The Ugly Duckling Full Story | Animated Fairy Tales for Children | Bedtime Stories

Summary

In this heartwarming tale, a mother duck eagerly awaits the hatching of her ducklings, but one egg takes longer to crack. Out comes an 'ugly duckling,' shunned by siblings and others for its appearance. Despite the ridicule, the duckling's spirit remains unbroken. It endures loneliness and hardship, seeking solace in nature. Miraculously, as seasons change, the duckling transforms into a majestic swan, finally finding acceptance and love among its own kind, teaching a poignant lesson about beauty and self-worth.

Takeaways

• 🦆 A mother duck is eagerly waiting for her eggs to hatch, feeling lonely during the process.
• 🐣 After several eggs hatch, the last one reveals a large and different-looking duckling, who is perceived as ugly.
• 🌊 Despite the ugly duckling's excellent swimming skills, he is bullied by the other ducks and animals for his appearance.
• 😔 Feeling sad and rejected, the ugly duckling runs away to find a new home but continues to be mistreated and avoided.
• 🏡 The duckling takes refuge in a cottage with an old lady, but the cat and hen make life difficult for him.
• 💧 Longing for freedom, the ugly duckling escapes the cottage and finds a beautiful lake where he enjoys swimming.
• 🍂 As seasons change, the duckling experiences a lonely and miserable life, struggling through harsh winters.
• 🦢 One spring, the duckling sees beautiful swans and, feeling insecure, hides from them out of fear of being mocked.
• 🌸 The duckling eventually discovers his reflection and realizes he has transformed into a beautiful swan.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He is finally accepted by other swans and admired by humans, reflecting on how he was once mistreated due to his appearance.

Q & A

What was the mother duck waiting for at the beginning of the story?

The mother duck was waiting for her eggs to hatch.

How did the mother duck react to her ducklings when they first hatched?

The mother duck was delighted and proud of her ducklings, finding them beautiful.

What was unusual about the last egg to hatch?

The last egg took longer to hatch, and the duckling that emerged was larger and considered ugly compared to the other ducklings.

How did the other animals react to the 'ugly duckling'?

The other animals, including the ducklings and animals at the farm, bullied and rejected the ugly duckling due to its appearance.

Why did the ugly duckling decide to leave the farm?

The ugly duckling left the farm because he was tired of being mistreated and bullied by everyone for being different.

What happened when the ugly duckling met the wild ducks?

The wild ducks allowed the ugly duckling to stay with them but warned him to stay out of their way because of his appearance.

How did the old lady, her cat, and the hen treat the ugly duckling?

The old lady hoped the ugly duckling would lay eggs, while the cat and the hen mocked and belittled him for his looks and inability to lay eggs.

What was the turning point in the ugly duckling's life?

The turning point occurred when the ugly duckling saw his reflection in the water and realized he had transformed into a beautiful swan.

How did the other swans react to the ugly duckling after his transformation?

The other swans warmly welcomed the ugly duckling, stroking his neck and accepting him as one of their own.

What lesson did the ugly duckling learn after his transformation into a swan?

The ugly duckling learned that people often judge others based on their appearance, which is unfair and hurtful. His transformation into a swan taught him that beauty can emerge over time, and he was finally accepted and loved.

Outlines

00:00

🦆 The Arrival of the Ugly Duckling

A mother duck waits for her eggs to hatch, feeling lonely and impatient. Finally, her ducklings hatch, but one egg remains unhatched. When the last egg cracks, a large and ugly duckling emerges, different from its siblings. Despite being an excellent swimmer, the ugly duckling is mocked and bullied by the other ducks at the farm. Even his siblings are unkind to him, making him feel unwanted. Feeling miserable, the ugly duckling decides to run away in search of a place where he will be accepted.

05:01

🌳 The Ugly Duckling's Struggles Continue

The ugly duckling finds refuge on a moor where wild ducks allow him to stay, though they remark on his ugliness. For a short while, he feels safe but still lonely. One day, after a frightening encounter with hunters, the duckling flees again. He finds shelter in an old lady’s cottage, but her tomcat and hen mock him for his looks and inability to lay eggs. The ugly duckling dreams of freedom and swimming, feeling trapped and unhappy in the cottage. Eventually, he escapes in the middle of the night to find a new home.

