Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics, also known as Grimm Masterpiece Theater (グリム名作劇場 Gurimu meisaku gekijō) in the original version and The Grimm's Fairy Tales (in Australia and New Zealand), is a Japanese anime anthology series by Nippon Animation based on the Grimms' Fairy Tales.
Premise Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics adapted several old favorites, taking liberties in some cases. The series also contains many obscure fairy tales, though some of these were removed from later reissues of the volume. Some were eliminated because they originated outside Germany, and therefore did not appear in the Brothers Grimm's collection of stories, such as Puss in Boots, Bluebeard and Beauty and the Beast. The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes is instead based on a variation of the tale reported by the Brothers Grimm in the notes of the first edition of the book. Most of the tales were presented in one episode, while some stories in the first season were told over two or four episodes for a total of 41 fairy tales. Similar to Andersen Stories (1971), a green-haired female pixie was used as a framing device, though limiting herself to announce the titles and never getting involved with the plot.
The show comprises two series. The first series, known in Japan as , aired from October 21, 1987, to March 30, 1988, for a total of 24 episodes. The second series, known in Japan as , 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.
The fairy tale anthology was broadcast in the United States by Nickelodeon, in local stations throughout Europe, Latin America (where it is still popular, particularly in Colombia), Philippines, Israel, Arab world, New Zealand and Australia.
Episodes Series 1
Series 2
Cast Japanese cast Mitsuko Horie - Narrator, Little Red Riding Hood (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Princess (in "The Golden Goose"), Rose-Red (in "Snow White and Rose Red"), Princess (in "The Water of Life"), Kasia (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Princess (in "Briar Rose"), Youngest Daughter (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces"), Cinderella (in "Cinderella"), Maria (in "Beauty and the Beast"), Witch Daughter (in "The Magic Heart"), Rapunzel (in "Rapunzel"), Hildegard (in "Mother Holle"), Princess (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Princess (in "The Six Swans"), Cristina (in "Bearskin"), Lily (in "The Marriage of Mrs. Fox"), Princess (in "The Coat of Many Colours"), Princess (in "Iron Hans"), Princess (in "The Iron Stove"), Wren Child (in "The Wren and The Bear"), Hunchman's Wife (in "The Water Nixie") Kenichi Ogata - Cat (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen"), Hunter (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Shoemaker (in "Puss in Boots"), King (in "Briar Rose"), Hat Man (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Rooster (in "Mother Holle"), Spirit (in "The Spirit in the Bottle"), bakemonoe (in "Garasubin no naka no bakemonoe"), Frog (in "The Iron Stove"), Sisters' Father (in "Bearskin"), King (in "The Man of Iron"), General (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), Wolf (in "The Wren and The Bear"), God (in "Godfather Death") Minoru Inaba - Miller (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen"), Woodcutter (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Hans' Father (in "The Golden Goose"), Cook and Farmer (in "Puss in Boots"), Councilor (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), North Wind (in "The Water of Life"), Soldier (in "Briar Rose"), Cook (in "King Thrushbeard"), Captain (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Restaurateur (in "King Thrushbeard"), Four-tailed Fox (in "The Marriage of Mrs. Fox"), Child (in "The Six Swans"), Soldier (in "Iron Stove"), Craftsman (in "The Man of Iron"), Councilor (in "Rumpelstiltskin") Kōzō Shioya - Soldier (in "The Frog Prince"), Franz (in "The Golden Goose"), Snorter Man (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Eldest Prince (in "The Water of Life"), Third Brother (in "Bluebeard"), Farmer (in "Old Sultan"), King Turna (in "King Thrushbeard"), Deserted