View source for Lapitch the Little Shoemaker

{{Distinguish|Lapitch the Little Shoemaker (TV series)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Lapitch the Little Shoemaker
| image          = Lapitch_the_Little_Shoemaker.jpg
| caption        = English edition logo
| native_name    = {{Infobox name module|hr|Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića}}
| director       = [[Milan Blažeković]]
| producer       = Željko Zima<br />'''International version:'''<br />Steffen Diebold
| writer         = Milan Blažeković<br />Pajo Kanižaj<br />[[Ivo Škrabalo]]<br />'''English adaptation:'''<br />Alan Shearman
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[The Brave Adventures of Lapitch]]''| [[Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić]]}}
| starring       = Ivan Gudeljević<br>Maja Rožman<br>[[Tarik Filipović]]<br>Pero Juričić<br>[[Relja Bašić]]
| music          = '''Original version:'''<br />Duško Mandić<br />[[Srebrna krila]]<br />Vladimir Kočiš<br />'''English version:'''<br />Hermann Weindorf
| editing        = Mirna Supek-Janjić
| studio         = [[Croatia Film]]<br />'''International version:'''<br />HaffaDiebold<br />[[ProSieben]]<br />Neptuno Films
| distributor    = '''Croatia:'''<br />Croatia Film<br />'''Germany:'''<br />ProSieben Home Entertainment (VHS)
| released       = {{Film date|1997|6|23|Croatia|1997|10|23|Germany|df=yes|ref1=<ref name=lexikon>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmevona-z.de/filmsuche.cfm?sucheNach=titel&wert=507233|title=''Lapitch, der kleine Schuhmacher''|work=FILME von A-Z|publisher=Zweitausendeins|language=German|access-date=15 March 2009}}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 75 minutes (English version)<br> 83 minutes (international cut)
| country        = Croatia
| language       = Croatian<br />Dutch<br />English<br />German<br />Serbo-Croatian
| budget         = [[Deutsche Mark|DM]]900,000<ref name=vijenac>{{cite web|url=http://www.matica.hr/vijenac/vij206.nsf/AllWebDocs/Inozemni|last=Marušić|first=Joško|title=Inozemni štanceraj|language=Croatian|date=24 January 2002|access-date=12 March 2009|work=[[Vijenac]]|publisher=[[Matica hrvatska]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715101205/http://www.matica.hr/vijenac/vij206.nsf/AllWebDocs/Inozemni|archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref name=vjesnik/>
| gross          = 
}}
'''''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker''''' ({{langx|hr|Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića}}, {{langx|de|Lapitch der Kleine Schummacher}}) is a 1997 [[animation|animated feature]] that was originally released by [[Croatia Film]]. Produced on [[vintage (design)|vintage]] [[cel]] equipment during the early 1990s,<ref name="hic">{{cite web |url=http://www.hic.hr/dom/281/dom13.htm |last =Beširević |first=Natasa S.|title=Dis 281-zanimljivosti|language=Croatian|date=31 January 2000|publisher=Croatian Information Centre|access-date=10 May 2009|quote=Šegrt Hlapić na Disney Channelu.}}</ref> this was the third feature from Croatia Film's animation unit and director [[Milan Blažeković]], after ''[[The Elm-Chanted Forest]]'' (1986) and ''[[The Magician's Hat (film)|The Magician's Hat]]'' (1990).<ref name=pula>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulafilmfestival.hr/55/en/index.php?p=list&group=37 |title=CHILDREN'S FILM PROGRAMME |date=July 2008 |access-date=28 February 2009 |publisher=[[Pula Film Festival]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715005736/http://www.pulafilmfestival.hr/55/en/index.php?p=list&group=37 |archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naff.ba/naff_x_2007.htm |title=WORKING PART OF FESTIVAL |date=January 2007 |publisher=NAFF - NEUM ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715074827/http://www.naff.ba/naff_x_2007.htm |archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref>

It is based on ''[[The Brave Adventures of Lapitch]]'', a 1913 novel by Croatian author [[Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić]]. In this adaptation, all of the characters are animals, and the title character is a mouse, rather than the human character of the original work.<ref name=vijenac/>  As with the book, the film is about a shoemaker's apprentice who leaves the confines of his ill-tempered master, and sets off on an adventure. During his journey, he befriends a circus performer named Gita, and fights against the evil Dirty Rat.

