Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics
Title screen from Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics.
グリム名作劇場 (Gurimu Meisaku Gekijō)
Genre	Fantasy
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by	Takaji Matsudo
Studio	Nippon Animation
Licensed by	NA Discotek Media
Original network	TV Asahi
English network	AU Nine Network US Nickelodeon
Original run	October 21, 1987 – March 30, 1988
Episodes	24
Anime television series
New Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics
Directed by
Produced by	Takaji Matsudo
Studio	Nippon Animation
Licensed by	NA Discotek Media
Original network	TV Asahi
English network	AU Nine Network US Nickelodeon
Original run	October 2, 1988 – March 26, 1989
Episodes	23
Anime and manga portal

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics, also known as Grimm Masterpiece Theater in the original version, is a Japanese anime anthology series by Nippon Animation. The episodes are adaptations of a variety of folk and fairy tales, and, despite the name, not limited to Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Premise[]

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics comprises two series. The first series, known in Japan as Grimm Masterpiece Theater (グリム名作劇場, Gurimu Meisaku Gekijō), aired from October 21, 1987 to March 30, 1988, for a total of 24 episodes. The second series, known in Japan as New Grimm Masterpiece Theater (新グリム名作劇場, Shin Gurimu Meisaku Gekijō), aired between October 2, 1988 and March 26, 1989, totaling 23 episodes. Both series were produced by Nippon Animation with the cooperation of Asahi Broadcasting Corporation in Osaka. It was also localized under the series' English name.^{[citation needed]}

The fairy tale anthology was broadcast in North America by Nickelodeon, and in local stations throughout Latin America.

Episodes[]

Series 1[]

Series 2[]

Cast[]

Japanese cast[]

• Mitsuko Horie - Narrator, Cinderella (in "Cinderella"), Princess Briar Rose (in "Sleeping Beauty"), Rapunzel (in "Rapunzel")
• Sanji Hase - Donkey (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen")
• Kenichi Ogata - Cat (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen")
• Ryusei Nakao - Rooster (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen"), Hedgehog (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog")
• Osamu Katou - Head Thief (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen")
• Ritsuo Sawa - Lacky (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen")
• Mami Koyama - Hansel (in "Hansel and Gretel")
• Chieko Honda - Gretel (in "Hansel and Gretel")
• Miyoko Asō - Witch (in "Hansel and Gretel"), Witch (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Witch (in "Rapunzel")
• Shigeru Chiba - Frog Prince (in "The Frog Prince")
• Ichirô Nagai - King, Puss in Boots (in "Puss in Boots"), Old Woodsman (In "The Water of Life")
• Kazue Komiya - Queen
• Masami Kikuchi - Prince, Joringel (in "Jorinde and Joringel")
• Kōhei Miyauchi - King (in "The Water of Life")
• Hiromi Tsuru - Jorinde (in "Jorinde and Joringel")
• Yuriko Yamamoto - Rosa (in "Brother and Sister")
• Mayumi Tanaka - Rudolf (in "Brother and Sister")
• Noriko Uemura - Mrs. Hedgehog (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog")
• Chika Sakamoto - Hedgehog Son (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog")
• Kōzō Shioya - Hare (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog")

Additional Japanese voices[]

• Banjou Ginga
• Bin Shimada
• Chikao Ohtsuka
• Hiroshi Izawa
• Jouji Yanami
• Kaneto Shiozawa
• Katsunosuke Hori
• Kayoko Fujii
• Kazuhiko Inoue
• Nana Yamaguchi
• Norio Wakamoto
• Sakiko Tamagawa
• Sumi Shimamoto
• Tesshô Genda
• Toshiko Fujita
• Yoku Shioya
• Yoshino Takamori

English cast[]

