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The Swan Princess

The Swan Princess is a 1994 American animated musical fantasy film loosely based on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Swan Princess is a 1994 American animated musical fantasy film loosely based on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake. Directed by Richard Rich, it follows Princess Odette, who is transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer and must rely on true love to break the curse. The film was released theatrically on November 18, 1994, and later developed a franchise of sequels.

Plot

The film tells the story of Princess Odette, who is cursed by Rothbart and turned into a swan by day. Prince Derek must prove his love and help break the spell. The story centers on Princess Odette, Prince Derek, and the sorcerer Rothbart.

Production

The film was directed by Richard Rich from a screenplay by Brian Nissen, with music by Lex de Azevedo and songs co-written with lyricist David Zippel. It is loosely based on the 1877 ballet Swan Lake.

Release and reception

The Swan Princess premiered in theatres on November 18, 1994. Despite later home-video popularity, it underperformed at the box office on initial release. The film grossed about $9.8 million against a reported $21 million budget and was a box-office failure. The film has been widely available in Canada through home video and streaming services.

Franchise

The film became the first entry in The Swan Princess series, which later expanded into multiple sequels and spin-off releases. It gained a following and led to a long-running film series.

Key facts

  • The Swan Princess is a 1994 animated musical fantasy film loosely based on Swan Lake.
  • The film was a box-office failure, grossing $9.8 million against a $21 million budget.
  • It later gained a following and spawned a franchise of sequels.
  • The story centers on Princess Odette, Prince Derek, and the sorcerer Rothbart.
  • The film was directed by Richard Rich and features music by Lex de Azevedo.
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Canadian context

The film has been widely available in Canada through home video and streaming services, and it is part of the broader North American family-animation market familiar to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Swan Princess?
It is a 1994 American animated musical fantasy film inspired by Swan Lake.
Who directed The Swan Princess?
Richard Rich directed the film.
When was The Swan Princess released?
It was released theatrically on November 18, 1994.
What is the story about?
Princess Odette is cursed into becoming a swan, and Prince Derek must help break the spell through true love.
Was The Swan Princess successful at the box office?
No. It earned about $9.8 million against a reported $21 million budget.
Did The Swan Princess become a franchise?
Yes. It later expanded into a series of sequel films and related releases.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_Princess
    Supports: Release year, film type, plot basis, director, screenplay, music, box office
  2. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-swan-princess
    Supports: Plot synopsis, release date, runtime, MPAA rating
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swan_princess
    Supports: Genre, release information, runtime, box office
  4. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)
    Supports: Franchise context and sequels
  5. The Swan Princess official site — https://www.swanprincessseries.com/pages/about-swan-princess-partners
    Supports: Franchise description and basis on Swan Lake