Toymaker Herr Drosselmeyer gives Clara a nutcracker at his Christmas party, but her brother Fritz breaks it out of jealousy. That night, a mouse army led by the Mouse King invades the house. Clara sneaks downstairs and the nutcracker comes alive to defend her.
Chapters
This is a story about magic. The kind of magic that sometimes occurs at this very special time of year. We begin with a toymaker, Herr Drosselmeyer, who is preparing for the Christmas party of his niece Clara. And her brother Fritz. Drosselmeyer arrives at the party with all sorts of surprises. Life-size dolls that dance to life, a rollicking rodeo horse for Fritz, and for Clara, a nutcracker. It is the most beautiful gift Clara has ever received, but Fritz is jealous and breaks the toy. Though Drosselmeyer is able to fix him, Clara is sad when the party ends and she must say good night. Luckily, Drosselmeyer stays behind to leave a last bit of magic. As the family sleeps, the house is suddenly invaded by a magical mouse army led by the frightening Mouse King. When Clara sneaks out of bed to check on her beloved Nutcracker, she is surrounded. When it seems that all is lost, Clara's Nutcracker magically appears.