Once upon a time, Queen Ella became a working mother. She and Prince Charming were bringing up their children according to principles of equality, of course, and had the best of both worlds; but they did not have much time for outside interests. Meanwhile, Ella’s fairy godmothers were finding it difficult to help her: they were all over 500 years old now and did not get out as much as they used to. Besides, one of them was becoming very forgetful.

Thanks to the Respite Fairy, Ella is able to go on a short quest, seeking an answer to the problem of Work, Life and Care. She meets Queen Meg of Megalomania; Snow White, whose job lies in a glass casket in the woods; and many other fairytale characters who are perhaps not so different from those we meet in everyday life.

This entertaining and thought-provoking animated film uses themes from traditional stories to raise awareness and stimulate discussion about a range of issues.

15 minutes
Audience: Teen, Adult

Copyright © 1999 Leeds Animation Workshop