The former, sometimes brutal, fairy tales were changed to convey a different message, the core of the story often stayed the same but the plot around the central issue was changed. The same is true for Beauty and the Beast. By supporting his films with music and accents, Walt Disney invented a new kind of storytelling.

Why are there different versions of fairy tales?

Many of today's fairy tales have evolved from centuries-old stories that have appeared, with variations, in multiple cultures around the world. The history of the fairy tale is particularly difficult to trace because only the literary forms can survive.

Why are European fairy tales so dark?

German fairy tales are so dark for a few reasons: first, folk and fairy tales were not originally for children specifically. The idea that children should have their own special literature that kept them innocent about certain topics did not emerge until later in the nineteenth century.

How did the Grimm brothers change fairy tales?

From the first edition in 1812/1815 to the final one in 1857, the Grimms received numerous versions of tales already in their collection and new tales from strangers, friends, and colleagues, and they often decided to replace one tale with another version, to delete some of the tales, or to include variants in their ...

What is the darkest Disney story?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame's tragic original ending

Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame – certainly one of the darker animated films in their vast back catalogue – ends happily, with Quasimodo saving Esmeralda, accepting that she loves another and leaving the cathedral to be welcomed into society as a hero.

How Disney Sanitized Fairy Tales That Were Originally Horror Stories

What movie almost ruined Disney?

Known as the movie that almost killed Disney animation back in the '80s, The Black Cauldron is just a movie made in the wrong generation. The Black Cauldron follows Taran and his group of misfits who are on a quest to find the mystical black cauldron.

What movie almost bankrupted Disney?

Disney wasn't always the media behemoth it is today, in fact, this movie nearly ended the company. In 1985, Disney released its 25th animated feature, The Black Cauldron. The movie was based on The Chronicles of Prydain novels by Lloyd Alexander which were rooted in Welsh mythology.

Why was Grimm's fairy tales controversial?

The Grimms stripped the sex scenes from later versions of “Rapunzel” and “The Frog King” and eliminated “Hans Dumm” entirely. But hidden sexual innuendos in “Grimm's Fairy Tales” remained, according to psychoanalysts, including Sigmund Freud and Erich Fromm, who examined the book in the 20th century.

How dark are Grimm's fairy tales?

Nice tales for nice children. But behind the safe titles lie dark stories of sex and violence – tales of murder, mutilation, cannibalism, infanticide and incest, as one academic puts it.

What is the oldest fairy tale?

And a folk tale called The Smith And The Devil, about a blacksmith selling his soul in a pact with the Devil in order to gain supernatural abilities, was estimated to go back 6,000 years to the Bronze Age.

What is the scariest Grimm story?

The Juniper Tree

Cannibalism, infanticide and revenge: a heartwarming tale. Probably the goriest, creepiest fairy tale in the whole Grimm canon, The Juniper Tree is a story of infanticide and revenge. Even my high school students thought it was scary, and most of them had seen all the “Saw” movies.

Why is the original Cinderella so dark?

Why are original fairy tales so dark? Some say this is because a few of them are based on actual historical events. Today's versions have been made palatable by removing themes of torture, rape, cannibalism and the like.

Why were original fairy tales so gruesome?

The simple answer is that a lot of older fairy tales weren't supposed to be specifically for kids. They were just stories that people told, as much for grown-ups as for their children. Besides, the idea that a child's innocence should be protected from all bad things in life - consequences, death, pain, grief, etc.

Do modern fairy tales exist?

Nowadays, fairy tales can take the form of films, picture books, audio books, series, interactive exhibitions, comics or computer games. However, at the end of the day they still follow the pattern of short stories in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm and their contemporaries: Good prevails in the end.

Who changed fairy tales?

However, in preserving this rich tradition, the Brothers Grimms changed the stories forever. Many readers would be shocked to look at the first-edition stories of Rapunzel, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White.

Why are parents changing the process of classic fairy tales?

Because they feel that the original tales are inappropriate. Violence. To change the story to suit their ideaology.

Are Grimm's good or bad?

Grimms are tasked with policing the creature world, making sure that those who harm humans are stopped. For this reason many Wesen mistrust or fear them, even having their own set of Wesen fairy tales warning Wesen children about the Grimms.

Why were German fairy tales so dark?

The simple answer is that a lot of older fairy tales weren't supposed to be specifically for kids. They were just stories that people told, as much for grown-ups as for their children. Besides, the idea that a child's innocence should be protected from all bad things in life - consequences, death, pain, grief, etc.

What is the darkest German fairy tale?

'The Juniper Tree' is a disturbing account of a young boy who is murdered by his stepmother – clearly, stepmothers are often evil in these stories. Knowing that the son will inherit everything upon his father's death, the stepmother decapitates the young boy when he reaches into a box for an apple.

Is Cinderella part of Grimm's fairy tales?

The Grimm Brothers, from Germany, took many common tales that were only known in the oral tradition and published them in 1812 in their book Grimm's Fairy Tales. Cinderella was one of these stories, but known in the German language as Ashenputtel.

Is A tale Dark and Grimm bad?

Suitable for most children 7+

It does contain some gore and fear but it's cartoon form and fairy tale telling make it very clear that this is a fairy story and a dark tale not real life.

Are Grimm's fairy tales worth reading?

Overall, reading Grimm's Fairy Tales is a nice reminder of how even though things were different the fascination and difficulties with growing up have not changed a bit. Reading the original Grimm fairy tales is definitely worth the time and effort.

What is Disney's least successful movie?

The Black Cauldron (1985)

Apparently, it only took two and a half decades for Walt Disney Productions to forget the lesson of Sleeping Beauty. At the time it was released, The Black Cauldron was the most expensive animated film ever made and it too was a massive flop in theaters.

What was Disney's biggest loss?

Unfortunately, his John Carter was the biggest live-action failure Disney has ever had. The movie had a huge budget of $250 million, and it even eventually crossed the $300 million mark before tax deductions (via Forbes).

What film saved Disney?

You'd never know from their high status in pop culture that Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi were all flops during their initial theatrical runs. That's why even if you love Cinderella, you may not be aware that the film accomplished something remarkable. The film saved Disney.