''Lapitch'' remains Croatia's most successful production in terms of viewership,<ref name=pula/><ref name=slo>{{cite web|url=http://www.slocartoon.net/?main=cartoons/cartoon&cartoon_id=1318|title=''Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića''|language=Slovenian|access-date=5 February 2009|publisher=SloCartoon}}</ref> and became [[List of Croatian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|the country's official selection]] for the [[70th Academy Awards]] (in the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] category).<ref name=oscar>{{cite press release|title=44 Countries Hoping for Oscar Nominations |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |date=24 November 1997 |url=http://www.oscars.org/pressreleases/97.11.24.html |access-date=30 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980213090309/http://www.oscars.org/pressreleases/97.11.24.html |archive-date=13 February 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Its popularity led to the production of a 26-episode television series, also called ''[[Lapitch the Little Shoemaker (TV series)|Lapitch the Little Shoemaker]]'', at the end of the 1990s.<ref name=kidscreen>{{cite web|url=http://www.kidscreen.com/articles/magazine/19991101/27100.html|title=Up next: What's developing in kids' production|author=Staff|date=1 November 1999|access-date=5 February 2009|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Inc|quote=HaffeDiebold{{sic}} and Croatia Film let Lapitch loose}}</ref><ref name=vjesnik-2>{{cite web|url=http://www.vjesnik.com/html/1999/12/05/Clanak.asp?r=kul&c=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714075149/http://www.vjesnik.com/html/1999/12/05/Clanak.asp?r=kul&c=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2009 |last=Buterin |first=Antun Krešimir |title=Scenarij za seriju o našem šegrtu Hlapiću rade Britanci, a crtaju ga Koreanci! |language=Croatian |date=5 December 1999 |access-date=12 March 2009 |publisher=Vjesnik d.d}}</ref>

In February 2000, it first appeared in North America as the initial entry in [[Sony Wonder]]'s short-lived "Movie Matinee" video series. The [[Disney Channel]] also premiered it on U.S. cable television later that same month.<ref name=billboard>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4643984-1.html |last=McCormick|first=Moira|title=Child's Play: 'Cinderelmo' Gets Royal Treatment From Sony Wonder|date=5 February 2000|access-date=2 March 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media (via AllBusiness.com)}}</ref>

==Plot==
<!-- As seen in the 83-minute international version -->
:''Original Croatian character names are in parentheses.''

Lapitch (Šegrt Hlapić), an orphaned mouse, works in a small town as the Scowlers' apprentice, who consist of a mean shoemaker (Majstor Mrkonja) and his kind-hearted wife (Majstorica) with his dog, Brewster (Bundaš). Mr. Scowler awaits a visit from the pigs' Mayor (Gradonačelnik) and his son; Lapitch has to make sure the pigs' boots are the right size. Things do not go well when the Mayor's son tries on his boot. As a result, they leave. Lapitch tries to tell his master that it was not his fault, yet he still blames him for it. Mrs. Scowler apologises for her husband's bad behaviour. While he tidies up, she tells Lapitch that she and her husband used to be happier ages ago. Lapitch curiously wants to know why, but Mrs. Scowler vows only to tell him when he is older.

Lapitch writes a letter to the Scowlers before leaving town with the boots. Brewster eventually joins him the following morning. The two of them visit a young squirrel named Marco (Marko), who lives in a house with a blue star on one of its walls, at where they round up some geese that went astray while he was tending to the flock. At evening, Marco serves the group supper. An awkward raccoon, Melvin (Grga), eavesdrops on their conversation. Hearing of an artefact stored inside their house, he runs off to tell his boss, the evil Dirty Rat (Crni Štakor), about the goods.

Lapitch and Brewster bid farewell to the squirrels. While leaving for home, an afternoon of unusual weather culminates with an evening storm, forcing them to find shelter. They meet Dirty Rat under the bridge, who introduces himself as the "King of the Underworld". The next day, Lapitch wakes up shocked to see his boots gone. As he looks for them, he meets the orphaned Lisa (Gita) and her parrot Pico (Amadeus) who came from a circus whose ringmaster mistreated and left them behind. During their journey, the mice and their pets meet Melvin's mother and help her chop wood. Worried about her son's misbehavior, Melvin's mother gives Lapitch a lucky coin before they leave. Lapitch later gives Melvin the coin.

Soon, the group team up with other residents to extinguish a fire, but they make Melvin a suspect in the area's recent robbery string. In addition, the group encounters a poor cat-like [[warthog]] named Yana (Jana), whose magic powers give Lapitch the courage to face Dirty Rat. After the gang comes to the circus, Lisa entertains the patrons of an underused [[merry-go-round]]. By nightfall, she reunites with her horse, Blanka (Zorka). It was revealed that Dirty Rat made a deal with Lisa's ringmaster in which he vows to reach Marco's house by horse to steal the family chest. Lapitch and friends plan to stop him for good when they hear this.

