The Snow Queen is a 1995 British children's animated film co-written, directed and produced by Martin Gates and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen, featuring Helen Mirren in the title role. In the film, the evil Snow Queen plans to use an enormous magic mirror to so that it will plunge the world into an eternal winter so she can rule it, but when the mirror shatters and one piece enters the young Tom's body, she kidnaps him to have all the pieces. Tom's sister Ellie and her friend, Peeps the sparrow, set out to rescue him before it is too late. A direct sequel, The Snow Queen's Revenge, was released the following year.