost impossible not to sing along to. The songs are written by the legendary team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who also wrote the music and lyrics for the successful stage musical adaptation of the movie. Songs like 'Journey to the Past' and 'Once Upon a December' are sure to give audiences goosebumps and leave them humming the tunes long after the movie has ended.

The animation in Anastasia is stunning, and the film was the first to use a mix of traditional animation and computer-generated imagery in a feature film. The detail and the beauty in every frame make the movie a feast for the eyes. Each scene is intricately designed, from the breathtaking palace in St. Petersburg to the dingy streets of Paris.

The voice acting is top-notch, and the chemistry between the characters is believable. Ryan's Anya is an independent and determined heroine who is easy to root for. Cusack's Dimitri brings the humor and charm, and Grammer's Vladimir adds the right amount of slapstick comedy. Lloyd's Rasputin is a villain that is hard not to love, with his crazy laugh and wicked sense of humor.

Overall, Anastasia is a classic animated movie that appeals to both children and adults. It's a heartfelt and exciting tale of adventure, romance, and redemption, with animation and songs that will leave you in awe. Whether you're watching it for the first time or the hundredth time, Anastasia is a timeless classic that is sure to be cherished for generations to come.

Anastasia is a 1997 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 61.