The story is an animated adaptation of the 1844 fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, "The Snow Queen", set in Copenhagen in the beautiful Victorian era of the late 1800's, and inspired also by the writings of Selma Lagerlöf (Swedish Nobel Prize winner) and Zacharius Topelius (famous Finnish writer). Young Gerda sets off into the great unknown in search of her friend Kai, who has mysteriously vanished. On her journey, Gerda makes friends with people, birds, beasts, and a kind witch, unaware that a hostile, unseen enemy is watching her: the Snow Queen and her gargoyle apprentice, Louie. The evil queen keeps Kai prisoner in her ice palace way up north in Finnmark, Norway. Together, Gerda and Kai finally escape from her clutches, arriving back home just in time for the happiest Christmas ever.