The twenty fourth story from the first volume of Brothers Grimm's 'Kinder- und Hausmärchen', 'Frau Holle' may not be one of my favourite stories or fairy-tales, being one that was introduced to me when quite a bit older rather than being one of those growing-up-with stories. It is however a very interesting story from a thematic standpoint and teaches good and important lessons that are valuable and relevant today still. Do like it very much, especially for the titular character who is very memorable and iconic.
'Grimm Masterpiece Theater', or 'Grimm Fairy Tale Classics', is very interesting to see old favourites adapted and being acquainted with lesser known stories, also to see what can be dark stories done accessibly to not be too scary or dumbed down to be too childish. The series does a nice job with 'Mother Holle', with a fair share of recognisable elements while putting enough of its own spin. It is not one of the standout episodes but it is a good way to get familiar with a story that deserves an even wider audience than it does.
'Mother Holle', or at least this episode, has short-comings in my view. The voice acting is uneven with not all the voices fitting the characters, especially the step-daughter whose voice sounded like she had a bad head cold or something. The voice acting in the opening scene with the bird characters are enough to induce ear-bleeding, and with the rooster. The dialogue and mouth movements don't always synchronise, the dialogue goes at a very fast rate and the mouth movements struggle to match up with it.
Both the step-daughter, very unappealingly drawn, and the rooster come over as very annoying. The music doesn't always fit.
Generally though, the animation is quite nice with some beautifully detailed backgrounds especially and the look of the gold coins are the very meaning of magical. The intro and outro songs charm as ever and the dialogue is neither too childish or too convoluted. The story is always engaging when it gets going, the outcome satisfies.
On the most part the characters are written well, with the easily rootable Hildegard and the benevolent and mysterious titular character standing out. The stepmother is suitably beastly. There are some hits in the voice acting, the narrator and Mother Holle especially.
Concluding, quite decent. 7/10
'Grimm Masterpiece Theater', or 'Grimm Fairy Tale Classics', is very interesting to see old favourites adapted and being acquainted with lesser known stories, also to see what can be dark stories done accessibly to not be too scary or dumbed down to be too childish. The series does a nice job with 'Mother Holle', with a fair share of recognisable elements while putting enough of its own spin. It is not one of the standout episodes but it is a good way to get familiar with a story that deserves an even wider audience than it does.
'Mother Holle', or at least this episode, has short-comings in my view. The voice acting is uneven with not all the voices fitting the characters, especially the step-daughter whose voice sounded like she had a bad head cold or something. The voice acting in the opening scene with the bird characters are enough to induce ear-bleeding, and with the rooster. The dialogue and mouth movements don't always synchronise, the dialogue goes at a very fast rate and the mouth movements struggle to match up with it.
Both the step-daughter, very unappealingly drawn, and the rooster come over as very annoying. The music doesn't always fit.
Generally though, the animation is quite nice with some beautifully detailed backgrounds especially and the look of the gold coins are the very meaning of magical. The intro and outro songs charm as ever and the dialogue is neither too childish or too convoluted. The story is always engaging when it gets going, the outcome satisfies.
On the most part the characters are written well, with the easily rootable Hildegard and the benevolent and mysterious titular character standing out. The stepmother is suitably beastly. There are some hits in the voice acting, the narrator and Mother Holle especially.
Concluding, quite decent. 7/10