Keywords

💡Ugly Duckling

The 'Ugly Duckling' is the main character of the story, representing an individual who is initially perceived as unattractive or different. In the video's narrative, the Ugly Duckling endures ridicule and exclusion due to its appearance, symbolizing the theme of self-discovery and the journey to acceptance. The term is used throughout the script to highlight the duckling's experiences and the transformation it undergoes.

💡Transformation

Transformation refers to a profound change in form, appearance, or character. In the context of the video, the Ugly Duckling undergoes a transformation, turning from an unattractive duck into a beautiful swan. This transformation is central to the story's message about inner beauty and the potential for change, as seen when the duckling discovers its reflection and the swans accept it.

💡Bullying

Bullying is the act of using force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. The Ugly Duckling experiences bullying from various characters in the script, such as the other ducklings, the tomcat, and the hen. This keyword is significant as it illustrates the negative impact of prejudice and the resilience required to overcome such treatment.

💡Isolation

Isolation is the state of being separated from others or feeling alone. The Ugly Duckling feels isolated due to its perceived ugliness, as evidenced by its loneliness on the moor and its longing for companionship. This keyword is crucial to understanding the duckling's emotional journey and the impact of social rejection.

💡Self-Acceptance

Self-acceptance is the recognition and positive acceptance of oneself, including one's strengths and weaknesses. The Ugly Duckling's journey is one of self-acceptance, as it learns to accept its true identity despite the negative perceptions of others. This concept is exemplified in the script when the duckling finds solace in swimming and eventually embraces its new form as a swan.

💡Perspective

Perspective refers to a particular attitude, way of thinking, or viewpoint. In the video, different characters have varying perspectives on the Ugly Duckling's appearance, which influences their treatment of it. The keyword is important for understanding how external views can shape an individual's experiences and the importance of personal perspective in self-worth.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. The Ugly Duckling demonstrates resilience by enduring hardships and continuing to seek out a place of belonging. This keyword is integral to the story's theme of overcoming adversity, as seen in the duckling's escape from the cottage and its survival through the seasons.

💡Beauty

Beauty is a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially sight. The concept of beauty is central to the video's narrative, as it is the Ugly Duckling's perceived lack of beauty that leads to its initial rejection. The keyword is used to explore the superficiality of appearances and the deeper message of beauty being more than skin deep.

💡Identity

Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. The Ugly Duckling's struggle with identity is a key theme in the video, as it grapples with its place in the world and its true nature. The keyword is exemplified when the duckling discovers its reflection and realizes it is a swan, signifying a newfound understanding of self.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance is the action of receiving or accepting something willingly. The Ugly Duckling's journey culminates in acceptance by the swans, symbolizing the importance of belonging and being valued for who one is. This keyword is central to the story's message of the power of acceptance and the joy of finding one's place.

💡Seasons

Seasons are the four divisions of the year, each marked by particular weather patterns and changes in the environment. The changing seasons in the script serve as a backdrop to the Ugly Duckling's journey, symbolizing the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. The keyword is used to underscore the duckling's growth and the eventual arrival of a new beginning, as seen in the return of spring.

Highlights

A family of ducks enjoys a swim, while another duck waits for her eggs to hatch.

The ducklings hatch, but one egg remains unhatched, leading to the emergence of a large and 'ugly' duckling.

The 'ugly' duckling is bullied by other animals due to its appearance, despite its ability to swim just as well as its siblings.

The ugly duckling decides to run away, seeking solace in a moor where it feels lonely but avoids further bullying.

While living on the moor, the ugly duckling encounters wild ducks who allow it to stay but dismiss it due to its appearance.

The ugly duckling flees when hunters arrive, narrowly escaping harm and enduring a stormy night.

Finding temporary refuge in a cottage, the ugly duckling faces more ridicule from a hen and a cat who mock its inability to lay eggs or look graceful.

Desperate for freedom, the duckling escapes the cottage and finds a lake where it enjoys swimming but remains isolated.

