Todrick Hall's Fairy Tale R&B Mash-up is All That and More (aka 90's Disney Nostalgia)

Here's a video that went viral this week - reminding everyone of the fairy tale "golden age" of Disney of the 90's - but with an R&B feel and hooks from other pop songs thrown in there to mix it up a little. The costumes are cute tribute updates too. Clearly Todrick Hall had a lot of fun with this.

This is much better done than I expected and the Aladdin tribute it finishes with is fantastic. Just try and keep your feet still. (And boy can Shoshana Bean sing!) Take a look:

Todrick Hall has become (very) famous for his edgy takes on Disney songs, tales and characters - most of them being fairy tales. His 'revisionist' takes (there's that word again!) are incredibly popular and create a lot of conversation about fairy tales and how they're told today. (So much so, I think it's about time I gave him his own tag!) His Cell Block Tango mixing Chicago's amazing murderesses sequence with Disney villains was inspired. I'll link you in case you missed it. HERE.

"The Golden Arrow and Other Tales": Review by Sarah Lawson

"The Golden Arrow and Other Tales"

Review by Sarah Lawson

Editor's Note: The author of The Golden Arrow and Other Tales is also an accomplished musician, recording and performing as a professional violinist. She composed and recorded the soundtrack for the trailer for her book, which I am including below. You can check her Facebook page for her performance schedules, new recordings and for additional updates and details on her book release.

Jacket description: 

A forsaken princess must leave her room for the first time in her life... to rescue her father’s kingdom.

Three knights are bound to protect a city... by satisfying a ravenous dragon’s thirst for blood.

An old widow’s handsome new companion never speaks... but that’s the least mysterious thing about him.

An enchanted weapon bestows unlimited power upon the one who wields it... but at a price.

In this debut collection of short fiction, Samantha Gillogly weaves a quartet of original tales from the threads of classic European fairy story tradition. Freshly imaginative, yet evoking a bygone era, The Golden Arrow and Other Tales enchants with new stories about timeless archetypes that feel as though they’ve always been with us.

Coming May 1st, 2015 from Artistic Media Associates, Inc.

Like most of us here, while I adore classic fairy tales, I’m always curious about new ones. So imagine my excitement when I was given the chance to read The Golden Arrow and Other Tales by Samantha Gillogly--a collection that I can sum up in one word: delightful. Four stories weave together classic motifs and I quickly fell in love with each character, even the dastardly ones, because they were at once both familiar and new.

Gillogly’s anthology cover a wide variety of tones--sometimes enchanting, sometimes ominous, and once or twice they are downright gruesome. However, from the first page, it’s clear she has mastered the fairy tale narrative voice. The first line, “The princess had sight, but she had no eyes”, instantly grabbed my attention. I wanted to read more about this princess who was born with blue flowers where her eyes ought to be and her arduous quest to save the kingdom. Out of all the stories, though, my favorite was Dragonsblood, which includes a monstrous woman (a theme I’m currently studying) and knights straight out of Arthurian tradition. My inner medievalist was thrilled! For other fairy tale scholars, you may be interested to hear I was particularly impressed by the author’s use of the Rule of Threes. It came up multiple times, but always slightly differently so that it never felt boring or repetitive (a tricky thing to do with that particular motif).

Incidentally, the author, who is also a professional musician, wrote and performed the music for the trailer. The track, “Telling Tales” is skillfully done, with a distinctive Celtic feel. I think it accompanied the collection well and was very fantasy-esque, which was perfect. 

If I had to criticize anything about the book, I’d say that the dialogue seemed a bit heavy at times. Since dialogue tends to be sparse in most fairy tales, the amount of discussion Gillogly included in her stories occasionally tripped up the pace. Of course, this is a small criticism and rarely takes the reader out of the action.

It truly was a pleasure to read this collection. Gillogly does more than just play with fairy tale themes; she fully engages with them and creates fleshed-out, compelling stories so rich that it’s hard to believe that they were written in this century.  I wholeheartedly recommend The Golden Arrow and Other Tales to any Once Upon a Blog reader.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE

Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Lawson is currently earning my Master’s Degree in Literature at the University of Rochester and will be writing her Master’s Thesis on the Brothers Grimm. On a non-academic level, she has been working on a series of fairy-tale retellings for about five years.