Later on, they meet Mr. Scowler, whom Melvin has just rescued. Scowler tells them he was robbed and tied up to a tree for two days. They all set forth to defeat Dirty Rat; Melvin gives them a hand, but his boss ties him and puts him out of the way. Lapitch, guided by Yana, confronts Dirty Rat. Enraged, he has his horse charge straight at the little mouse, about to trample him. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning splits their harness; the rat and his cart fall from a cliff.

The clouds clear while everyone celebrates. Lisa tames Dirty Rat's horse and gives it to Melvin, who promises to live a good life after what he has gone through. The next day, Lapitch and the rest arrive at Marco's house, where his mother shows them the family's valuable treasure, along with Melvin's coin. They meet Marco's estranged father who was gone for a long time after working in a faraway land. A worried Mrs. Scowler is delighted to see everyone back again. By then, she and her husband finally recognise Lisa as their lost child Susanna. Afterwards, Mr. Scowler plays a melody on his violin as everybody dances to it. The Scowlers rekindle their relationship as the townspeople celebrate along with them. Eventually, Lapitch becomes the most respected shoemaker they've ever known.

==Cast==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
<!-- As listed in original credits -->
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! colspan="3"| Croatian version
|-
! rowspan=2|Actor
! colspan="2"| Role
|-
! Croatian name !! English name
|-
| Ivan Gudeljević
| šegrt Hlapić || Lapitch
|-
| Maja Rožman
| Gita || Lisa
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Tarik Filipović]]
| Amadeus || Pico
|-
| Vlasnik vrtuljka || [[Carousel|Merry-go-round]] owner
|-
| rowspan=2|Pero Juričić
| Bundaš || Brewster
|-
| Vlasnik cirkusa || [[Ringmaster (circus)|Ringmaster]]
|-
| [[Relja Bašić]]
| Crni Štakor || Dirty Rat / Black Rat
|-
| Vlado Kovačić
| Majstor Mrkonja ||[[Shoemaking|Mr.]] Scowler
|-
| [[Marina Nemet]]
| Majstorica || [[Mistress (form of address)|Mrs.]] Scowler
|-
| Hrvoje Zalar
| Grga || Melvin
|-
| Ljiljana Gener
| Jana || Yana
|-
| Zorko Sirotić
| Marko || Marco
|-
| Ivana Bakarić
| Markova majka || Marco's mother
|-
| [[Božidarka Frajt]]
| Grgina majka || Melvin's mother
|-
| [[Emil Glad]]
| Medo || [[Bear]]
|-
| [[Ivica Vidović]]
| Markov otac || Marco's father
|-
| Mato Ergović
| Gostioničar || [[Inn]]keeper
|-
| Mladen Crnobrnja
| ptica Štef || [[Bird]]
|-
| [[Slavko Brankov]]
| Jazavac || [[Badger]]
|-
| [[Sven Šestak]]
| Lisac || [[Fox]]
|-
| [[Marinko Prga]]
| Zec || [[Rabbit]]
|-
| Ivo Rogulja
| Gradonačelnik || The [[mayor]]
|-
| Barbara Rocco
| Praščić || The mayor's son
|-
| Zlatko Crnković
| Pripovjedač || [[Narration|Narrator]]
|}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! colspan="2"| English version
|-
! Actor
! Role
|-
| [[Cathy Weseluck]]
| Lapitch and Marco's Mother<ref name=animenorth>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenorth.com/an05/Guests/CathyWeseluck.html|title=Guest page for Cathy Weseluck|year=2005|access-date=11 March 2009|publisher=Anime North|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106002733/http://www.animenorth.com/an05/Guests/CathyWeseluck.html|archive-date=6 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Janyse Jaud]]
| Yana, Marco and Melvin's mother
|-
| [[Jay Brazeau]]
| Additional Voices
|-
| [[Andrea Libman]]
| Lisa
|-
| [[Michael Dobson (actor)|Michael Dobson]]
| Additional Voices
|-
| [[Terry Klassen]]
| Dirty Rat
|-
| [[Ian James Corlett]]
| Melvin
|-
| [[Maxine Miller]]
| Additional voices
|-
| Gerard Plunkett
| Additional voices
|-
| [[Robert O. Smith]]
| Additional voices
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! colspan="2"| German version<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/lapitch-der-kleine-schuhmacher_ea43d4a70fdc5006e03053d50b37753d|title=Credits for ''Lapitch, der kleine Schuhmacher''|publisher=filmportal.de|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
! Actor
! Role
|-
| Manuel Straube
| Lapitch
|-
| [[Julia Kaufmann]]
| Lisa
|-
| Michael Walke
| Melvin
|}
{{Col-end}}

