Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy Hansel and Gretel is a 1954 stop motion animated theatrical feature film released by RKO. The film is based on Engelbert Humperdinck's opera "Hänsel und Gretel", and incorporates music and songs from the opera. It was the first American feature-length animated film not made by Disney since 1941's "Mr. Bug Goes to Town" and the first American feature-length animated film not made with traditional animation. It was released on October 10, 1954 in New York City without a distributor. Producer Michael Myerberg released the film himself. Based on the positive reviews and box office
Hansel and Gretel (opera) finds that Hansel and Gretel have not been working. As she threatens to beat them with a stick, she knocks over the jug of milk. Mother sends Hansel and Gretel to the haunted Ilsenstein forest to look for strawberries. Alone, she expresses her sorrow that she is unable to feed her children, and asks God for help. "Scene 3" From far off, father sings about how hungry he is. He bursts into the house, roaring drunk, and kisses mother roughly. She pushes him away and scolds him for being drunk. He surprises her by taking from his pack a feast: