Annie (1999)

               Annie is a great musical that I absolutely love! I do prefer the 1999 Disney version of this story partly because it was the first version I've never seen and is the way I know the story to be. Both films are very similar, besides some of the extra songs in the original 1982 version. I found some great archetypes throughout this movie and has allowed me to pick up on stuff in this movie that I haven't before.

Synopsis:

                Eleven-year-old Annie has been living in an orphanage her whole life run by cruel Miss Hannigan. After unsuccessful escape attempts, Grace Farrell comes to take the child home to live two weeks with billionaire Oliver Warbucks during Christmas. The plucky orphan worms her way into the hearts of the staff and Mr. Warbucks and even the president of the United States! Even though Mr. Warbucks wants to adopt her, she is still looking for her real parents who left a locket with her when they dropped her off at the orphanage. Miss Hannigan's brother and his sleazy girlfriend pose as Annie's parents to gather the reward that Warbucks has offered to Annie's real parents

                Annie is our hero in this story and  posses many heroic archetypes such as proto feminist hero. Annie is a hero because she know what she wants and isn't going to let anyone stand in her way. She has a huge heart and only wants the best for everyone else. She would make sure every girl in the orphanage was taken care of and safe. This quality only got stronger once she was taken care of herself. She protects anything and anyone she loves no matter what and this shows her true heroic qualities. Annie also show the characteristics  of a hero as warrior.  Annie and Miss Hannigan do not get a long at all and are fighting continuously. Annie faces challenges such as trying to break out of the orphanage without Miss Hannigan catching her. When Annie doesn't succeed she and the orphans are left with the cruel, awful punishment Miss Hannigan has for them, such as cleaning the whole orphanage. Another hero archetype Annie posses is hero as lover. Although Annie does not follow the typical hero as lover archetype which is finding a prince charming, , love is still the main motive and what drives her to conquer her quest. Annie has always believed that her parents would come back for her, but as time goes on she feels she needs an answer and starts going out looking for her parents. Annie feels lost, and deserted and her goal is to fill this emptiness with the love of her parents. Annie unfortunately does not find her parents but develops a love for Mr. Warbucks and Grace, and eventually conquers her quest.

                Through this film we see many of the stages of a hero's journey. Annie's journey is different though than typical fairytale hero journey, because she has different views on what her quest means.  Annie's departure in stage 1,  is when  Grace comes to get a child from the orphanage. Excited and very eager to leave Annie gets choose to leave for 2 weeks to spend Christmas with Mr. Warbucks in his mansion. This stage is different than the typical fairytale because Annie is not reluctant to accept this adventure. In stage 2 Annie is brought to Mr. Warbucks mansion which is a whole new world to her. She has never seen such a big beautiful house and feels like she is dreaming. This new world isn't necessarily dangerous to other but to Annie is becomes the start of all her problems. Such as, Miss Hannigan becomes jealous that Annie has been awarded with this opportunity after running away. In this stage Annie gains a more mature perspective as she finally learns about her parents and has to deal with her emotions. Annie becomes aware of what she truly cares about and how she wants to spend her life, which being adopted by Mr. Warbucks.  Annie does not gain supernatural aid, which is not typical in stage 3 and this shows that difference from other stories.  Annie does go through similar stages though as she is put through situations that test her inner strength. For example she stays strong and defeats Miss Hannigan and her emotional strength is tested when she finds out her parents have passed away. In stage 4 Annie changes internally and emotionally from this experience. She begins to love Mr. Warbucks as a father and fills the empty space in her heart. She is reborn in a way that she now has a mother (Grace) a father (Mr. Warbucks) and has a home to call her own. Finally in  stage 5 Annie is reunited with the other girls from the orphanage. Being the kind caring person she is,  she makes sure all the girls are given homes and are loved. 

                Other archetypal journeys this film has is her quest for identity. Annie does knows what she wants of her life, she still feels like something is missing. This emptiness she feels comes from not knowing where her parents are and why they have never come back for her. She wants to know where she came from and what her last name is. This unknown that Annie goes looking for is the other half of her that she feels is missing, and what motivates her quest for her identity. Another journey Annie goes on is her search for love.  Once again Annie's love that she is searching for is different than something like recuing a princess. Annie's search for love comes from the empty space she feels and wish to fill by finding her parents.

                There are many symbolic archetypes in Annie as well an example of some would be light vs. darkness and colours. The orphanage is shown in a dark setting which shows the unknown where as Mr. Warbucks mansion is very light and open. These lighting and colour techniques used in the mansion suggest the hope and a new life for Annie. The red colour of Annie's dress in possibly shows her excitement of her new life, but the anger she still holds  for not knowing why her parents left her.