==Production==
The Croatia Film company worked on ''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker'' from 1991 until 1997,<ref name=vjesnik>{{cite web|url=http://www.vjesnik.com/html/2000/11/05/Clanak.asp?r=kul&c=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714075154/http://www.vjesnik.com/html/2000/11/05/Clanak.asp?r=kul&c=5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2009 |last=Bukovac |first=Petar |title=Nakon Šegrta Hlapića, uskoro nam dolaze i Priče iz davnine |date=5 November 2000 |language=Croatian |access-date=12 March 2009 |publisher=Vjesnik d.d}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amb-croatie.fr/culture/pavillon_croatie_cannes_2006.htm |title=CANNES 2006: Le Village International accueille pour la première fois le pavillon de la Croatie |language=French |date=May 2006 |access-date=12 March 2009 |publisher=Ambassade de Croatie en France |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305010149/http://amb-croatie.fr/culture/pavillon_croatie_cannes_2006.htm |archive-date= 5 March 2009}}</ref> with funding from the [[Ministry of Culture (Croatia)|Ministry of Culture]].<ref name=vijenac/> The film was produced at a time when Croatia faced a slump in its animation industry,<ref name=encontrama>{{cite web |url=http://encontrama-do.blogspot.com/2008/01/croacia-y-la-animacin.html|title=Croacia y la animación|date=26 January 2008|publisher=Encontrama ([[Blogspot]])|language=Spanish|access-date=29 March 2009}}</ref> and had just begun to undergo its [[Croatian War of Independence|War of Independence]].<ref name=encontrama/> During production, the crew used cel cameras dating as far back as 1938.<ref name=hic/> They also made Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić's title character a mouse, amid a roster of anthropomorphic animals.<ref name=vijenac/>

Director Milan Blažeković had previously worked on several animated shorts and ''[[Professor Balthazar]]'' episodes for [[Zagreb Film]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zagrebfilm.hr/animiranifilmovi.pdf |title=ANIMIRANI FILMOVI |language=Croatian |year=2009 |access-date=10 May 2009 |publisher=[[Zagreb Film]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219062311/http://zagrebfilm.hr/animiranifilmovi.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2009}}</ref> before heading on to direct 1986's ''The Elm-Chanted Forest'' and its 1990 sequel ''The Magician's Hat'' for the Croatia Film studio. For ''Lapitch'', he also served as a screenplay writer and layout artist. The film featured a roster of well-known Croatian actors, among them Relja Bašić, Emil Glad, Tarik Filipović and Ivana Bakarić. Child actors Ivan Gudeljević and Maja Rožman played the title character and his girlfriend respectively.

Early in 1997, Croatia Film teamed up with two German entities—HaffaDiebold, a subsidiary of [[Constantin Medien]], and the television station [[ProSieben]]—to create a new version of the film for the international market.<ref name=kidscreen/><ref name=vjesnik-2/> With several altered scenes, and a reworked ending, this version was first dubbed for the German-speaking market, before being sold to over 70 territories worldwide.<ref name=vjesnik-2/> Sweden's [[V Film|TV1000]] was among the first stations to air the HaffaDiebold edit on television, under the title ''Lapitch den lilla skomakaren''.<ref name=vjesnik-2/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/000020193|title=TV: [Stockholm, TV1000, 1997-12-30--1997-12-31<nowiki>]</nowiki>|date=December 1997|work=SLBA katalog|publisher=[[Swedish National Archive of Recorded Sound and Moving Images]]/Statens ljud- och bildarkiv (SLBA)|language=Swedish|access-date=29 March 2009}}</ref>

The film's English-language dub was recorded in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], at Koko Productions and [[Ocean Productions|Airwaves Sound Design]]; Rainmaker Digital Pictures handled post-production. In this version, Canadian voice actress [[Cathy Weseluck]] provided the voice of Lapitch.<ref name=animenorth/>

