The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling

Directed by Wilfred Jackson

Produced by Walt Disney Productions

19316 min6.8 / 10

A heartwarming animated fable about an outcast proving his worth through bravery, balancing early melancholy rejection with redemptive hope.

A black duckling is rejected by its mother, a hen, but manages to prove his worth when a tornado threatens the hen's chicks.

Questions people ask

  • Does The Ugly Duckling end with hope? Yes, very. More hopeful than 90% of films.

  • Is The Ugly Duckling easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 82% of films.

  • Is The Ugly Duckling scary? Barely. Less frightening than 76% of films.

  • Is The Ugly Duckling violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Is The Ugly Duckling sad? Somewhat. More sad than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

45/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity23

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise56

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love60

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Ugly Duckling

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Ugly Duckling

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Ugly Duckling, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Ugly Duckling, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Ugly Duckling, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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