• Theodore Lehmann - Narrator
• Robert Axelrod - Rooster (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), Hunter (in "The Six Who Went Far"), Bluebeard's Herald (in "Bluebeard"), Messenger (in "The Worn Out Dancing Shoes"), Prince (in "The Worn Out Dancing Shoes"), Hare (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog")
• Arlene Banas - Mother (in "Snow White & Rose-Red"), Evil Queen (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
• Robert V. Barron - Nobleman (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes"), Mr. Fox (in "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"), Vendor (in "Beauty & the Beast"), Old Man (in "The Magic Heart"), Servant (in "Brother & Sister"), Helga's father (in "Rumpelstiltskin")
• Bill Capizzi - Cook (in "King Grizzlebeard"), Rabbit (in "Mother Holle"), Crab (in "The Hare & the Hedgehog"), Rumpelstiltskin (in "Rumpelstiltskin")
• Frank Catalano - Prince (in "The Coat of Many Colors")
• Ardwight Chamberlain - Franz (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Johan (in "Bearskin")
• Louise Chamis - Peasant's Wife (in "The Bremen Town Musicians")
• Cheryl Chase -
• Tony Clay - Enchanted Tree (in "Cinderella")
• Lara Cody - Jorinde (in "Jorinde & Joringel"), Princess Briar Rose (in "Sleeping Beauty"), Cinderella (in "Cinderella"), Princess (in "The Six Swans"), Rudolf (in "Brother & Sister")
• Richard Epcar - Iron Hans (in "The Man of Iron"), Soldier (in "The Brave Little Tailor")
• Michael Forest - King (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), John (in "The Spirit in the Bottle"), King (in "The Man of Iron")
• Rebecca Forstadt - Gretel (in "Hansel and Gretel"), Rose-Red (in "Snow-White and Rose-Red"), Rosa (in "Brother and Sister")
• Eddie Frierson - Peter (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes")
• Barbara Goodson - Ilene (in "Mother Holle")
• Melora Harte - Additional Voices
• Milton James - Donkey (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), King's Chamberlain (in "The Six Who Went Far"), Devil (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Demon (in "Bearskin")
• Steve Kramer - Lead Thief (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), Father (in "Hansel and Gretel"), Henry (in "The Princess & the Frog"), Big Bad Wolf (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Priest ("in "The Golden Goose"), Guard (in "The Golden Goose"), Puss (in "Puss in Boots"), Subject (in "The Water of Life"), Old Cat (in "Old Sultan"), Customer (in "King Grizzlebeard"), Devil (in "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"), Shopkeeper (in "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"), Priest (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Wolf (in "The Wolf and The Fox"), Prince #4 (in "The Six Swans"), Servant (in "The Six Swans"), Cook (in "The Coat of Many Colors"), Hedgehog (in "The Hedgehog and the Hare"), Fisherman (in "The Man of Iron"), Soldier (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), Captain (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), Man (in "Rumpelstiltskin")
• Doug Lee - Magic Mirror (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
• Wendee Lee - Princess Leonora (in "The Princess & the Frog"), First Princess (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes")
• Julie Maddalena - Snow-White (in "Snow White & Rose-Red"), Snow White (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
• Melanie MacQueen -
• Kerrigan Mahan - Peasant (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), Monday (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), Prince Franz (in "The Water of Life"), Second Bohemian Soldier (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Demon #1 (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes"), First Prince (in "The Six Swans"), Other Lumberjack (in "The Spirit in the Bottle"), Fox (in "The Hare & the Hedgehog"), King Wren (in "The Wren & the Bear")
• Dave Mallow - Bear/Prince (in "Snow-White and Rose-Red"), Hero (in "The Six Who Went Far"), Chemist (in "The Water of Life"), Third Brother (in "Bluebeard"), Prince (in "Sleeping Beauty"), King Grizzlebeard (in "King Grizzlebeard"), Musician (in "King Grizzlebeard"), Owl (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), Prince (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), Peasant (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Watchman (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Fox (in "The Wolf and the Fox"), Wilhelm (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Lumberjack's Son (in The Spirit in the Bottle"), Fox (in "The Wren and the Bear"), Wren Chick (in "The Wren and the Bear")
• Edward Mannix - Saturday (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), Market Man (in "King Grizzlebeard"), Maria's Father (in "Beauty & the Beast")
• Michael McConnohie - Cat (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), King (in "The Six Swans"), King (in "Brother & Sister")
• Edie Mirman - The Witch (in "Hansel and Gretel"), The Queen (in "The Princess & the Frog"), Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Gisella (in "Bearskin")
• Tony Oliver - The Altar Boy (in "The Golden Goose"), Prince Joseph (in "The Water of Life"), Prince (in "Cinderella"), Four-Tailed Fox (in "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"), Deer (in "The Wolf and the Fox"), Prince (in "The Six Swans")
• Simon Prescott - King (in "The Princess & the Frog"), Bluebeard (in "Bluebeard"), King (in "Sleeping Beauty"), King (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes")
• Mike Reynolds - King (in "Puss in Boots"), The Huntsman (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), Army General (in "The Six Who Went Far"), Old Wolf (in "The Old Sultan"), Gargoyle (in "The Naughty Spirit"), King (in "Cinderella"), Goblin Bandit #4 (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), Landlord (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Old King (in "The Coat of Many Colors"), Giant (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), Wolf (in "The Wren & the Bear"), Councilor (in "Rumpelstiltskin")
• Philece Sampler -
• Brianne Siddall - Rapunzel's Son (in "Rapunzel"), Lisbeth (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), Child 1 (in "The Hare & the Hedgehog")
• Michael Sorich - Dog (in "The Bremen Town Musicians"), Friday (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), Muscles (in "The Six Who Went Far"), The Old Woodsman (in "The Water of Life"), Josephine's First Brother (in "Bluebeard"), Second Prince (in "The Six Swans"), General 2 (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), General Bear (in "The Wren & the Bear")
• Melodee Spevack - Peasant's Wife (in "The Faithful Watchman"), Evil Queen (in "The Six Swans")
• Doug Stone - Brave Soldier (in "The Faithful Watchman")
• Kirk Thornton - Rapunzel's Father (in "Rapunzel"), General 1 (in "The Brave Little Tailor")
• Clifton Wells - Sunday (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
• Jeff Winkless - The Old Man (in "The Golden Goose"), Old Samuel (in "The Hare & the Hedgehog")
• Dan Woren - The Frog Prince (in "The Princess & the Frog"), Hans (in "The Golden Goose"), Prince (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), Two-Tailed Fox (in "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"), Soldier (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), King (in "Rumpelstiltskin")
• Tom Wyner - Hans' Father (in "The Golden Goose"), Wednesday (in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), King (in "The Six Who Went Far"), The King (in "The Water of Life"), Knight (in "The Water of Life"), King (in "The Brave Little Tailor")

