March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) – July 18, 2000 (2000-07-18)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American anthology animated television series that premiered on March 12, 1995 on HBO. Narrated by Robert Guillaume, the series aired 39 episodes from 1995 to 2000.[1]
Plot
Each episode details a classic story in different cultures, which contains characters voiced by famous actors, actresses, comedians, singers, rappers, dancers, models, political activists, athletes, stunt performers, and other famous celebrities.[2]
Featuring the voices of Wayne Collins as Jack, Pauletta Washington as Jack's Mother, Harry Belafonte as the Magician, Tone Loc as the Giant and Jackée Harry as the Giant's wife.
The classic tale of Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm is set in China. Little Red Happy Coat learns that some wolves can't be trusted when she makes a delivery to her grandmother.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm, is set in Central America, as Hanselito and Gretelita explore a candy house where the evil witch lives.
Featuring the voices of Christopher Montoya as Hanselito, Chrissy Padilla as Greteltia, Liz Torres as the Stepmother, Cheech Marin as the father, Rosie Perez as the Witch and Tito Larriva as Ricky Garbanzo.
The classic fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen is set in Ancient Japan, where an emperor is fooled into paying two rogues named Keiji and Toshio (who are posing as tailors) to create him an outfit from the "legendary Fabric of Dreams".
The classic story of Charles Perrault is told with a Hispanic flavor, when Rosita is cast into a long sleep by Evelina, and later awakened by Prince Luis.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm, is set in the bayous of Louisiana, Rapunzel is taken from her parents by Zenobia the Hoodoo Diva, who seeks to make her a protege and shows her such neat tricks as voodoo dolls and shrinking her head down. Rapunzel is reluctant to do this when she sees Zenobia is hurting innocent creatures. Rapunzel soon attracts a Creole prince, who must rescue Rapunzel and reunite her with her parents, but Zenobia seeks to thwart the interloper.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm is set in the American Southwest with a Native American Indian twist and is about a beautiful young woman named White Snow, who befriends the seven mystical little men.
The classic fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen is set in Korea where a prince must choose a bride that will please his demanding mother only to have her subjected to a test.
Featuring the voices of Bianco Min as Prince Young-Ho, Karen Lew as Princess U-Lon, Keone Young as King Ahbuhji, Steve Park as I Kwan, and Margaret Cho as Queen Uhmuhni. With Heidi Ahn, Anna Choi, Esther Hyun, Deedee Magno Hall and Theresa Mullen as the other Princesses.
The classic story of Giovanni Francesco Straparola gets a Hawaiian setting as a smart and mischievous cat named Puss sets out to improve the fortunes of his new master, Kuhio.
Featuring the voices of David Hyde Pierce as Puss, Dean Cain as Kuhio, Pat Morita as King Makahana, Ming-Na Wen as Lani, Esther Hyun as Hawaiian Woman, Jayson Kalani as Oldest Son, Burt Bulos as Middle Son/Cane Worker, Michael Hagiwara as Guardsman/Oarsman/Pineapple Worker, and Keone Young as The Giant/Kuhio's Father/Whale/Mouse.
The Middle Ages Legend The Pied Piper teaches a lesson in keeping promises to the town of Hamelin while playing some jazz music.
Featuring the voice of Wesley Snipes as the Pied Piper and music performed by Ronnie Laws. The rest of the voice cast consists of Samuel L. Jackson as the Mayor of Hamelin, Grant Shaud as Toadey, Mitch Gibney as Businessman/Yuppie Man, Denice Kumagai as Mrs. Businessman/Yuppie Woman, Tico Wells as Duke of Earl/Exterminator, Ana Alicia as Duchess of Earl/Businessman's Daughter, John Ratzenberger as Hinky and Richard Moll as Dinky.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm is set with a Hispanic retelling, as twelve young princesses sneak out of their beds to dance each night away and a smitten soldier named Juan Carlos must find out where they go if he hopes to marry one of them (and not lose his head).
In this African-American version of Brothers Grimm, lovable Simpleton is a lumberjack who shares what little he has with an old hobo, leading him to cut down a tree with a golden goose inside and soon unknowingly becoming the leader in a funny parade.
