Cornelius
Let me be your wings
Let me be your only love
Let me take you far beyond the stars
Let me be your wings
Let me lift you high above
Everything we're dreaming of will soon be ours
Anything that you desire
Anything at all
Everyday I'll take you higher
And I'll never let you fall
Let me be your wings
Leave behind the world you know
For another world of wondrous things
We'll see the universe
And dance on Saturn's rings
Fly with me and I will be your wings
Let Me Be Your Wings
Manilow
Cornelius is the hero of Thumbelina (1994)
Cornelius is a sort of typical animated prince, nice-looking, dashing, charming, and at first, unknown as royalty to his leading lady. He meets the tiny Thumbelina after she's just sung a heartfelt song about finding someone to love her, someone like her. Thumbelina is thrilled to meet someone her size, and someone like the fairies in her favorite books. Their attraction is immediate, and after brief introductions and some pretty heavy flirtation, Cornelius invites her on a ride on Buzzby, his trusty steed (a bumblebee). After their romantic musical nighttime dance, Thumbelina gives him a chain of forget-me-nots, asking him not to forget her. Cornelius promises that he never could, and says goodnight at her windowsill. When he returns, he finds she's been kidnapped. Mama Toad took Thumbelina to the lilypad showboat, where she promises Thumbelina as a bride to her buffoonish son, Grundel. Throwing caution to the wind, he goes on a reckless search for her, asking everyone and looking everywhere in an attempt to locate her as the winter approaches. His search is corrupted when a gust of wind blows him into a pond, and the frigid winter air freezes him almost instantly. Some bug kids find him, and manage to get the block of ice out of the pond, and rig it over a fire, trying to melt the ice and free Cornelius. Once unfrozen, Cornelius appears just as Thumbelina runs away at the altar of her and Mr. Mole's marriage of convenience, battling Grundel and a mess of mob-mentality-driven wedding guests.
Thumbelina is flown by Jacquimo, the swallow, to a weed patch he's sure is the Vale of the Fairies. Thumbelina, jaded and upset at her long winter alone, and believing Cornelius is dead, disregards his optimism until Cornelius appears, victorious and shining with the springtime sun. Wings magically sprout from Thumbelina's back and the two are married in full fairy style.
Cornelius is voiced by Gary Imhoff.
Cornelius and Thumbelina are instantly attracted to each other, and he goes to great lengths to find her when she disappears. They're married at the end in fairy court splendor.
Cornelius and Thumbelina encounter many threats, most of them pretty easily evaded individually, but together, a daunting obstacle to their union. Los Sapos Guapos, Berkley Beetle, and Miss Fieldmouse and Mr. Mole are the main threats, although Cornelius finding himself frozen in a block of ice definitely adds to the dilemma.
This is another one of those oft-overlooked gems. It's not perfect, but it definitely has positive points. Cornelius is not terribly complex, pretty one-dimensional as a character, but he stands well opposite Thumbelina, who definitely has a change of character, from naive and innocent to experienced and slightly jaded, but the better for it. The relationship between Cornelius and Thumbelina might seem trivial and superficial, but it's really a study of innocence and the beauty of a tender, untainted romance. The color scheme in this film is soft and pleasant, and the story is not the most exciting, but a sort of generic journey story (Thumbelina and Cornelius meet, have many obstacles, and overcome them, coming out glorious conquerors). What saves it is the multitude of varying characters. The music from 80s and 90s superstar Barry Manilow is surprisingly moving.
Pictures of Cornelius
Quotes from Cornelius
Thumbelina: I wish I had wings.
Prince Cornelius: Maybe someday you will.
Thumbelina: Hello. My name is Thumbelina. (curtsies) How do you do, sir? Thank you... thank you for... coming to visit.
Prince Cornelius: Oh, no trouble at all. (bows)
Prince Cornelius: The pleasure is mine... Thumbelina... it's a lovely name.
Thumbelina: Thank you.
Prince Cornelius: I'm Cornelius.
Thumbelina: C...Cornelius. (laughs) Well, that's a funny name! Oh! I mean, I mean it's perfect.
Thumbelina: (not knowing that Cornelius is the prince) Tell me about the fairy court. Is there a prince?
Prince Cornelius: Yes.
Thumbelina: He must be terribly handsome.
Prince Cornelius: Oh, he is.
Thumbelina: Strong and brave.
Prince Cornelius: None like him.
Thumbelina: I'd love to meet the prince.
Prince Cornelius: Oh, I'll tell him.
Then I might just put some kind of quotes or something.
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