As seasons change, the ugly duckling feels even more lonely, watching beautiful birds flying in the sky.

Winter arrives, and the duckling struggles through the freezing conditions, seeking warmth wherever it can.

When spring returns, the duckling notices that its appearance has changed, but it hides from the beautiful swans, fearing further rejection.

The duckling finally sees its reflection in the water and realizes it has transformed into a beautiful swan.

The other swans accept the transformed duckling, welcoming it as one of their own.

A family visiting the lake admires the new swan, calling it the most beautiful of all.

The once-ugly duckling, now a graceful swan, reflects on its sad past and the unfair treatment based on appearance.

Transcripts

The Ugly Duckling

On a beautiful summer day, a family of ducks is taking a swim while another is enjoying

a stroll by the bank.

But one duck is sitting on her eggs among the tall leaves.

I wonder when my babies are going to come out.

They are taking so long to hatch!

It is so lonely, no one has the time to visit me.

But Mommy duck didn’t have to wait too long.

Soon the eggs started cracking and the little ducklings started taking small unsteady steps

out of the shells.

Quack quack, quack quack.

Oooh, my babies are so beautiful!

Now come and line up here all of you.

One..Two..Three..Four…Five..Hey, there should be one more.

Mother duck looked around, and saw one egg which had not yet hatched

I think I will have to sit again on this egg till it hatches.

It seems pretty large.

Soon the last egg hatched, but the duckling that crept out was large and ugly.

This little fellow doesn’t look like his brothers and sisters.

The next day, Mother Duck leads her brood to the water.

Oh!

I am proud today that my ducklings are swimming so well!

And how well the youngest one is swimming.

Come on kids, that’s enough for today.

We must get to the farm before it turns dark.

The duck family makes its way to the farmhouse, where there are lots of other ducks.

What is that strange looking creature doing here?

The other ducklings are so cute but this one is so big and ugly.

He is ugly.

We don’t want him here.

That’s not a nice thing to say.

He is still small, and I’m sure he will grow up to be beautiful too.

But the other ducklings continued to bully and make fun of the ugly duckling.

I hope the ducklings stop this nonsense.

I can’t bear to see that poor child looking so sad.

But as days went by, things started becoming worse for the ugly duckling.

Wherever he went, everyone was mean to him.

Have you ever seen anything uglier than this?

Uff!

Seeing this creature in the morning, my day will also be as ugly as he is.

Ha..Ha…he seems to be getting uglier by the day.

The Ugly Duckling just wanted to hide somewhere and cry.

Even his brothers and sisters were rude to him.

Don’t come near us.

Go away!

I wish the cat comes and takes you.

Mother Duck was very sad to see everyone treat the ugly ducking so badly.

Nobody wants to talk to me or play with me because I am ugly.

I will run away from here.

So the ugly duckling flew over the fence of the farmyard, and continued flying till he

spotted a large moor.

He decided to spend the night there.

I am so tired.

I think I will spend the night here.

Next morning, the ugly duckling woke up to the sound of loud quacking.

He opened his eyes and saw a flock of wild ducks.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Can I please stay here for a while?

I have nowhere to go.

You are ugly….(a long pause) Stay here, but don’t get in our way.

The Ugly Duckling stayed on the moor for a few days.

He felt lonely, but no one bullied him or hurt him because of his looks.

One morning, the duckling heard a noise like a big bang.

He lay still, too scared to move.

When he finally lifted his head and looked around, all the other ducks had fled.

The ugly duckling also fled from the moor as fast as it could.

It flew as fast as its young wings would take him.

However, suddenly there was thunder and lightning, scaring the little duckling.

Brrr.

I am so wet and cold.

That cottage there looks warm, maybe I can take shelter there.

The cottage belonged to an old lady, who lived with with her tomcat and hen, who found the

duckling the next morning.

Cluck cluck, meow meow What is happening here?

Why are you making so much noise?

What is this we have here?

Looks like a duck, though a very ugly one.

I know what I will do.

I will keep it with me and wait for it to lay eggs.

Then I will have eggs from my hen and from this duck too.