==Music==
The music for the original version was composed by Duško Mandić, with songs written by crew member Pajo Kanižaj. Croatian musician [[Petar Grašo]] contributed to the production with the uncredited "Ljubav sve pozlati", part of which was heard in the end credits. Željko Zima, the film's producer, directed its music video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.petargraso.com/time_line/1997.html|title=Time line - 1997|work=PetarGraso.com|publisher=Skopactel Group|access-date=15 March 2009|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924071740/http://www.petargraso.com/time_line/1997.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song also appeared as the last track of Grašo's 1997 debut album, ''Mjesec iznad oblaka'', published by Orfej and Tonika.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hgu.hr/porin/1998/29.htm|title=Kategorija br.29: NAJBOLJA ORIGINALNA VOKALNA ILI INSTRUMENTALNA|year=1998|work=PORIN 1998|publisher=Institute of Croatian Music Industry/Institut Hrvatske Glazbene Industrije (IHGI)|language=Croatian|access-date=29 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070721025327/http://www.hgu.hr/porin/1998/29.htm|archive-date=21 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrt.hr/dora/dora98/winn98_eng.html|title=Dora '98 - Croatian entry|year=1998|publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision|Hrvatska radiotelevizija]] (HRT)|access-date=29 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715072434/http://www.hrt.hr/dora/dora98/winn98_eng.html|archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.petargraso.com/mjesec.html|title=Album page for ''Mjesec iznad oblaka'' (''Moon Above the Cloud'')|work=PetarGraso.com|publisher=Skopactel Group|language=English, Croatian|access-date=29 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231034537/http://www.petargraso.com/mjesec.html|archive-date=31 December 2008}}</ref>

For the international version, Germany's Hermann Weindorf worked on a new set of songs and music, replacing Mandić's contributions. "Take My Hand", performed by Jane Bogart, took the place of "Ljubav sve pozlati". A German soundtrack of this version was released on CD and cassette by [[Ariola]] on 6 October 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r365057|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Lapitch, der Kleine Schuhmacher'' overview|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide]]/[[Macrovision]] Corporation|access-date=15 March 2009}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! English song
! Performed by
! Original Croatian track
|-
| "Shoe Song"
| Munich All-Stars Choir
| "Pjesma cipelica"
|-
| "Dirty Rat"
| Eric Brodka
| "Pjesma Crnog Štakora"
|-
| "Farmers and Friends Forever"
| Munich All-Stars Choir
| "Pjesma žetelaca"
|-
| "Take My Hand"<ref group=Note>Not featured in the 2000 U.S. version.</ref>
| Manuel Straube<br />Maren Rainer
| "Pjesma prognanika"
|-
| "Take My Hand (Pop Version)"
| Jane Bogart
| "Ljubav sve pozlati"
|}

==Release and reception==
In its revised form, ''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker'' was Croatia's sole competing entry in the 1997 edition of Portugal's Cinanima, a film festival focusing on animation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/cinanima97/filmcomp.html|title=Films in Competition (Cinanima)|year=1997|publisher=Animation World Network (AWN)|access-date=29 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212043337/http://www.awn.com/cinanima97/filmcomp.html|archive-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> It was also Croatia's contender to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1997, and was one of two animated submissions in that category, along with [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' from Japan.<ref name=oscar/> Neither film, however, made it to the final list of nominations.

''Lapitch'' went on to become the most successful theatrical release of Croatia's film industry (with over 355,000 viewers).<ref name=pula/><ref name=slo/> In France, it has sold over 300,000 copies since [[TF1]] Video released it in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amb-croatie.fr/croatie/culture.htm#brlic|title=La Croatie: Culture et histoire|language=French|access-date=11 March 2009|publisher=Ambassade de Croatie en France|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221195812/http://amb-croatie.fr/croatie/culture.htm#brlic|archive-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> The German dub, from ProSieben Home Entertainment, sold up to 50,000 tapes by the end of 1999.<ref name=kidscreen/>

