Obviously, no points will be awarded for guessing the overall trajectory of Snow White, as the fairy tale is known the world over, and this only changes a handful of details. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth looking at story-wise. The way the film uses the gnomes’ mining to create a connection between Hildegarde and them is engaging. The fact that the evil queen’s powers stop at the land’s border (the other side of the river) adds an interesting element as to why she doesn’t know Snow is alive or dead for a while. The ending fight is frantic and a lot of fun.
Animation-wise, the CGI is the best The Asylum has offered up so far. This is a far cry from Izzie’s Way Home and has more lush backgrounds and natural movements than other recent animated features, such as The Little Mermaid. While hair and fabric are still very stiff, almost plastic-looking, the textures on the faces are vastly improved, offering more subtlety and a wider degree of emotions. There’s also a decent amount of fluidity to the characters’ movements, though when moving quickly, things can still be a little stiff. Most importantly, though, the colors are vibrant and lush, and when coupled with the landscapes and settings, create a believable fantasy world.
“…the CGI is the best The Asylum has offered up so far.”
Douglas is highly amusing as the Magic Mirror. His riff on rhyming is hilarious. Gordon comes across as vile and wicked straight away, while Bonaduce sells his love for both Hildegarde and Snow. Chancellor is feisty yet sweet, especially when training the gnomes for a fight. Moret is okay, though he does seem to really love Snow. The voice actors for the gnomes have great comedic timing while also selling the more serious moments well.
No one is going to mistake any film from The Asylum as a big studio tentpole. But they’ve been in business for close to three decades because they do know what they’re doing and usually create fun, if ridiculous, titles. Snow White is no different, as it is a fun, tightly paced retelling of the fairy tale. The animation is the best the indie company has done to date, and they have assembled a strong voice cast to bring the characters to life. If nothing else, Duke and Johnson prove that there’s always something new that can be mined from oft-told stories when done with care and fun, no matter the budget.
"…Duke and Johnson prove that there's always something new that can be mined from oft-told stories..."
