[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nutcracker1973.jpg]]

''The Nutcracker'' (''Щелкунчик'', pronounced "Shchelkunchik") is a 1973 Soviet animated film by the [[EasternEuropeanAnimation Soyuzmultfilm]] studio. It is an adaptation of Creator/ETAHoffmann's [[Literature/TheNutcracker eponymous]] FairyTale, and uses elements and music from [[Theatre/TheNutcracker Tchaikovsky's ballet]].

It can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zEmsK6Mu40 here]].

For the 2004 Russian-German adaptation, see ''Animation/TheNutcrackerAndTheMouseKing''.
----
!!''The Nutcracker'' provides examples of:
* AdaptationDistillation: The adaptation is based on the most famous musical pieces of the ballet, with the most relevant points of the original story edited back in. The adaptation also includes some music from "Sleeping Beauty" as well.
* AdorableEvilMinions: Despite them supposed to be intimidating and the Mouse King's soldiers, the mice in this short are adorable.
* CompositeCharacter: The Nutcracker is both the Nutcracker ''and'' Princess Pirlipat: he himself is the king and queen's son, transformed into a nutcracker by the Mouse Queen under similar circumstances to Princess Pirlipat's enchantment in Hoffmann's story.
* CulturallySensitiveAdaptation: Because aristocratic and bourgeois protagonists were frowned upon in the Soviet Union and avoided whenever it was humanly possible, the protagonist became a poor servant girl who, for extra tear-jerking, isn't allowed to join the rich kids' celebration and has to watch it from a distance. It's quite the contrast from Marie Stahlbaum, whose parents are quite well-off.
* DistressedDude: The Nutcracker.
* DotingParent: It's implied in the flashback that the Mouse Queen is very protective of her son, [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas who is angry that his mother died]] when the prince is cursed.
* EvilCounterpart: In the flashback, The Mouse King is set up as a full-fledged {{foil}} to The Nutcracker: also a prince, also loves toys, but [[RoyalBrat spoiled rotten]] and evil to the core.
* EvilSorcerer: Both the Mouse Queen and the King, thanks to the magic crown they wore.
* FairyTale
* {{Flashback}}: Explains The Nutcracker's origins.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: The Queen of the Mice is downright mean in this adaptation.
* GoodParents: The Nutcracker's parents in this story are shown to be very loving to their son and are horrified when their son is transformed to a Nutcracker. So much so, that the entire kingdom somehow [[TakenForGranite becomes stone afterwards]].
* GorgeousGarmentGeneration: In the end, the heroine is transformed into a princess and gets a new dress created by magic.
* MultipleHeadCase: The Mouse King has three heads, but so did his mother, the Mouse Queen before her death.
* MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon: The cartoon has no dialogue, leaving everything to the music and action like, you guessed it, a ballet. (In export versions, a voice-over narration is sometimes added).
* OverlordJr: The Mouse King in the flashback, where he doubles up as a RoyalBrat.
* PopCulturalOsmosis: Several generations of Russian children were introduced to the ballet (and Tchaikovsky's music in general) by this cartoon.
* RecycledSoundtrack: In addition to ''The Nutcracker'', the movie also borrows some music from ''The Sleeping Beauty'' and ''Theatre/SwanLake''.
* UnrelatedInTheAdaptation: In this retelling, the Clara/Marie character is a maidservant in the house that hosts the Christmas party, not the family's daughter.
* SoulJar: The Mouse King's magic crown apparently serves as this to him. He dies when the heroine's thrown shoe knocks it off his head and shatters it.
* WeaksauceWeakness: The mice are vulnerable to... things that make you sneeze, such as pepper. When they sneeze, they explode.
----