What’s the Story?

ANIMATED TALES OF THE WORLD is a collection of folk tales from many countries and cultures, animated and voiced with the intent of staying true to their place of origin. Every episode looks different, with animation styles that range from puppetry to claymation to rough sketches. Some have two stories in half an hour, others one; some are narrated. These are classic stories -- the seven original folk plots that lie at the root of a large part of human experience and the way we choose to talk about it.

Is It Any Good?

While the quality of the episodes can be erratic, every show is a small glimpse into the history of another culture, and because unfamiliar elements aren't washed away or overly explained, a parent watching with a child will have a lot to talk about. This variety offers something new to kids who are used to joining a familiar narrative every time they turn on the television.

These small tales are challenging and invite more thought and more interaction, but they're often violent and certainly not politically correct. The kings are nearly always kings, the goal is to marry the princess or win the bag of gold, and the servants live belowstairs and the master above. But these are straightforward stories haven't been jazzed up with explosions or clever repartee and fart jokes to grab kids' attention, and yet they still do. That alone makes them worth watching.

Have you seen it?

TV Show Details

TV Rating

TV-Y

Network

HBO Family

Cast

Bill Nighy
Brian Cox
Don Cheadle

Genre

Kids and Animation

Where to watch

HBO Family

For Your Family