Music and the Fictive Dream - The Film Anastasia, Song 'Once Upon a December'

The Film Anastasia

This film was released on November 14th 1997. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

This is an American Animated Film Musical Historical Fantasy Adventure Comedy-Drama. It's a 94 minute long movie that captures the truth of yourself, and searching for love, and purpose in life. It was Produced and Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. The Film is about the evil wizard known as Rasputin who puts a hex on the royal Ramanovs and Young Anastasia to start the Russian Revolution. The young Anastasia disappears when their palace is overrun. Years late, the Grand Duchess offers a reward for Anastasia's return. Two Russians that are known for scheming plan to pawn off a person that looks like the former princess, holding auditions to find a girl that looks like her, they find Anya. They bring Anya to Paris for the reward, not knowing she is the Real Missing Anastasia. This film has a many messages through out the movie about finding a home, searching for a purpose and learning about love and about yourself. 

Song 'Once Upon a December' 

This song was produced by Lynn Ahrens, David Newman and Stephen Flaherty. In the Film the song was sung by Liz Callaway. The song was released before the film was released on October 28, 1997. It was recorded a year prior. It is a 2 minute and 48 second song that is known to be sung as a lullaby. This song is very beautiful and it does capture the entire plot of the film very well. 

Dancing Bears
Painted Wings
Things I almost remember.
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.

Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.

Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings

Once upon a December

Opinion

Throughout the Film Anastasia known as Anya in the movie and she is humming this song that she sang by her caretaker her Grandmother known as the Grand Duchess. The lyrics of the song explains she doesn't remember but she can recall the warmth and safety that she felt and can recall some memories of people dancing. In the Film that's all she can recall are the balls that she went to with her grandmother because it was her favorite time. I do love the song itself and the melody of it, it feels elegant and has such a soft tune that it feels like your dancing. I think the different instruments really brings the song together as well to make such a beautiful Harmony. 

References

“Anastasia (1997 Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia_(1997_film).

“Once upon a December.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_December.

“Liz Callaway – Once upon a December.” Genius, genius.com/Liz-callaway-once-upon-a-december-lyrics. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.