Theater: "The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls" Opening in Durham NC This Weekend

Annie is off to visit her mother’s Russian homeland and claim a mysterious birthright. But in the country of Pushkin, the Politburo and Pussy Riot, she must battle witches, bears, and darker forces. Forget “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after’. In Russia, fairytales begin with: “They lived, they were” — and they end with “The End”.
Regional premiere. 2012 finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

From the Indy Week announcement:

THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS

MANBITES DOG THEATER, DURHAM

THURSDAY, APRIL 23–SATURDAY, MAY 9

Artwork by Jamie Bell and Julian Fischer

Here's a theatrical mashup: Transplant the recombinant fairytale musicalInto the Woods onto the glittering boulevards and grittier side streets of Moscow in 2005. Oh, and replace that winsome, knowing Stephen Sondheim score with something a bit more visceral: a soundtrack inspired by dissident punk band Pussy Riot. Don't let the title fool you: In Meg Miroshnik's provocative, comical and cautionary play, a young American woman's pilgrimage to explore her family's Soviet Jewish heritage goes completely off the rails after her arrival.

Why? She discovers a culture still bewitched by—and inhabitants still acting out—archetypal stories of treacherous relatives who may or may not be witches, animalistic boyfriends, sleazy fairy godmothers and vengeful vegetables. Or, to put it another way: In Soviet Russia, the folk tales tell you. Manbites Dog Associate Artistic Director Jules Odendahl-James escorts us through this Cyrillic looking glass, with music by Bart Matthews. 8:15 p.m. Thurs. Sat. and Weds. May 6; 2 p.m. Sun. May 3, $5 $25, 703 Foster St., 919-682-3343, www.manbitesdogtheater.org. —Byron Woods

Check out this great little trailer - it's all 'told' in feet and shoes and to music. Very creative - very succinct:

In case you're not familiar with the play I have a blog post with quite a bit of background and and more on the play (and how it was inspired and written) that you can read HERE. 

I'd love to see this one day!

"Storybook" Opens Tomorrow at Modern Eden Gallery

See the whole announcement HERE

While not limited to fairy tales, childhood classics definitely include them so this exhibit which reinterprets childhood favorite stories through an adult lens has more than a few works of interest for us fairy tale folk.

Since most of us won't be able to pop by San Francisco to head into the Modern Eden Gallery and check it out in person, here are some of the fairy tale specific works.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Chris Leib

Where the Wild Things Are by Leilani Bustamente

Thumbelina by Ciou

Alice and the Mushrooms by Brianna Angelakis

James and the Giant Peach by Richard J. Oliver

Beauty and the Beast by Jana Brike

Someone's Been Eating My Porridge (Goldilocks) by Edith LeBeau

Nightsong in the Jungle (The Jungle Book) by Helice Wen

Paper Bag Princess by Megz Majewski

Supper (LRRH - I think) by Erika Sanada

The details on the Goldilocks one are just stunning.

And, yes, I added James and the Giant Peach because it always reminds me of Peach Boy - Momotaro, though it really has very little in common with the folktale, and Where The Wild Things Are because oh-my-goodness-do-you-see-the-Japanese-monsters?! Straight out of Japanese fairy tales... Love it! And a bonus because I heart it:

Ferdinand the Bull by Isabel Samaras

Some surprise interpretations: Are you There God? It's Me Margaret (the scaly girl)
Winnie the Pooh - the bottom left with added Taoist symbology
I am super curious as to what the girl holding the invisible 'something' is, in the upper right corner by Chris Leib - ideas? (I found no clues from the artist anywhere.)

You can see more previews of the pieces at the various article sites below:
Platinum Cheese
Hi-Fructose
Warholian (puts some pieces next to books were inspired by - I would have bet the bunny above was from The Velveteen Rabbit - but I was wrong!)

