Charlotte lives happily in a small countryside village with her childhood friend, the Little Match Boy—until the morning she shrinks to roughly thumb-size for no apparent reason. People start calling her Thumbelina. Her unusual new appearance draws immediate attention. Then mysterious soldiers arrive, searching specifically for her. The Little Match Boy takes Charlotte into the forest to hide her, and the two of them begin a journey to find out how to reverse the shrinking—while staying ahead of the soldiers pursuing them.