The classic fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen in this Asian setting at a secret underwater kingdom, a mermaid princess named Mija with her starfish friend Nuri is allowed to see the world above the surface and falls in love with a human prince after rescuing him. She makes a deal with a sea witch that may not turn out in her favor if she doesn't win the prince's love in return.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm is set in a Spanish town in Spain, as a simple fisherman named Jimenez is pleased with his job as he has a loving wife named Tina, when he catches a magic talking fish named Gilbert. Gilbert warns the fisherman in a song not to take this lightly, as greed only produces more greed.
This version of One Thousand and One Nights takes place in China (which was a setting of the original story), when Aladdin meets a genie who wishes to be a kung fu master and uses him to rescue Jade from Chang.
The classic story of Brothers Grimm is reimagined with a South American twist, as Tizoc the Shoemaker and his wife Malinahl create shoes for the emperor and Tanatiuh the Fierce. When he must make several shoes overnight or forfeit his life, he falls asleep on the job as two elves named Coatl and Xeletl come to the rescue.
The Classical Greek Mythology The powerful king of an African kingdom learns that all that glitters isn't gold when his wish to turn everything he touches into gold is granted.
The Traditional Nursery Rhymes Feeling unappreciated by the denizens of Nursery Rhyme Land, Mother Gooseberg decides to go into retirement. Now a group of beloved Nursery Rhyme characters must show how much they really care before she flies the coop.
The Classic story of One Thousand and One Nights A girl named Ali Baba must rescue her brother Cassim, and outsmart the 40 thieves to save their family.
The classic tale of Brothers Grimm is told with a country/African-American twist, as outcast barn animals Scratchmo, Chocolate, Hazel, and Miss Kitty become singers and go on their way to Bremen while encountering some criminals along the way.
Based on Oscar Wilde's short story, a statue and a New York City pigeon work together to help the poor.
Featuring the voices of Ed Koch as the Happy Prince (a former mayor who is now a statue), Cyndi Lauper as Pidge, Carol Ann Susi as Third Pigeon, Candy Brown as Old Woman/Actress, Carol Kiernan as French Nanny and Irish Tourist, J.W. Smith as Doorman/Factory Worker, and Phil LaMarr as Second Pigeon and New Mayor.
The classic Mark Twain novel is told with an African-American and feminist twist where a princess named Princess Olivia and a poor girl named Zoe exchange identities.
In this adaptation of the classic Washington Irving short story and American tall tale as a fairy tale, Vanna Van is married to a heavy metal rocker named Rip Winkle. However, Rip is a sexist who prefers going on the road to nurturing Vanna's own musical skills or helping her with hearth and home. Vanna's fairy godmentor gives Rip some time to sleep on things (20 years to be exact) and he wakes up to a world where Vanna has helped change things for the better.
The classic fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen is an Inuk setting as the Snow Queen freezes a boy's heart and takes him to her icy castle. Only his best friend, a girl with a powerful heart, can save him.
The classic fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen is a set of tin soldiers inspires a girl's imagination and its one-legged leader conquers all obstacles to reach a dancer toy she loves.
The tale of Robin Hood is told with a Latin American Hispanic feminist twist. Set in old Puerto Rico, Robinita Hood leads her band of the Merry Chicas to stop Sheriff Juan Jose del Ramon de Jamon and his minion Sir Gooey with the help of her love interest Mario.
Most episodes of Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child were released on VHS by Random House Home Video, and, later HBO Home Video, but only a few episodes were released on DVD. There was one DVD with four episodes ("Pinocchio", "The Pied Piper", "The Golden Goose", and "Mother Goose: A Rapping and Rhyming Special") and one DVD with only one episode ("Robinita Hood"). In the United Kingdom, the series was released on DVD by Prism Leisure, there are four DVDs with three episodes on each.
All episodes except The Emperor's New Clothes are streaming on Max in the United States.
References
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 264–265. ISBN978-1538103739.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 394. ISBN978-1476665993.
^Littlefield, Kinney (April 20, 1997). "The nether side of Niles // Television: Will Smith talks 'Frasier,' cats, comedy and more". The Orange County Register. pp. F8.