The Nutcracker is a fairy tale about a young girl, Clara, and a very unusual Christmas. Heir Drosselmeyer, the family friend, is a magical, mysterious character who attends the family Christmas party, bringing Clara a special gift – a beautiful Nutcracker doll. Very excited about the new doll, Clara wants to stay up all night with it, but her family sends her off to bed. After everyone has left the party and her family is sound asleep, Clara sneaks back to look at her new Nutcracker doll. She falls asleep and begins to dream.

       She is suddenly awakened by a roomful of mice led by a frightening Mouse King that tries to kidnap her and take her to his kingdom. Clara searches for her nutcracker, but he has disappeared. Suddenly the Christmas tree begins to grow to an enormous height. Everything in the room is out of proportion. The Nutcracker appears with a band of soldiers. They have come to save Clara from the Mouse King. A battle ensues. The soldiers and the mice fight a vicious battle, and the Mouse King is ultimately defeated by the Nutcracker.