Cinderella

If there’s one fairy tale that perfectly captures the classic Disney spirit, it’s “Cinderella.” Released in 1950, the film marked a triumphant comeback for the studio after the tough years of World War II, establishing itself as a landmark in animation and securing the company’s financial survival. But more than just a commercial success, “Cinderella” is a masterclass in cinematic storytelling, striking the perfect balance between emotion, humor, and visual enchantment. It follows a traditional fairy tale structure, sure, but what makes it special is the sheer sophistication of its execution.

The story is simple but effective: Cinderella lives under the rule of her cruel stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and her spoiled stepsisters, Drizella and Anastasia. Despite the daily mistreatment, she remains kind and hopeful, finding comfort in the friendship of the household animals. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the King wants his son to find a wife, so he throws a royal ball where every eligible young woman in the kingdom must attend. Naturally, Cinderella wants to go, but her family sabotages her. Enter the Fairy Godmother, who turns a night of despair into a magical event that will change Cinderella’s life forever.

The film truly shines in how it builds its protagonist. Contrary to what some might think, Cinderella isn’t a passive character. Within the limits of her reality, she resists in the only way she can—by holding onto her dignity and hope. The scene where her first chance at happiness is brutally taken away—the dress ripped to shreds—is one of the most emotionally devastating moments in classic animation. And this is where Cinderella’s strength really comes through: her journey isn’t just about finding the prince, but about proving that her kindness and resilience are more powerful than the cruelty surrounding her.

Lady Tremaine is a formidable villain. Unlike the witches and sorceresses of other fairy tales, she doesn’t need magic to exert control. Her power comes from psychological manipulation, from the cold, calculated way she crushes any trace of happiness in her stepdaughter’s life. Eleanor Audley voices her with chilling subtlety, making her one of Disney’s most memorable antagonists. Meanwhile, Drizella and Anastasia serve as comic relief, leaning into their arrogance and stupidity while still maintaining a mean streak.

The film’s humor is another one of its biggest strengths. The constant battle between the mice—especially Jaq and Gus—and the cat Lucifer adds an energetic dynamic that balances out the darker parts of the story. These scenes, with a vibe reminiscent of “Tom & Jerry,” work not just as comic relief but also as a way to strengthen Cinderella’s bond with her little allies.

Visually, “Cinderella” is breathtaking. Even with the limitations of the 4:3 format of the time, the film creates a grand sense of scale, whether through the imposing set designs or the fluidity of the animation. The character designs are flawless, with each one standing out visually and personality-wise. The transformation scene, where the Fairy Godmother gives Cinderella her iconic sparkling blue gown, remains one of the most magical moments ever animated—a true testament to the brilliance of Disney’s legendary “Nine Old Men.”

The soundtrack is another standout element. From “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” to “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” the songs aren’t just incredibly memorable—they play an essential role in shaping the film’s atmosphere. The sweet melodies and hopeful lyrics reinforce the movie’s enchanting tone, while Oliver Wallace’s instrumental score adds both grandeur and tension in all the right moments.

If there’s one thing that could’ve been fleshed out more, it’s the Prince. Much like in “Snow White,” he functions more as a symbol of the happy ending than a fully developed character. His presence in the story is minimal, and a little more interaction between him and Cinderella could have made their romance more engaging. Likewise, the fact that the glass slipper doesn’t turn back to normal after midnight could be seen as a plot convenience—but within the logic of a fairy tale, it’s one of those magical details that just work.

Overall, “Cinderella” isn’t just a well-told fairy tale—it’s a timeless film. Its impact on pop culture is undeniable, inspiring countless adaptations and sequels. But more importantly, its message about hope and perseverance remains just as powerful today. It’s the ultimate proof that sometimes, all you need is a little faith and a touch of magic to turn even the darkest moments into something extraordinary.

A true Disney classic, and one i haven't watched in quite a while! Beautiful story with a message to always be kind to one another.

Who doesn't like Cinderella? These songs also get really stuck in my head.

Disney Classics Marathon :pound_symbol:12

When I was a little kid my grandmother picked me up at kindergarten or later at Elementary School about two days a week. Some days we would go to the local video ranting store (something like Blockbuster) and I was allowed to choose one movie from the kids section. Well, I always loved movies, but on those special days I mostly decided between two very specific ones. One was Don Bluth‘s "Thumbelina" and the other one Disney’s "Cinderella."

"Cinderella" or "Aschenputtel," as it’s called in German, has always been one of my favorite fairytale‘s growing up and definitely my favorite Grimm one. So naturally, I loved the movie too pieces.

Well, the story of "Cinderella," much like the original "Snow White," actually goes back to Ancient Greece and the tale of Rhodopis, a Greek slave whose shoe is one day stolen by a bird and dropped into the lap of an Egyptian King, who sets out to find her and marries her in the end.

Versions known to us however are mostly the European ones. Mostly "Cendrillon" by Charles Perrault and "Aschenputtel" by the Brothers Grimm.

"Aschenputtel," like many Grimm takes on fairytales is a lot darker than the Perrault version and why both share similarities, it’s the French one that mostly inspired Disney’s adaptation.

After the war and the package movie era, the Walt Disney Company went back to what inspired their first movie, a classic fairytale with a Princess (or soon-to-be one) as a protagonist, an evil Stepmother and a Prince who falls in love with her. It worked the first time and after years of mild success, "Cinderella" worked its magic and Disney was back to old glory.

