AllMovie

The animated feature The World of Hans Christian Andersen is a product of Japan's busy Toei cartoon studios (it was originally released as Hansu Kurishitan Anderusan No Sekai). Two classic Andersen tales, "The Little Match Girl" and "The Red Shoes," are linked with the framing story of young Hans Christian Andersen's efforts to bail out his financially strapped shoemaker father. A happy ending is had by all when the Danish governor, enchanted by Hans' storytelling, makes the boy his official ward. The World of Hans Christian Andersen was brought to the States by Hal Roach Productions, the Canadian-based descendant of the famed Hollywood comedy studio of the 1920s and 1930s. The English-language voiceover work was scripted and directed by comedian Chuck McCann and artist Al Kilgore--both members in good standing of "The Sons of the Desert," the fraternal organization dedicated to the memory of Hal Roach's biggest stars, Laurel and Hardy.