During Christmas in Saint Petersburg, in pre-Revolution times, an impoverished girl tries to sell matchsticks on the streets, but every potential customer refuses.

The story's popularity far exceeded Andersen's original intention, which was to call immediate attention to the plight of Europe's suffering children.

The setting was moved from the author's native Denmark to Russia; Allers noted that the story was non-specific about location, and Saint Petersburg would allow for beautiful scenery and was associated with snow and harsh winters.

[1][3] Allers and Hahn previously were involved in Disney animated films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.

The Little Matchgirl was released on the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray on August 18, 2015.

It was originally going to use Debussy's Claire de Lune, but later Allers decided to use the third movement (Nocturne) from String Quartet No.