The story again follows a simple fairytale structure. A lovely and kind heroine is tormented by her evil stepfamily, her only friends are the animals (mostly mice) living in her house, but with the help of her Fairy Godmother she can go to the royal ball, meet the Prince and marries im in the end.

The story is so popular it has been adapted and modernized countless times before, musicals were created and even a teen movie franchise. It’s timeless in literally every sense.

Now, there are some aspects to break down here.

On a technical level this movie is simply gorgeous. The artwork is lovely, the animation delicate and beautiful and the soundtrack one of Disney‘s most memorable ones.

The characters are introduced very well (I never noticed that the prologue already shows Lucifer as a kitten and Bruno as a puppy). Cinderella is sweet and kind, Anastasia and Drizella jealous and mean-spirited, Lady Tremaine remains one of the most memorable and sinister villains Disney has ever created and the mice serve as comedic sidekicks. Like in "Snow White," the Prince, only named "Prince Charming" does not get the benefit of a personality (that oddly doesn’t happen until Cinderella 3).

For whatever weird reasons the King and his Grand Duke are given more screentime than the Prince, and serve mostly as the comedic relief during the film‘s second act.

Which brings me to the little issue of the mice, mostly represented by Jaq and Gus. Now, don’t get me wrong here. They are adorable and funny and serve the plot well, but as the comedic side characters they almost take over the entire film, getting more focus than Cinderella, which is just an odd filmmaking decision and probably due to the fact that they are supposed to get the attention of even the youngest children in the audience (the fairies in "Sleeping Beauty are a whole different topic though).

And now let me talk about Cinderella or rather defend her character.

These days Cinderella, as she is portrayed here gets a lot of criticism for being to passive, anti-feminist and just a pretty face that gets married off. Countless movies try to "correct" that aspect, even Disney themselves tried it with their 2015 remake and the recently released dumpster fire or "Girlboss" Cinderella took it to a whole new cringeworthy level.

First off, "Cinderella" is a fairytale and plot is the main focus here, not character development. It mostly exists to entertain and tell certain morals to children. Which it does. And second, I don’t think Cinderella is that passive. She doesn’t go around punching people, sassing back at her stepmother or sing songs about she doesn’t need a man to be happy, but she shows a different kind of strength. She endures a lot of pain, while never losing her kindness and optimism. She is strong within, doesn’t let her circumstances break her and when she gets the chance to leave this life, she does. She fights back within her means. She goes to the ball when given her chance, ignoring her Stepmother‘s warnings. She tries to break through the door when being locked up. She is shown to be annoyed at her situation and frustrated, but has no realistic chance to escape.

Let’s also not forget the circumstances. It’s the 15th century (I think?), she is shown to live in this big house, with no other people or village around, what was she supposed to do? Run away with no money, food or anything really? And think about it, she was isolated since childhood, lost both parents and was conditioned to work for her stepmother. Breaking out wasn’t that easy. Unlike other adaptations that add more to her surroundings.

She also doesn’t go to the ball to meet the Prince and marry him, girl just wants to have a good time for once.

So, don’t tell me Cinderella is weak when she shows so much strength.

Rant over.

I still love this movie a lot. It gives me a cozy feeling that reminds me of early childhood and a certain believe in magic and a form of optimism that adulthood mostly can’t preserve. I do prefer other Disney films today, but this one still holds a special place in my heart.

Favorite Character: My girl, Cinderella. I also adore Lucifer the cat for some reason.

Favorite Song: Sing, Sweet Nightingale

Favorite Moment: The whole transformation, mostly the dress

7.5 out of 100 stars.

One of the Disney classics. A must-see for the whole family.

One of Disney's beloved classics, this once-upon-a-time tale has wonderful animation and great production values. While the mice annoyed me somewhat, I found it enjoyable overall, even though the conclusion has a glaring plot hole. Fans of the House of Mouse should give this a try if they haven't already.

'Cinderella' is a good Disney film, my second favourite from their opening five animated offerings; behind 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.

The first 30 minutes of this are a tad slow, though I can appreciate they are building up the character of Cinderella and portraying how poorly she is treated. Once they get that out the way, the film heads off in an enjoyable manner.

Ilene Woods is solid in the titular role, though it's Eleanor Audley (Lady Tremaine) and Verna Felton (Fairy Godmother) who bring the best voice performances - they suit their respective parts perfectly. Jimmy MacDonald is notable as Jaq and Gus, also.

You could argue that the famous glass slipper is flawed due to the time limit shown, while it would've been cool to get a deeper backstory on why Tremaine is the way she is - in fairness, there is at least some reasoning given.

The maker's idea of what beauty supposedly is hasn't really aged well, but overall it's a charming production from 1950.

A beautiful Disney classic that helped to rescue the studio when their Snow White follow-ups failed to meet box office expectations. It's been a good thirty-plus years since the last time I saw this, so I was surprised to discover just how much of the plot revolves around singing, talking, garment-stitching mice and not the title character, her family or her love interest. Where Disney is usually able to effortlessly inject extra life and substance when adapting the shorter fairy tales, here those additions just feel like a tonally-mismatched sidetrack. The animation is lovely, of course, with the roto-scoped human characters feeling silky smooth and elegant in comparison to the rounder, more exaggerated cartoon creations, and the scene settings and effects work can be downright magical. I'd consider it an art direction showpiece, if not exactly a storytelling one.

Still a classic and looks great. I didn't think the mice would be such a large part of the movie. It should of been called Cinderella and the four mice. The fairy Godmother song is great.

One thing that I never understood about this movie is how come [spoiler] When the clock strikes 12, all her magical items return to normal, but her shoes remain[/spoiler]