The New International Trailer for "The Little Prince" Is Lovely

I've seen things about this film for a while, watched various trailers, only one of which was in English (and had Japanese subtitles over it) and liked what I saw but this one, just released this week, caught my attention.

Being on the subject of the importance of wonder and imagination, it should be no surprise the classic is well loved by fairy tale folk.

If you don't already know, this animated version of Le Petite Prince (which is being scrutinized by many people who are very protective of their childhood classic) has the framework of the story being told to a little girl by an eccentric neighbor. (Did you ever wonder who was being told the story in the book?) It has the potential to work really well but no matter how good a trailer is, we won't really know until we see the film.

Take a look!

There's a new poster too. I really like the top half in particular.

Disney's Breaking Beanstalk News

Announced Thursday morning via The Hollywood Reporter:

Disney and Vince Gilligan, the creator of the acclaimed and very gritty AMC drama Breaking Bad, are teaming up to adapt the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. 

The studio is in negotiations to pick up Beanstalk, described as a revisionist take on the tale involving a young boy, magic beans and a giant, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. 

Gilligan has written a treatment for the project which will be written by Thomas Schnauz. Gilligan knows Schnauz pretty well: The man was a writer and co-executive producer on Gilligan's Breaking Bad and is working on the spinoff show Better Call Saul.

"Revisionist" is one of those buzzwords you see flying around reboots all the time. I'm not sure how they could do anything but a "revisionist take" at this juncture. After Jack the Giant Killer, I'm pretty sure they know they're going to need a different approach. (To be clear, the definition of revisionist (adj.) is: attempting to reevaluate and restate the past based on newly acquired standards.)

Vince Gilligan is known for flipping societal values on their heads, after all, he got a large part of the nation to sympathize with meth makers, and his upcoming show's protagonist also has a despicable character, so it's not too hard to see how he might 'revision' Jack et al.

While Gilligan and Schnauz's Breaking Bad credentials may seem like an odd choice to revive a beloved fairy tale, the sagas of Walter White and Jack — desperate men who will stop at nothing in order to provide for their families — aren't that dissimilar. (Rolling Stone)

But this is Disney and if they've proven anything the last few years, it's that they like to play it safe with the brand so I guess we'll see.

I can't help wondering if the general fan outcry from OUAT fans who still lament the quick demise of the female Jack, is influencing this in any way. And it's clear the positive reaction to see the traditional take on Jack in their Into The Woods, showed them the story still appeals, so there's that. I'm just wondering what this means for Disney's Giants (feature animated film based on Jack & the Beanstalk) which has been pushed back and back and back again until it's dangling out there around mid-2018. Is that still happening? I sincerely hope so.

Whatever the case this will be Disney's fifth time doing Jack and the Beanstalk in some variation now (including two early cartoons, OUAT and Into The Woods and that doesn't' include Giants yet), so maybe 'revisit' or 'reboot', even, would be better terms than 'revisionist'.

But my real thoughts? Totally curious. Really want to see what the plans are for this one, because I love that rascal Jack and his magic vegetables.

"Toad Words and Other Stories": Review by S. Y. Affolee

"Toad Words and Other Stories"

Review by S. Y. Affolee

Editor's Note: I came across this ebook fortuitously, via an artwork search. I loved the cover, which instantly said "fairy tale" to me and looked into it further. I realized I'd read at least one of these stories before somewhere, and when I discovered where, I thought it was high time I brought it to other fairy tale folk's attention. I think you'll enjoy reading why from our reviewer's point of view.

Jacket description: 

From author T. Kingfisher comes a collection of fairy-tale retellings for adults. By turns funny and dark, sad and lyrical, this anthology draws together in one volume such stories as "The Wolf and the Woodsman," "Loathly," and "Bluebeard's Wife," along with an all-new novella, "Boar & Apples." 

Author's Note: Many of these stories have appeared in various forms on the author's blog.

This anthology by T. Kingfisher (AKA children’s fiction writer Ursula Vernon) is a wonderful assortment of retellings with vivid, crisp writing and dark undercurrents that echo the unvarnished fairy tales of the past. As her use of a pen name indicates, these stories are far from the Disneyfied versions and Kingfisher doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of human nature. While Toad Words may not be suitable for kids, by uncovering modern concerns, this collection is sure to resonate with adult audiences.

