The Swan Princess: Christmas is a 2012 American animated fantasy family film directed by Richard Rich, produced by Crest Animation Productions and Nest Family Entertainment.[1] It is the fourth film in The Swan Princess series, and the first in 14 years. The film follows Princess Odette and Prince Derek celebrating their first Christmas together. As the kingdom prepares for the festive season, Odette and Derek must thwart the villainous Rothbart's plans to destroy the kingdom's Christmas spirit. The film takes place after the events of the first film, but before the events of the second film. While the three previous films in the series were animated using traditional 2D hand-drawn techniques, The Swan Princess Christmas was the first in the series to be created entirely with CGI animation.
Princess Odette and Prince Derek are on their way to Queen Uberta's castle to celebrate their first Christmas together. Unbeknownst to them, the evil sorcerer Rothbart has returned as a ghost and enlisted a black cat named Number 9 for help by promising nine extra lives. Number 9 lures Derek to the cellar of Uberta's castle where he opens a chest with the initial R on it. When Derek leaves, Rothbart emerges from the chest. Rothbart starts his plan to destroy the kingdom's Christmas spirit, the only thing more powerful than the Forbidden Arts, as this will revive him. As a ghost, Rothbart is able to cast minor spells that cause people to fight. He does this until almost the entire kingdom is in disharmony.
Derek and Odette learn of Rothbart's return when wind chimes playing "Far Longer than Forever" make him visible and hold him immobile. They set up chimes around the castle, but Rothbart eventually re-enlists the help of Bridget, his former hag henchwoman. She helps remove the wind chimes for him.
As part of the Christmas festivities, Uberta and Rogers are staging musical performances. They have become aggressive and competitive with each other. Odette, who is staging her own song, invites the children to perform "Christmas is the Reason" which momentarily weakens Rothbart's power over Uberta and Rogers. Odette follows up on this by inviting Uberta and Rogers to give gifts and food to the poor. This time, the good will breaks the spell on the whole kingdom, and Rothbart is severely weakened.
Rothbart's final chance to ruin the kingdom's Christmas spirit is to sabotage the royal Christmas tree. He sends Number 9 to steal one of the Christmas lights. Rothbart casts a spell on it that will destroy the tree. Derek learns of this plan thanks to Bridget, who has double-crossed Rothbart and traps him inside a giant chime.
Derek rushes back to the Christmas Eve party to stop the tree from being lit, but he is too late. The enchanted light bulb bursts the tree and its ornaments into flames. Rothbart becomes revived, takes Uberta's crown which he transforms into his own, and kidnaps Odette, where he takes her back to Swan Lake.
At Swan Lake, Rothbart transforms Odette into a swan again and traps her inside a cage made of roots, just as Speed, Puffin and Jean-Bob arrive. Puffin tries to attack Rothbart, but the evil sorcerer transforms the bird into a Christmas ornament. He casts a spell on the moonlight, so that when it touches Odette's wings, she will transform into a swan-shaped ornament forever. Derek arrives to rescue Odette and Rothbart transforms into the Great Animal again. Derek is overpowered, but Odette sings "The Season of Love," which weakens Rothbart until he bursts into flames. Odette changes back into a human while Puffin returns to his normal self. Derek dies from his injuries, but Odette sings again. The spirit of Christmas revives him and restores the royal Christmas tree. At the Christmas party, the kingdom puts up a new Christmas ornament on the tree, honoring Derek and Odette.
Cast
Laura Bailey (credited as Elle Deets) as Princess Odette
The film's music was composed by Vassal Benford. Two albums were released in conjunction with the film. A Christmas album, "17 Songs from The Swan Princess Christmas" was released on October 22, 2012, containing the film's Christmas songs and a few instrumental pieces from the film.[2] A more complete soundtrack album, "The Swan Princess Christmas Soundtrack", was released on November 8, 2012, containing 34 tracks of the film's songs and instrumental pieces.[3][4] Both albums contain a studio version of "Season of Love", Odette's song from the film, performed by Anna Graceman.
Soundtrack album
Christmas album
Song/track title
1
1
Overture and Prologue
2
2
Jingle Bells
3
3
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
4
Royalty
5
Evil Schemes
6
Ice Leopard Chase
7
4
Deck the Halls
8
5
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9
6
Season of Love (movie version)
10
Princess in Love
11
The Theme
12
7
Jolly Old St Nicholas
13
Jean Bob
14
8
Angels We Have Heard On High
15
12 Days of Rothbart
16
9
Christmas Is The Reason
17
The Hag
18
Root of Perrywinkle
19
Cutting Down the Chimes
20
10
Food for the Poor
21
11
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
22
12
Joy to the World
23
13
The Great Escape
24
14
Away In A Manger
25
The Great Chase
26
15
Here We Come A-Caroling
27
The Countdown
28
Rothbart's Wrath
29
The Great Animal
30
Aliens
31
16
Derek's Rebirth
32
Epilogue
33
17
Christmas is The Reason (reprise)
34
18
Season of Love (Anna Graceman)
Reception
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Common Sense Media gave the film 2 out of 5 stars. The website reads, "Animated sequel lacks magic; some mild violence."[5]
^Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 305–306. ISBN9781476672939.
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