In North America, it was the first film to be released in Sony Wonder's "Movie Matinee" series.<ref name=billboard/> Originally planned for 12 October 1999,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_10_21/ai_55090879 |title=1999 to finish year with video offerings for the entire family |date=28 June 1999 |access-date=30 April 2007 |work=Drug Store News |via=FindArticles.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715024831/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_10_21/ai_55090879/ |archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> it was not available until 8 February 2000. This version runs 75 minutes, edited down from the original 83-minute European cut. Coupons for the [[Commodore Cruise Line]] were included with all copies of the tape.<ref name=billboard/> [[Arthur Taussig]] reviewed ''Lapitch'' in 2002. He wrote that the "conservative" animation in Croatian production is spiked with interludes of brilliance, beauty, and outstanding imagination. He concluded that despite the film not being on par with Disney, he called it charming, entertaining, and full of good ideas for young kids.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmvalues.wikispaces.com/file/view/Laptich.txt|last=Taussig|first=Arthur|title=Review of ''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker''|date=February 2002|access-date=28 February 2009|publisher=FilmValues.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710032814/http://filmvalues.wikispaces.com/file/view/Laptich.txt|archive-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> The film received a seal of approval from the [[Dove Foundation]], which gave it three stars out of five.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dove.org/MovieReview.asp?Unique_ID=2494|title=Review of ''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker''|year=2000|publisher=Dove Foundation|access-date=15 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714074203/http://dove.org/MovieReview.asp?Unique_ID=2494|archive-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The German television channel ProSieben first aired ''Lapitch'' on 6 June 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fernsehserien.de/index.php?serie=11247&seite=6|title=''Lapitch, der kleine Schuhmacher'' - Sendetermine der TV-Serie|language=German|access-date=28 February 2009|publisher=imfernsehen GmbH & Co. KG}}</ref> On 27 February 2000, it received its U.S. television premiere on the [[Disney Channel]].<ref name=billboard/>

The Croatian subsidiary of [[Egmont Publishing]] released a book adaptation of the film in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://katalog.kgz.hr/pagesResults/bibliografskiZapis.aspx?&currentPage=1&searchById=10&sort=0&spid0=10&spv0=Kani%c5%beaj%2c+Pajo&xm0=1&selectedId=5007163|title=Čudnovate zgode Šegrta Hlapića / prema djelu Ivane Brlić-Mažuranić tekst napisao Pajo Kanižaj; autor likova i redatelj filma Milan Blažeković|language=Croatian|work=Katalog Knjižnica grada Zagreba|access-date=31 December 2018}}</ref> Three years later, it saw its premiere on DVD, both in Croatia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gkpz.hr:8080/cgi-bin/unilib.cgi?form=D1441028021|title=Catalog information for ''Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića'' (2004 DVD, ref. no. 441028021)|language=Croatian|publisher=Gradska knjižnica i čitaonica Požega|access-date=15 March 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/life-lessons-julia-fifties-college-drama-early-graduation-disk-article-1.650859|last=Putzer|first=Gerry|title=LIFE LESSONS FROM JULIA / Fifties college drama gets an early graduation on disk|date=7 March 2004|access-date=9 April 2020|work=[[New York Daily News]]|quote=TREASURE TROVE FOR TINY COUCH POTATOES}}</ref>

''Lapitch the Little Shoemaker'' was followed by [[Lapitch the Little Shoemaker (TV series)|a spin-off television series]] of 26 episodes, entitled ''Hlapićeve nove zgode'' in its native Croatia. The 26-episode series was a co-production of Croatia Film and EM.TV/HaffaDiebold, with animation by Barcelona's Neptuno Films.<ref name=kidscreen/>

==See also==
* [[List of animated feature-length films]]
* [[Cinema of Croatia]]
* [[List of submissions to the 70th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film]]
* [[List of Croatian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Wikisourcelang|hr|Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića}}
* [http://lapitch.net/ Official franchise site] {{in lang|hr}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0133930}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = ''Nausikaya'' (1996)
| title  = Croatian submission to Best Foreign Language Film category, Academy Awards (U.S.)
| years  = 1997
| after  = ''[[Transatlantic (1998 film)|Transatlantic]]'' (1998)
}}
{{succession box
| before = ''[[Pom Poko]]'' (1994) (Japan)
| title  = Animated films submission to Best Foreign Language Film category, Academy Awards (U.S.)
| years  = 1997 (also ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'') (Japan)
| after  = ''[[Manuelita (film)|Manuelita]]'' (1999) (Argentina)
}}
{{end}}
{{Croatian submission for Academy Awards}}

[[Category:1997 films]]
[[Category:1990s children's adventure films]]
[[Category:1990s children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:1990s musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:Animated films about orphans]]
[[Category:Animated films about mice]]
[[Category:Animated films about rats]]
[[Category:Films about shoemakers]]
[[Category:German animated feature films]]
[[Category:German musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:Croatian animated films]]
[[Category:Films set in Croatia]]
[[Category:Croatian children's films]]
[[Category:1997 animated films]]
[[Category:1990s German films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Europe]]
[[Category:1997 musical films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić]]
[[Category:Films based on children's books]]