Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- sincere
- romantic
- family movie night
- children's viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the animation charming and the cast and score enjoyable, but considered the songs and story less memorable and less sharply written than Disney's leading animated musicals.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thumbelina is no bigger than her mother's thumb and must navigate toad, mole, fairy, and insect communities while searching for belonging.
The story uses original musical numbers and Barry Manilow's score to frame Thumbelina's longing, romance, and hope.
After being kidnapped by a toad, Thumbelina travels through unfamiliar environments and finds support from the companions she has long wished for.
The toad kidnapping, mole's marriage-minded pursuit, and other quirky creatures create episodic obstacles around Thumbelina's search for home and love.
Films like Thumbelina, and why
The Swan Princess
animated fairy-tale musical with a tiny heroine, romantic quest, comic animal companions, and family-friendly fantasy
The Princess and the Goblin
1990s animated musical fantasy featuring romance, songs, magical creatures, and a young heroine seeking independence
The Secret of NIMH
brightly colored animated fairy tale centered on a miniature world, whimsical creatures, and a heroine navigating unwanted suitors
Anastasia
family-oriented animated musical fantasy with a strong romantic storyline and elaborate fairy-tale worldbuilding
Movie Details
- Directors
- Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
- Release Date
- 1994-03-30
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (554)
Cast
- Jodi Benson
- Gino Conforti
- Barbara Cook
- Will Ryan
- June Foray
- Kenneth Mars
- Gary Imhoff
- Joe Lynch
- Charo
- Danny Mann
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Thumbelina about?
- A tiny flower-born girl crosses a whimsical miniature world to escape unwanted suitors and find love, friendship, and a place to belong.
- What is Thumbelina like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Thumbelina as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Thumbelina violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Thumbelina.
- What did critics think of Thumbelina?
- Critics generally found the animation charming and the cast and score enjoyable, but considered the songs and story less memorable and less sharply written than Disney's leading animated musicals.
- Which films are like Thumbelina?
- Films with a similar feel include The Swan Princess, The Princess and the Goblin, The Secret of NIMH, and Anastasia.
- How long is Thumbelina?
- Thumbelina runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Thumbelina?
- In United States, Thumbelina streams on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