Soldier (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Devil (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces"), Dove Husband (in "Cinderella"), Fox Hunk (in "The Marriage of Mrs. Fox"), Hare (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog") Noriko Uemura - Mrs. Hedgehog (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog"), Witch Sister (in "Briar Rose"), Woman (in "Rapunzel"), Housewife (in "The Wolf and Fox"), Witch (in "The Six Swans"), Mother (in "The Spirit in the Bottle"), Neighbor (in "Bearskin"), Old Woman (in "The Wren and The Bear"), Miller's Wife (in "The Water Nixie"), Mother (in "Godfather Death") Ichirō Nagai - Puss in Boots (in "Puss in Boots"), Old Woodsman (in "The Water of Life"), Dwarf (in "Snow White"), Old Wolf (in "Old Sultan"), King (in "Cinderella"), Father (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Rumpelstiltskin (in "Rumpelstiltskin"), Wolf (in "The Wolf and the Fox") Daisuke Gōri - Soldier (in "The Frog Prince"), Huntsman and Dwarf (in "Snow White"), Devil (in "The Water of Life"), Devil (in "The Water of Life"), Monster (in "The Crystal Ball"), Beast (in "Beauty and the Beast"), Head Cook (in "The Coat of Many Colours"), Giant (in "The Brave Little Tailor") Michitaka Kobayashi - Devil (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Man (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces"), Thief (in "The Old Woman in the Wood"), Child (in "The Six Swans"), Soldier (in "Coat of Many Colors"), Hotel's Owner (in "Bearskin"), Town Man (in "Rumpelstiltskin"), Coachman (in "Godfather Death") Mitsuaki Hoshino - Servant (in "Bluebeard"), Guard and Tree (in "Cinderella"), Third-tailed Fox (in "The Mariage of Mrs. Fox"), Thief (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), Man (in "The Man of Iron"), Bee (in "The Wren and The Bear"), Landlord (in "The Water Nixie") Yoku Shioya - Youngest Son (in "Puss in Boots"), Youngest Prince (in "The Water of Life"), Youngest Brother (in "Crystal Ball"), Hunchman (in "The Magic Heart"), Woodcutter's Son (in "The Spirit in the Bottle"), Fox (in "The Wolf and the Fox"), Tailor (in "The Brave Little Tailor") Junko Hagimori - Baby Duck (in "The Wolf and The Fox"), Child (in "The Coat of Many Colours"), Boy (in "The Spirit in The Bottle"), Child (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog"), Wren Child (in "The Wren and The Bear"), Miller's Son (young, in "The Water Nixie") Kōhei Miyauchi - Dwarf (in "Snow White"), King (in "The Water of Life", "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces", "Godfather Death" and "The Iron Stove"), Woodcutter (in "The Spirit in the Bottle") Masato Hirano - Knight (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Cook (in "The Man of Iron"), Mosquito (in "The Wren and the Bear"), Man (in "Rumpelstiltskin"), Butler (in "Godfather Death") Shigeru Chiba - Frog Prince (in "The Frog Prince"), Dwarf (in "Snow White"), Hunchman (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Devil (in "The Marriage of Mrs. Fox"), Fox (in "The Wren and The Bear") Tomoko Maruo - Sister of Princess (in "The Frog Prince"), Maid (in "Snow White", "Bluebeard"), Witch Sister (in "Briar Rose"), Woman (in "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes"), Stepsister (in "Cinderella") Bin Shimada - Hans (in "The Golden Goose"), Dwarf (in "Snow White"), Deserted Soldier (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Johan (in "Bearskin"), Hunchman (in "The Water Nixie") Hōchū Ōtsuka - Rapunzel's Father (in "Rapunzel"), Rabbit (in "Mother Holle"), Soldier (in "The Grave Mound"), Eldest Brother (in "The Four Skillful Brothers"), Lumberjack (in "The Spirit in the Bottle") Ikuya Sawaki - Farmer (in "The Golden Goose"), Farmer (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Thief (in "The Old Woman in the Woods"), General (in "The Water of Life"), General (in "The Brave Little Tailor") Keaton Yamada - Councilor (in "Briar Rose"), Old Man (in "The Magic Heart"), Frog (in "The Iron Stove"), Soldier (in "The Brave Little Tailor"), Miller (in "The Water Nixie") Kimie Hantani - Village Woman (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Princess (in "Puss in Boots"), Maid (in "The Water of Life"), Witch Sister (in "Briar Rose"), Child (in "The Grave Mound") Masaharu Satō - Councilor (in "The Golden Goose"), Captain (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Old Man (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Miller (in "The Magic Heart"), Servant (in "Brother and Sister") Shinobu Adachi - Sister of Princess (in "The Frog Prince"), Witch Sister (in "Briar Rose"), Dove Wife (in "Cinderella"), Hen in ("Mother Holle"), Gisela (in "Bearskin") Takuzo Kamiyama - King (in "The Frog Prince", "Puss in Boots", "The Six Who Went Far in the World", "The Brave Little Tailor"), Landlord (in "The Grave Mound") Gara Takashima - Magic Mirror (in "Snow White"), Kasia's Mother (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Rapunzel's Mother (in "Rapunzel"), Wife (in "Godfather Death") Jōji Yanami - Dog (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen"), Dwarf (in "Snow White"), Old Sultan (in "Old Sultan"), Old Man (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog") Kyōko Tongū - Girl in Hotel (in "The Golden Goose"), Deserted Soldier (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Stepsister (in "Cinderella"), Princess (in "The Brave Little Tailor") Masami Kikuchi - Joringel (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Prince (in "Cinderella"), Third Brother (in "The Six Swans"), Youngest Brother (in "The Four Skillful Brothers") Megumi Hayashibara - Rapunzel's Son (in "Rapunzel"), Youngest Brother (in "The Six Swans"), Child (in "The Hare and the Hedgehog"), Girl and Wren Child (in "The Wren and The Bear") Nana Yamaguchi - Queen (in "The Frog Prince", "The Man of Iron"), Mother Holle (in "Mother Holle"), Old Woman (in "The Water Nixie") Tesshō Genda - Wolf (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Eldest Brother (in "Bluebeard"), Devil (in "The Naughty Spirit"), Mr. Fox (in "The Marriage of Mrs. Fox") Atsuko Mine - Farmer's Wife (in "Old Sultan"), Mother Duck (in "The Wolf and The Fox"), Nanny (in "Brother and Sister") Chihoko Shigeta - Princess (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Irene (in "Mother Holle"), Tetra (in "Bearskin") Chiyoko Kawashima - Mother (in "Little Red Riding Hood"), Farmer's Wife (in "The Grave Mound"), Sick Mother (in "Bearskin") Hideyuki Hori - Prince (in "Briar Rose", "The Six Swans"), Stove/Prince (in "The Iron Stove") Kaneto Shiozawa - Bear/Eldest Prince (in "Snow-White and Rose-Red"), Prince (in "Beauty and the Beast") Kōji Totani - Messenger (in "Briar Rose"), King Franz (in "King Thrushbeard"), Smith (in "The Spirit in the Bottle") Masaya Taki - Chamberlain (in "Cinderella"), Councilor (in "The Coat of Many Colours"), Miller (in "Rumpelstiltskin") Miyoko Asō - Witch (in "Hansel and Gretel", "Jorinde and Joringel", "Rapunzel") Osamu Saka - King (in "King Thrushbeard"), King (in "The Coat of Many Colours"), Maria's Father (in "Beauty and the Beast") Takurō Kitagawa - Deer (in "The Wolf and The Fox"), Farmer (in "The Man of Iron"), Councilor (in "Godfather Death") Yoshino Ohtori - Miller's Wife (in "The Travelling Musicians of Bremen"), Old Woman (in "King Thrushbeard"), Stepmother (in "Mother Holle") Chieko Honda - Gretel (in "Hansel and Gretel"), Witch (in "The Iron Stove") Daiki Nakamura - Florist (in "Beauty and the Beast"), Soldier (in "Brother and Sister") Hiromi Tsuru - Jorinde (in "Jorinde and Joringel"), Helga (in "Rumpelstiltskin") Jun'ichi Sugawara - Young Man (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World"), Elder Brother (in "Bluebeard") Kayoko Fujii - Snow-White (in "Snow White and Rose Red"), Elder Daughter (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces") Kazue Komiya - Wicked Queen (in "Snow White"), Evil Witch (in "Briar Rose") Kazuhiko Inoue - Soldier (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces"), Doctor (in "Godfather Death") Kazumi Tanaka - Minister's Pupil (in "The Golden Goose"), Waiter (in "King Thrushbeard") Keisuke Yamashita - Boar (in "Old Sultan"), Underground Prince (in "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces") Ken Yamaguchi - Gatekeeper and Farmer (in "Puss in Boots"), Trot Man (in "The Six Who Went Far in the World")