Crew[]

English crew[]

• Robert Axelrod - Script Adaptation, Writer
• Melora Harte - Script Adaptation, Writer
• Steve Kramer - Writer
• - Script Adaptation, Writer
• Kerrigan Mahan - Director
• Dave Mallow - Script Adaptation, Writer
• Edie Mirman - Writer
• - Assistant Engineer
• Tony Oliver - Script Supervisor, Script Adaptation, Writer
• Scott Page-Pagter - Voice Director, ADR Engineer
• - Post-Production Supervisor
• Haim Saban - Executive Producer
• David Walsh - Voice Director, ADR Engineer
• Jeff Winkless - Script Adaptation, Writer
• Tom Wyner - Director

Music[]

In Japan, for both seasons, the series used two theme songs; the opening theme, "The Rainbow Bridge" (虹の橋, Niji no Hashi), and the ending theme, "My Town's Merry-Go-Round" (私の町はメリーゴーランド, Watashi no Machi wa Merī Gorando), were both performed by . Incidental music used in the Japanese version was composed by Hideo Shimazu. The theme tune and incidental music used in the English dub were both composed by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy. Most of the incidental music was in fact recycled from the earlier VHS series My Favorite Fairy Tales.^{[citation needed]}

Releases[]

Limited episodes were produced in NTSC VHS by Saban International and distributed by Starmaker Entertainment Inc. and Hi-Tops Video/Fisher-Price in 1990 and Video Treasures/HGV Video Productions in 1992.^{[citation needed]} Those volumes included:

• Beauty and the Beast (UPC: 0-1313-29408-3)
• The Six Who Went Far (UPC: 0-90251-94073-6)
• Hansel & Gretel (UPC: 0-92091-4105-3)
• Briar Rose
• Brother & Sister
• The Coat of Many Colors
• Jorinda and Joringel
• King Grizzlebeard
• Marriage of Mrs. Fox
• Mother Holle
• Old Sultan
• The Spirit in the Bottle
• The Frog Prince
• The Man of Iron
• The Secret Heart
• The Six Swans
• The Water of Life
• Grimm Brothers' Scary Fairy Tales
• Snow White
• Cinderella

A few episodes were released to a single Region 2 DVD titled "Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics - Volume One" under distribution by Fox Kids and Maximum Entertainment Ltd. in 2004.^[1] The episodes included were:

• Hansel and Gretel
• Little Red Riding Hood
• The Golden Goose
• Snow White And Rose Red
• Beauty and the Beast

The British newspapers Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror released the following episodes on promotional DVDs:^{[citation needed]}

• Snow White
• Bluebeard
• The Frog Prince
• Rapunzel
• Rumpelstiltskin
• Cinderella
• Beauty and the Beast
• Puss N' Boots
• Little Red Riding Hood
• The Golden Goose
• Hansel and Gretel

The original Japanese version of the series was released as a 5-disc DVD set in Region 2 with 10 episodes from the series.^{[citation needed]}

Despite a large cult following, none of the English dub were released on DVD in Region 1 for many years and only limited episodes (listed above) were released in Region 2. The rights to the English dub (owned by The Walt Disney Company following their purchase of Fox Family Worldwide in 2001) reverted to Nippon Animation on July 19, 2005 (series 1) and March 31, 2006 (series 2).^[2]

On December 14, 2020, Discotek Media announced that they would be releasing the series on SD-BD.^[3] The first volume was released on May 25, 2021 and the second volume was released on August 31, 2021.^[4] The releases included both the original Japanese versions of the episodes, along with the English dubs by Saban Entertainment, reconstructed using video from the Japanese version and audio from the dub masters. The Season 1 release included alternative English versions of The Travelling Musicians of Bremen and Bluebeard.^[5] The Season 2 release included the English versions of The Crystal Ball, The Iron Stove, The Water Nixie, and The Godfather of Death, which had never aired in North America.^[6] The Season 1 episode The Six Who Went Far is incorrectly titled The Six Who Went Too Far in the Discotek release.

Season 1 of the English dub is available on Amazon Prime in the USA.^[7]

References[]

External links[]

• Grimm's Fairy Tales catalogue listing at the official Nippon Animation website.
• Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics at IMDb