Ah, but I do hope this is a duck and not a drake.

So the ugly duckling stayed with the old lady in her cottage.

But here also, the tomcat and the hen made its life so miserable!

Hey you, don’t you get scared when you see your face in the mirror?

Look at me.

My coat is so silky.

Look at my whiskers, so long and beautiful.

The mistress says my walk is so graceful.

You are such a loser.

You cannot even lay an egg!

Look at my eggs, such lovely big and brown ones.

The ugly duckling continued to be lonely.

He would sit in front of the window looking at the small pond outside.

How I wish I could swim in that pond.

It used to be so nice when I swam in the cool water back home.

Are you mad?

The mistress is not going to let you go.

You have a safe house, what more do you want?

Behave yourself and don’t anger the mistress, the cat, or even me.

Want to swim, indeed!

The ugly duckling felt very, very sad, wondering what to do.

I know this place is safe, but I feel like a prisoner here, being punished by not being

allowed to swim.

I want to swim – I want to be free to swim and fly as I please.

I have to escape from here somehow.

So one night, the duckling quietly crept out of the cottage and went in search of a new

home.

Soon he found a beautiful lake where he could swim and dive.

Ahhhhh!

(Splash) This is such a lovely place.

It feels so good to swim after so long.

I hope the other animals and birds here are friendly so I don’t have to move away from

here also.

But alas, here too the other animals did not want to be friends with the ugly duckling.

Why does everybody keep avoiding me?

Just because I am ugly, it doesn’t mean everyone has to be mean!

No one wants to play with me or even talk to me!

So life continued in this miserabke way for the ugly duckling.

Soon, the seasons changed.

Autumn set in, and the colour of the leaves changed from red to orange and then gold.

Winter followed.

The forest turned white, and a very cold wind set in.

The dark clouds made the duckling feeling even more gloomy and sad, so the duckling

decided to go to the lakeside.

And what a lovely sight he saw there!

What are these beautiful birds?

I don’t think I have seen them before.

How beautifully they spread their large wings!

It looks like they are not flying but just gliding through the sky.

Though the winter grew colder and colder, the duckling continued to swim despite the

freezing water, and then finally took refuge in some bushes.

Finally, it was spring again.

Plants started sprouting and the sun peeped down from the sky.

The duckling was so happy that it was becoming warm again.

Everything around me has become so beautiful.

My wings have also become strong and I can now swim in the pond close by.

Suddenly, the duckling once again saw the same beautiful birds that he had seen at the

start of spring, and quickly ran and hid behind some bushes.

Those birds are so beautiful.

I better not go near them, or they too will make fun of me.

I am so scared that they might even kill me!

I am so tired of being picked on by everybody, first the ducklings at the farm, my own brothers

and sisters, the hen and tomcat at the cottage, and everybody else.

I wish I had never been born!

(Sob sob sob.)

The duckling went to a quiet spot on the lake where nobody could see him.

He was very, very sad, and big fat tears rolled down its face.

Suddenly, the duckling saw its own reflection in the lake, and couldn’t believe its eyes!

For staring at him in the clear water below was his own reflection, no longer a dark,

grey bird, ugly and repulsive to look at.

Instead, he had turned into a graceful and beautiful swan.

The ugly duckling had transformed into a beautiful swan!!

All the other swans came to greet the newcomer, and stroked his neck with their beaks.

Finally, the ugly little thing was accepted and loved by his new friends, to whom he belonged,

the beautiful and graceful swans.

A family with two children came to see the swans swimming.

Look, there is a new one.

Father, mother, come here, there is another swan.

A new one has arrived.”

The new one is the most beautiful of all.

Oh, he is so young and pretty!

The swan did not know how to react to so much praise.

He felt shy and tried to hide his face.

After being mocked and taunted and bullied for so long, he couldn’t believe he was

being appreciated and accepted!

And he was actually being called beautiful!

I never dreamt that I would see a day when someone would call me beautiful!

I wish I had received the same love and affection when I was the little and ugly creature, I

wouldn’t have spent such a sad childhood.

Why do people treat others according to their looks?

That is so, so sad!