E. T. A. Hoffmann

"HIDDENSEE imagines the backstory of the Nutcracker, revealing how this entrancing creature came to be carved and how he guided an ailing girl named Klara through a dreamy paradise on a Christmas Eve. At the heart of Hoffmann's mysterious tale hovers Godfather Drosselmeier -- the ominous, canny, one-eyed toy maker made immortal by Petipa and Tchaikovsky's fairy tale ballet -- who presents the once and future Nutcracker to Klara, his goddaughter. But...

E.T.A. Hoffmann's surreal and fantastical story is brought to life like never before in this vibrant graphic novel adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic.

The story of the Nutcracker ballet, with guinea pigs in the starring roles.

"When Clara Stahlbaum receives a beautiful yet mysterious egg-shaped box from her late mother, she wonders what it means. Searching for answers, Clara soon finds herself in a magical world -- the Four Realms -- where she meets a host of colorful and curious new friends and discovers the fascinating link between the Realms and her dear mother. But when she learns that the Realms are in danger of being destroyed, Clara vows to help. Years earlier, Clara's...

Despite its elegant gorgeous stage set, and costumes of awesome beauty and richness of detail, some of the fairy-tale magic of "George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker' " has been lost in its translation from a staged ballet into a film. However, the dancing is breathtaking, the narration keeps the story moving, and it is as well acted as it is danced. This is a full corps de ballet version, sumptuous with classic ballet sequences in their full glory....