Disney’s ‘Snow Queen’ with Russian animators offers a girl as hero

In many conventional fairy-tales, it’s a man who comes to a woman’s rescue, as depicted in the classic tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood.

With an unintended nod to feminism--and a twist on traditionalism--Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen tells the tale of a young girl who must rescue her playmate, a boy, from the clutches of the Snow Queen who holds him captive in her icy palace.

Sigourney Weaver narrates the story, which features music by Jason Miles. Adapted from the best-selling picture book by Susan Jeffers and Amy Ehrlich and published by Dial Books, the show is animated by a classically trained team of Russian animators, whose work is seen for the first time outside the Soviet Union.

“The Snow Queen” airs Thursday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on Disney Channel. For ages 4 to 12.

MORE FAMILY SHOWS

The Making of Aladdin (Sunday 5:30-6 p.m. Disney Channel)--from sketches and storyboards to finished sequences--depicts the creation of Walt Disney Pictures’ 31st full-length animated film, “Aladdin.” The special is hosted by John Rhys-Davis. The movie, which features Robin Williams as Aladdin’s voice, is set in a mythical Arabian kingdom and is a musical fantasy. It will be released in theaters on Nov. 25. For ages 8 and up.

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Louis Gossett Jr. and Sara Gilbert star in Sudie and Simpson (Monday 4-6 p.m. Lifetime), a 1990 drama concerning the friendship between a poor white girl and a lonely black man in 1943 rural Georgia. For ages 8 and up.

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Morgan Freeman narrates American Heroes & Legends: “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” (Wednesday, 5:30-6 p.m. Showtime). The story is based on the underground slave railroad of the 19th Century. Music is by Taj Mahal. For ages 3 to 9.

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After Homer totals his car during a snow storm, he buys a snow plow in its place and becomes a local hero clearing off people’s driveways. He faces a major dilemma when Barney sets up a rival operation on The Simpsons (Thursday 8-8:30 p.m. Fox). Guest voices include Adam West and Linda Ronstadt. For ages 8 and up.

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Name Your Adventure (Saturday 10:30-11 a.m. KNBC) this week looks at the magical world of “hocus-pocus” and includes help from magician Harry Blackstone at a show at Universal Studios. Also featured will be a segment with Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano. Host Mario Lopez learns to operate a tandem glider. For ages 7 to 13.

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David Bowie narrates Snowman (Saturday noon-1 p.m. Disney Channel), about a little boy’s snowman that comes to life. The boy introduces his new friend to the wonders of television, running water, and electric trains. In exchange, the snowman takes the boy on an exciting adventure through the sky to a party at Santa’s village. For ages 2 to 8.

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“A Formula For Hate,” an episode of Captain Planet and the Planeteers (Saturday 6:30 and 11:30 a.m. KNSD; Nov. 22 at 5:35 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. TBS, 5 p.m. TNT), deals with the subject of AIDS and features the guest celebrity voice of Elizabeth Taylor as the mother of a teen named Todd (voice of Neil Patrick Harris) who finds he is HIV-positive. Danica McKellar provides the voice of Todd’s girlfriend. The show is the first cartoon to deal with the subject of AIDS. For ages 8 to 12.