When one thinks of animated adaptations of "Sleeping Beauty," the Disney animated version comes to mind. Yet, there are other animations out there.
The nine-minute short film from 2007, Sleeping Betty, is one such version. The titular character sleeps from the start, prompting the side characters to wake her up in different ways while the prince makes his slapstick-filled journey on his white horse. Before they do so, the Queen sits in front of Betty and cries.
My favorite aspect of Sleeping Betty is its ability to make a classic fairy tale about modern issues. Many parents have to wake up their lazy teenagers (represented by Betty) these days. Of course, a prince is often not going to save them. The side characters did not merely wait for the prince to come; they attempted (but failed) to wake her up before him. Each attempt brings plenty of humor.
The character design is also surreal, with lots of marks; this is no Disney look. It is refreshing to see fairy tale animation take on a more serious look. The colors also appear in neutral shades in contrast to Disney's brighter color palette. Even though I am a fan of Disney's cute art style, it has yet to be taken seriously.
If I were to make a critique, it would be that the prince's horse journey strike me as rather aggressive. The neutral colors, though refreshing, also give the sense of an ordinary world.
I also find it creative how they named the sleeping titular character Betty, which is structurally similar to "beauty." In most versions of the tale, including Disney's version, the sleeping beauty is Aurora (which sounds nothing like "beauty"). Plus, the prince is not the last to wake Betty up.
Viewers seeking a clever modern take on a classic fairy tale and/or a break from Disney's versions will find Sleeping Betty a refresher.
SCORE: Great (9/10)
AGE RATING: 10+
Have you seen Sleeping Betty-An Animated Inversion of Sleeping Beauty? What do you think about it?
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