When my daughters and I were recently invited to see an exclusive advance screening of Disney’s The Nutcracker and The Four Realms, we were filled with instant joy, and there was only one possible answer: YES!

When I moved to Naples, FL, in 2004 to reset my life as a single mom, I decided to use my newfound freedom to design my life my way. One of the first choices I made was to make magical memories with my family. 

One of the new traditions I started back then was seeing The Nutcracker Ballet every holiday. Eventually, Elisha and Elyssa started dancing, as well, so I eventually got to see them perform! 

I had been excited for Disney’s The Nutcracker ever since I got a preview at D23 Expo and experienced the music I know and love in a room filled of raving Disney fans who were screaming as much as I was.

Even though the movie screening was on a Tuesday at 3 pm, I wanted it to feel special. We sometimes forget that every day is precious and, I believe that life is a party. So we dressed up in our beautiful gowns to officially welcome the holiday season and to enjoy this highly anticipated film for us.

The Nutcracker and The Four Realms is the perfect movie to unlock the magic and meaning of the holidays with your family and it is now playing in theatres everywhere!

To celebrate the release of The Nutcracker and The Four Realms, I want to share some fun facts every fan should know about Disney’s Nutcracker.

These fun facts are fascinating and I’m only sharing the ones that share NO SPOILERS!

ODE TO E.T.A.

The character Captain Phillip Hoffman, the Nutcracker in “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is named after E.T.A. Hoffmann, who penned “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” in 1816. 

Jayden Fowora-Knight was cast to portray the Nutcracker character —the only Nutcracker in the Four Realms.

SWEEEEEET

As regent of Land of Sweets, Sugar Plum Fairy was styled to look as delicious as the realm she oversees.

The Sugar Plum Fairy’s dress, constructed from metallic organza, netting, and silk satin, is the color of crystallized sugar and inspired by sugarplums.

The Sugar Plum Fairy’s hair, which is baby pink and lilac, is designed to resemble candy floss. Keira Knightley, who plays the sweetest regent, even reaches up to her head on occasion in the film to swipe a piece of the cotton candy coiffure for a tasty treat on the run. But since it’s not really made of sugar, she’s not really eating it!

WIGGING OUT 

While most of the characters in “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” don period wigs in the film, Mackenzie Foy—who portrays Clara in the film— uses her own locks throughout the movie. Her styles are quite simple.

CREEPY CREATURE

Filmmakers wanted to create an oversized rodent villain that would be scary without being silly—which was a challenge considering the Mouse King had long been depicted in the original story and ballet as a giant mouse.

The Mouse King, created entirely in CG, is made up of 60,000 mice who crawl all over his body shape as he moves. 

The idea is actually rooted in reality. “Rat king” is a real term that describes a group of mice or rats living in close quarters whose tails become intertwined and bodies caked in mud to form what appears to be a single giant being.

The Mouse King’s movements are inspired by the unique dance style of Lil Buck aka Charles Riley, who Previously portrayed the Mouse King in performances at his old ballet school, New Ballet Ensemble.

I had the amazing pleasure of seeing him perform live at D23 Expo and his movements are out of this world. Lil Buck’s version of the Mouse King embraces his current style: jookin, which incorporates slides, glides, and toe spins. The end result is a feeling of undulation as the giant CG rodent moves across the screen.

LIGHTEN UP 

Godfather Drosselmeyer, as a wealthy world traveler and a man of science, has a very special feature in his workshop: a light bulb. While the rest of the film features only natural light—sunlight, moonlight, candlelight—Drosselmeyer’s workshop has the only light bulb.

The addition is deliberate: the film is set in 1879, the same year that Thomas Edison first demonstrated his light bulb, and filmmakers figured that Drosselmeyer, An Eccentric man of science, would be among the first to get his hands on one.

Morgan Freeman, who portrays Godfather Drosselmeyer, showcases just how precious the device is in the scene in which he and Clara work together in the workshop.

GINGER ROOTS

Mother Ginger is inspired by a character from the ballet who is from Land of Sweets. Little gingerbread children emerge from her giant gingerbread house Skirt to dance before returning to their crinoline condo.

Mother Ginger is quite different in “The Nutcracker in the Four Realms.” and, with the help of CG, the filmmakers achieved the terrifying feel they were going for, as you can see in the glimpse we get of her in the final trailer.

As you can see that Mother Ginger resides within a “giant,” menacing marionette doll, 40 feet tall, with a 30-Foot -wide circus tent for a skirt, created in CG by the Disney’s Nutcracker visual effects team.

Instead of children dancing out from Mother Ginger’s skirt, there are polichinelles, Clown-like characters that are left over from the former Land of Amusements, now known as The Fourth Realm.

The character of Mother Ginger is portrayed by Helen Mirren, who dons a ginger wig, a cracked complexion and a tattered top with trousers—all designed to be slightly piratical. 

LET IT GROW

In a nod to the Nutcracker tradition of a magical growing Christmas tree, filmmakers deliberately contrasted the look and size of the Christmas trees in the film.

Standing at 8 feet, the first that audiences will see is in the Stahlbaum home. Reflecting the family’s state of mourning, the tree is a classic Victorian look that lack’s holiday sparkle and grandeur—even the color red is absent.

At 18 feet tall, the second tree is seen at Godfather Drosselmeyer’s holiday party with hundreds of handmade ornaments and real candles.

The third tree, found in the world of the Four Realms, is spectacular and magical—and at 21 feet tall, is the largest tree of all.

I am grateful my daughters and I got to see Disney’s Nutcracker. I recommend you see it now that it’s playing at a theater near you, because it’s not only magical and mysterious, but it teaches many lessons for life and motherhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Elayna Fernandez (@thepositivemom) on Oct 30, 2018 at 5:31pm PDT

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Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.

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