The Caterpillar Girl

The Caterpillar Girl (also known as The Caterpillar Princess in France and キャタピラープリンセスチャイルド (meaning Caterpillar Princess Child) in Japan) is a 1990 French-Japanese animated musical created by Sanrio and The Clifford Ross Company in association with Nelvana. The film was directed by Masami Hata and Clive A. Smith (The founder of Nelvana) and released into theaters by 20th Century Fox in 1990. A dub by Zuniga/Schreiber Entertainment was made in 1997.

Plot
In a land of Insects called Metamorphosis Land, lived seven Larvae who were princesses. Each one had their own talents except for a Red caterpillar (named Elizabeth). When the other six girls found out, they begin to mock her and calling her talent-less. Eventually she was so sadden that she left town into the Forest of the Unknown. When the Insect Queen found out that one of her daughters was missing, a Green grub (named Joana) said that she was murdered by A bee knight for unknown reasons. Shocked by this, the whole city began to plan a funeral for her with the six princesses all mocking her. Deep in the Unknown forest, Elizabeth discovers a Gnome (Named Gnomey) with all sorts of talents and he volunteers to help her. Eventually the two discover something even better than the other girls talents, Elizabeth's own talent, Love. Though afterwards, a Spider-Dragon named Madame Octoleg begins to cause great havoc in the forst of the Unknown. Killing Gnomey during the process. Elizabeth was sadden some more, but still had the power to use her talent, love, to stop the evil being. So she travels through seven different lands and ends up in Madame Octoleg's lair. Tested, she uses the power of love to stop Madame Octoleg only to find out that Love was her weakness and she calls her master, Wasp Knight, the same one Joana used to trick the Insect Queen into thinking that she died, appears. Immobilized by her talent, Wasp Knight and Madame Octoleg begin to fuse into King Bot Fly. So Elizabeth then uses her power of love to run across the dark fortress eventually causing it to collapse, killing King Bot Fly during the process. Excited to have her own talent, she returns to Metamorphosis Island. Refiled by her return, The Insect Queen scolds the other girls for causing her to flee the town. But she insists and instead talks about how she used her talent, love, to stop an evil Spider-Dragon and save the Land of Darkness. Though the other girls mocked her on how "Useless" her trait is, she doesn't mind and enjoys her power. The six other sisters then leave her behind saying that they don't need her. So she goes on her nornal life as "The 7th Princess: A princess of Love".

Development
The film was first teased in a 1987 30-minute short by Nelvana named "The 7 Caterpillars". From then, the short was praised for it's Anime-esque personality. So the studio signed a deal with Sanrio to make it into a film adaptation. With the animation team who did Babar and the writing team who made Adventures in Fairyland and Ringing Bell. The team chose a release date of March 18, 1990 because it was a date where Spring was blooming. The studio decided to choose 20th Century Fox for it's distribution for unknown reasons.

Animation
The film's animation was produced in Canada by The Clifford Ross Company and by the same crew who made the TV adaptation of Babar. Sanrio and TMS Entertainment helped with the animation. With the animation style being described as a mix between Babar and Ringing Bell.

Music
Rather than the film using music from the 90s and 80s, the film uses various classical tunes as well as ones made from Scratch with the original songs being composed by Milan Kymlicka. As well as the ending credits song being an alternate version of the Babar theme song.

Release
The film's trailer was first seen on October 23, 1989 on NBC affiliates and the 2nd and much rarer trailer was seen on an airing of The Simpsons on Fox.

Marketing
The film barely had any marketing. Because the Nelvana thought that too much licensed material would ruin the the film's tone.

Home media
The film was first released on to VHS and Laserdisc on July 11, 1993 by CBS/FOX Video. The film later had another VHS release as well as a DVD release on May 25, 1998 by Zuniga/Schreiber Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and another release on September 4, 2005 by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. A Blu-Ray of the movie only had a limited print run and was released on October 23, 2011 by Universal Studios. A 4K release was only given to those who per-ordered a Pretty Cure themed Wii U on from March 18, 2013 to November 13, 2013.

Box Office
The film was a box-office bomb in the US due to lack of advertising. However, the film was a successful film in France and Japan and was Sanrio's highest grossing film in France. Earning $56 Million USD in the US, $155 Million USD in Japan and $513 Million USD in France.

Critical Response
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 91% baesd off of 149 reviews. Claiming it to be an extremely fun movie with lots of emotion built into it. Common Sense Media gave the film a 3/5 stating that "The film may look fun and happy, but deep inside, it contains a dark and frighting world for the younger viewers out there. They gave the age 7+.

Controversy
When the film was released on to Video in 1991 had a controversy surrounding it's original G rating. As many parents demanded a re-rating after children began having nightmares about the movie's villain, Octoleg and when she and Wasp Knight merge. So the 1991 release was recalled and was re-released in 1993 with a PG rating for some scary cut-scenes. Making it the first PG rated animated movie from 20th Century Fox. When the film was dubbed by Zuniga/Schreiber Entertainment, the film gained another note for it's PG rating, animated violence.