Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse(1960)

The Princess and the Pea is an animated short film that reimagines Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale. A king grows envious of his son's carefree lifestyle and decides to find him a suitable wife—one who must be both beautiful and exceptionally sensitive. To prove her refinement, any potential bride must pass the famous pea test, sleeping atop a stack of mattresses with a tiny pea hidden beneath. The first candidate, a hardworking peasant girl, fails immediately. The second abandons the pursuit, finding the prince dull. The third succeeds and becomes his bride. When the prince assumes the throne, the aging king finally retires to spend his days feeding swans by the water.