The Fairytaler
An animated anthology series based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales.
The Fairytaler (known in Danish as *Der var engang...*) is an animated anthology series that adapts the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. It is the second such series to be based on his stories, following *Andersen Stories*. The show first aired in Germany on Super RTL on November 30, 2003. In Denmark, it debuted on DR1 on May 13, 2004, with two episodes, and continued on December 27. An English dub was produced later.
The series includes episodes such as *The Little Mermaid*, *The Emperor's New Clothes*, *The Nightingale*, *The Tinderbox*, *The Ugly Duckling*, *The Wild Swans*, *The Hardy Tin Soldier*, *The Travelling Companion*, *The Swineherd*, *The Flying Trunk*, *The Beetle*, *What the Old Man Does is Right*, *The Galoshes of Fortune*, *The Golden Treasure*, *The Professor and the Flea*, *The Fir-Tree*, *The Snow Queen* (in two parts), *The Snowman* (a half-length episode), *The Bottleneck*, *Thumbelina*, *The Jumper* (half-length), *Jack The Fool*, *It's Quite True* (half-length), *Ollie Shuteye* (half-length), *The Lovers* (half-length), *Little Ida's Flowers* (half-length), *The Princess and the Pea* (half-length), *The Gardener and the Family* (half-length), *Sausage Peg Soup* (half-length), and *The Old Street Lamp* (half-length).
Development began in December 1999, when Egmont Imagination partnered with Irish animation company Magma Films to create a traditionally animated anthology series covering all of Hans Christian Andersen’s works, timed for the author’s 200th anniversary in 2005. Egmont handled distribution. In April 2000, the project became a Danish/Irish/German co-production when German children’s entertainment company EM.TV & Merchandising joined. EM.TV later left, and the series was renamed *HC: Andersen*, reverting to a Danish/Irish co-production. A.Film Production, which had worked with Egmont on *Help! I’m a Fish*, took over animation. The Danish broadcaster DR and German channel Super RTL ordered the series for broadcast.
In Canada, Toon-A-Vision began airing the series in 2022.
- field
- Animated television series
- nationality
- Danish/Irish/German co-production
- known_for
- Adapting Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
- premiere_date_Germany
- November 30, 2003
- premiere_date_Denmark
- May 13, 2004
- number_of_episodes
- 30 (including half-long episodes)
Lore & Background
Development for The Fairytaler began in December 1999, when Egmont Imagination collaborated with Irish animation company Magma Films to produce a traditionally animated anthology TV series adapting all of Hans Christian Andersen's works for the 2005 bicentennial. In April 2000, the series became a Danish/Irish/German co-production when EM.TV & Merchandising joined, but later dropped out, leaving it a Danish/Irish co-production. A.Film Production, which had worked with Egmont on Help! I'm a Fish, handled the animation, while DR and Super RTL ordered the series for broadcast.
The series includes episodes such as The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Snow Queen (in two parts), and several half-long episodes like The Snowman and The Princess and the Pea. An English dub was produced in later years. In Canada, Toon-A-Vision began broadcasting the series in 2022.
Reader's Guide
The Fairytaler is significant as a comprehensive animated adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, produced to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth in 2005. It stands as the second anthology series of his works after Andersen Stories, bringing many of his lesser-known tales to screen alongside classics. The series involved a multinational production effort, with Danish, Irish, and German partners, though the German partner EM.TV later withdrew. Its broadcast on Super RTL in Germany and DR1 in Denmark, and later in Canada via Toon-A-Vision, helped introduce Andersen's stories to new generations. The series' legacy lies in its traditional animation style and its role in preserving and presenting Andersen's literary heritage in a visual medium, contributing to the global recognition of his fairy tales.
Did You Know?
- The Fairytaler premiered in Germany on Super RTL on November 30, 2003.
- It was the second anthology series adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's works after Andersen Stories.
- Development began in December 1999 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen in 2005.
- An English dub was eventually produced in later years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Fairytaler?
The Fairytaler (Danish: Der var engang...) is an animated anthology series that retells the classic fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen in a new visual style. It is a Danish-Irish-German co-production consisting of 30 episodes, some of which are half-length.
How does The Fairytaler relate to the earlier Andersen Stories series?
The Fairytaler is the second animated series to adapt Hans Christian Andersen's body of work, serving as a follow-up to the earlier Andersen Stories show. It revisits many of the same beloved tales but presents them with its own distinct animation and storytelling approach.
When and where did The Fairytaler first air?
The series premiered in Germany on Super RTL on November 30, 2003, before reaching its home market of Denmark on DR1 in May 2004. An English-language dub was produced after the original broadcasts.
Which famous Andersen tales appear in The Fairytaler?
The anthology includes well-known stories such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Nightingale, The Tinderbox, and The Wild Swans. Each episode stands alone, allowing viewers to enjoy any single tale independently.
Why is The Fairytaler notable among fairy-tale adaptations?
It stands out as a multilingual European co-production that brings Andersen's literary canon to a broad international audience through animation. Its 30-episode run covers a wide range of his most recognizable stories, making it a comprehensive animated introduction to his work.
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