Animated Hero Classics: Beethoven (2005): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2005, Animated Hero Classics: Beethoven is a drama, family, animation and music film directed by Richard Rich, running about 30 minutes.

What it’s about. Even as a young boy, Beethoven marched to the beat of a different drummer. Trained in the traditional music methods by his father, Beethoven was an accomplished pianist by the age of 12. But he yearned to try new sounds and persevered until audiences heard his music. By his early twenties, this persistent young man performed for Joseph Haydn, who compared him to the great Mozart. Sadly, Beethoven began to lose his hearing, but he threw himself even more deeply into his music, composing "Fur Elise," "Sonata Pathetique" and the dramatic "Fifth Symphony" years later, audience members heard what he could not and leapt to their feet in ecstatic appreciation for such passionate music. His creativity gave the world then, as it does today, music that stirs the soul. The video begins in 1827 with 30,000 people paying tribute to the great Beethoven in Vienna, Austria. Then the video switches to his life as a child...

Who’s in it. Animated Hero Classics: Beethoven stars William Dennis Hunt as Ludwig van Beethoven as an old man (voice), Michael Henwright as Ludwig van Beethoven as a young man (voice), John C. Hyke as Franz Grillprazer (voice) and Jean Miller as Marie Lichnowsky (voice), among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Animated Hero Classics: Beethoven page.

If you liked it. Fans of Animated Hero Classics: Beethoven tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.