‘Swan Princess’ Sequel Is a Delight for Small Children

“The Swan Princess,” the German fairy tale that is the basis for the beloved “Swan Lake” ballet, emerged in 1994 as a pleasant animated musical fantasy aimed at children, especially little girls. Its sequel, “The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain,” opened Friday without benefit of press preview. While it’s true that the original film’s villain--and its key asset--Rothbart (voiced with zesty relish by Jack Palance) got killed off, the sequel otherwise is much like the original, although not as inspired.

Prince Derek (Douglas Sills) and Princess Odette (Michelle Nicastro) have settled down to domestic life at their Swan Lake castle along with their pals, Speed the Turtle, Jean-Bob the Frog and Puffin the Bird. A conscientious ruler, Derek has trouble delegating authority, leaving Odette feeling neglected and longing, in song, for the days when her husband slew dragons on her behalf.

She gets her wish speedily, for the departed Rothbart’s partner in evil, Clavius (Jake Williamson), residing nearby in a mountain lair, is determined to get his hands on the Magic Orb stored in the bowels of Swan Lake castle. As Clavius relates in vigorous song, he who gets his hands on the glowing transparent ball becomes charged with a laser-like power to “create, change, rearrange and destroy” with just a little zap here, there and everywhere. Today, Swan Lake castle and its rulers, tomorrow the world--that’s Clavius’ agenda.

In the ensuing adventures, Odette, with the help of an old witch, must turn into a swan to try to save her husband but how to turn back into a woman?

As before, director Richard Rich, a noted Disney alumnus, makes good use of his actors’ voices, and his sequel, like the original, is traditional in style, featuring the usual painterly storybook backdrops, with the equally typical simply drawn humans and anthropomorphized animals. Two songs have been reprised from the first film, and Lex de Azevedo has contributed three new numbers, all of them effective in the context of the story.

Small children are likely to be delighted with “The Swan Princess: Escape From Castle Mountain,” but just as with the original, adults may find it old-fashioned, mainly in style.

* MPAA rating: G (general audiences). Times guidelines: The film is suitable for all ages.

‘The Swan Princess: Escape From Castle Mountain’

Voice of Michelle Nicastro: Odette

Voice of Douglas Sills: Derek

Voice of Jake Williamson: Clavius

Voice of Christy Landers: Uberta

A Legacy release of a Nest Entertainment presentation of a Rich Animation Studios production. Director Richard Rich. Producers Rich, Jared F. Brown. Executive producers Selden O. Young, Brown, K. Douglas Martin. Screenplay by Brian Nissen; from a story by Rich and Nissen. Supervising editor James D. Koford. Music and songs by Lex de Azevedo. Character designer Steven E. Gordon. Storyboard artists Gordon, Bruce Woodside, Frank Paur. Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

* In general release throughout Southern California.