The Polar Bear King (Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon)

Once upon a time, far, far, away, a magical adventure took place in a world of eternal ice

and snow known to all as the Winterland.

It was a world of rugged beauty ruled by a wise old king who was well-loved by his people.

Although life was difficult in the snow-covered land, it was a peaceful existence and the people were happy.

The only visitors who were willing to travel to this distant land were occasional merchants,

men who braved the elements to bring news and goods

from other lands, men who are not accustomed to the ways of the North.

I wonder why more people don't come up here.

It's such a peaceful setting.

Oh, yeah? So much for your peace and quiet.

- Let's go! Hurry! - Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Move! Move! Hyah!

We've got to try and make the village!

They're right behind us and coming up fast!

Hyah! Hyah!

That'll slow them down!

The king of the Winterland had ruled his domain for many, many years.

Although he had no son, he did have three beautiful daughters,

one of whom would someday take her place on the throne.

Blessed with the power to communicate with animals,

he governed the creatures of the forest with the same wisdom he dispensed to his people.

Welcome.

Ah, my dear merchants. Welcome to the kingdom of the Winterland.

I hope my friends, the wolves greeted you properly.

The whole pack!

Nice try to outmeet us, but a welcome.

Good. They obey me as do all my loyal subjects.

Now, shall we go in?

Ah, this is good. We almost froze, coming up here.

Yes, the weather has been incredible.

Everywhere you look in my kingdom, nothing but clean, fresh snow. And in here,...

Oh, dear. My daughters.

- Is this for us? - Just look!

- We bring greetings from the lands in the South. - Oh, Father.

- Yes. Wonderful things to show us, I hope. - Oh, how beautiful. - Of course.

Sister, come see!

It must be hard being a widower with two such...

Yes. Well, I suppose nearly all my subjects obey me.

- Look at this! Look at this! - Oh, how cute!

- What's this? - It's a tinderbox.

Hold it like this.

Ooh.

Hello.

Ah, my youngest girl. She's the image of my late wife.

- Isn't there anything about all these beautiful wears that you would like, my dear? - I like this.

- Is there a picture of flowers? - Mm-hmm.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Why would anyone want that ?

Dear Moon, dear wolves, Father, sisters,...

I love you all,... but I also want to hear the songs...

and see the flowers and colors of summer.

And along to have someone to speak to,

who will understand my thoughts,

and who shares my dreams.

I know you're there somewhere. I'll do anything to find you.

The princess didn't realize it, but the place she was dreaming about in her picture really existed.

And the handsome young prince she saw walking through the orchard in her mind's eye would appear,

and take her away to live in a beautiful garden.

He would come for her, but he would come in a form no one could ever have imagined.

Far away to the South of the winter kingdom

laid the Summerland, a region of eternal warmth and fertility.

But in spite of its many blessings, a dark cloud had descended on the realm.

Its people were mourning the death of their monarch

and in terror of a beautiful but evil witch, who threatened their kingdom.

So, after being urgently summoned, Prince Valemon, the heir to the throne,

returned to comfort his mother and claim his birthright.

The king is dead! Long live the king!

Are you all right, Mother?

My son, the time for sadness is over.

You are king now. You must be as good and wise as your father was.

- Bring peace and prosperity to your people. - I miss him.

I wish he could be here to advise me.

But I will do my best.

This chain was given to me by your father.

It's yours now,...

to give to the one you take for your bride.

It can only be given to someone you love and will bind you to her forever.

My dearest Valemon.

At last, you are the king... my king.

With me at your side, you will be the most powerful king.

We shall conquer the world, all the way to the Winterland.

And our children will rule after us.

My kingdom is one of peace,

and you... will never be my bride!

- You refuse me? - I don't want to conquer the world.

Then, I'll turn you into a huge, wild bear for 7 years!

Only at midnight, will you be human.

No woman will be your bride. Who could love such an animal?

But you mustn't be seen as a man.

If you are, then, you'll be mine forever!

No one can live without love; especially, a prince under an evil spell.

So, Valemon desperately journeyed northward to the Winterland,

searching for someone who could love and understand polar bear.

Good morning, princess.

Now, you be careful.

Hey, slow it down!

Come on, we're leaving.

You watch where you're going!

You can't catch me!

- Good-bye, Father. - Take care, dear.

Good morning, Your Majesty.

See you over there!

I'm over here! You can't catch me!

Over here.

Join us.

You can't catch me. You're not fast enough.

Oh, yes, I am. Let's race.

Please, don't be afraid.

- Hello, Father. - Where's your sister?

I don't know.

The princess is alone in the forest! Take a party of men and find her!

Yes, sire.

Come on, everyone! The princess is missing! Hurry!

This way!

- Why are you so angry? - Because I'm not a polar bear.

I'm the king from the South.

I was put under a spell.

What is that?

Oh.

It's beautiful.

I can only give it to the one I marry.

It's you.

Go home now. I'll be back for you in 3 days.

Don't forget.

Where on Earth have you been?! What's going on out there in the forest?

Weren't you afraid out there?

What is there to be afraid of?

I met a beautiful white bear who's not really a bear.

Actually, he's a king under a spell.

He's kind and gentle.

- And I like him. - A king? White bear?

What are you talkin about?

Don't you understand, dear? He only wants you for his next meal!

- He wants to marry me. - He?!

You mean "it"! You're talking about a polar bear!

I've told you, he was put under a spell.

Spell? Nonsense! We don't believe in that kind of thing.

We aren't superstitious in this part of the world.

"Spell." You are the one who's under a spell.

I want to show you something.

Father, look.

He gave me this chain and he's coming back for me in 3 days.

We'll chase it straight back to the North Pole where it belongs!

Is there any sign of him?

Father, you don't understand.

Understand?

I have known and loved you for 17 years.

- Who could understand you better? - You must let me be free now to go my own way.

- I have to leave you, Father. - No! Damn that bear!

I'll never allow it to take my most precious love away from me!

But Father, you still have my sisters.

Those two, they're far too taken up with themselves.

They don't care about an old king, all alone in his last few years.

The wolves! The wolves are sending me a message!

They say there will be no white bear in the woods today. Perhaps tomorrow, then.

Keep up the guard! I don't trust that bear!

Oh, no!

You will stay right here! Do you understand?!

- Father, it's urgent! - They've seen the white bear!

- Stop! Don't! - You have to stay here!

- Let me go! - Don't be stupid!

Oh!

Attack!

Come on, men! Forward!

- We're gonna stand back! - Form a line! Here!

Careful!

Easy!

He's so angry. It's not his fault.

Not his fault? What are you talking about?! Can't you see?! He'll eat us all!

He's a dangerous beast!

- Let me talk to him. - Never! I won't allow it!

Listen. He stopped growling.

All the animals obey me! This one will too!

But he's not an animal!

Climb onto my back.

Are you happy?

No! I'm angry! Go back to where you came from and leave us alone!

You are not?!

I'll come back tomorrow.

How could you think of living without the snow?

It's clean, white, and beautiful. And it makes people wise and strong.

It makes us strong, but it can also make us cold.

Your heart is not warm and open to me.

I can never be happy if I can't be with my love.

Why isn't everything as simple as snow?

Keep a sharp eye, men!

Here.

Hold your positions!

Look! There!

Move! Go!

Stay right up on him!

Move!

Run!

It's going to kill us!

I'll get rid of that bear once and for all!

Where's the golden chain?

Stop! Don't hurt him!

Are you happy?

I've never been happier in my whole life.