What I found most fascinating about this collection was how the retellings rely on transforming the tales’ core messages rather than simply swapping window dressing. For me, altering details like time periods and settings merely make a retelling a variation on the original. But several of these stories focus on self-examination and self-acceptance rather than the original tales’ emphases.

For example, Kingfisher’s retelling of Charles Perrault’s “Diamonds and Toads” is told from the vantage of the cursed sister. While the original story rewards correct behavior and punishes incorrect behavior, “Toad Words” considers the possibility that what seems like a curse may actually be a gift in disguise. Later on, “Bluebeard’s Wife” examines an alternate personality for the newly married heroine. She values the notion of privacy so much that she cannot think of impinging on another’s, even if there are signs indicating something isn’t quite right. If Bluebeard’s wife is changed from being insatiably curious to being completely incurious, will it alter the story’s outcome?

This anthology also reimagines the Arthurian Loathly Lady trope. The cursed maiden is no longer some prize won by a knight, but a metaphor for the acceptance of self, beast and all. This retelling neatly parallels the pathway many tread on their way towards self-acceptance--first hating themselves for seemingly monstrous flaws, then transforming themselves (in a traumatic way) to fit society’s expectations, and finally realizing that contentment requires embracing those so-called flaws regardless of what society thinks. 

A novella version of Snow White called “Boar & Apples” balances darkness and whimsy. What really made this story stand out for me was the reframing of classic tropes. Here, the queen is not monolithically evil, but a stand-in for parts of society where horrific deeds may be symptoms of mental illness. Snow is no longer the passive princess who has a prince rescue her. Circumstances force her out of passivity to take her own agency. Dwarves are replaced by wise-cracking pigs, which may sound unusual at first, but is actually an inspired choice. Because pig hearts have anatomical similarities to human hearts and have been considered by the medical field for possible transplantation, it makes sense that an old sow’s heart fooled the queen when the huntsman brought it back as “proof” of Snow’s death. There are many such instances illustrating how human the pigs are. Their kindness and courage not only give Snow a role model for behavior but turn the demeaning metaphor “behaving like a pig” completely on its ear. 

Adult readers who enjoy short story retellings with a modernist twist will find many gems in this collection. Kingfisher’s succinct and conversational tone in dealing with the darker issues harkens back to the matter-of-fact recounting found in the original tales that heightened their fantastic and gruesome aspects. But by fundamentally giving the stories new motivations and personalities, the author has put together an excellent fairy tale anthology that is not only well written, but also conceptually provoking.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Note: Additional novella by T. Kingfisher in same vein also available, though not reviewed here.

Description: Rhea is an ordinary miller’s daughter, engaged to be married under suspicious circumstances to a man not of her choosing. He has unknown powers and a manor house full of mysterious women. 

Rhea has a hedgehog.

It’s probably not going to be enough.

From T. Kingfisher, author of “Toad Words & Other Stories,” and “Nine Goblins” comes a retold fairy-tale of white roads, dark magic, and small mammals.

Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the eBook was given in exchange for an honest review.

S. Y. Affolee is the pseudonym for a biomedical scientist currently working in Southern California. Outside of the lab, she’s an avid bookshop hunter, tea drinker, and inveterate scribbler. She’s always been fascinated by fairy tales and enjoys reading retellings ever since she first picked up Robin McKinley’s Beauty in grade school.

The Totoro Forest Project (in Honor of Earth Day)

Dug by Khang Le

Happy Earth Day!

As a late-in-the-day tribute honor to Planet Earth I thought I'd highlight a project inspired by a film, inspired by a forest. My Neighbor Totoro is a film I now see as synonymous with trees and forest wonders and is one of those films all children, in particular, should see regularly from about age four or five. It's a wonderful, beautiful, modern folk tale by Hayao Miyazaki about a little family (two young sisters in particular) and has fairy tale connections as well (more about that another time).

Dream by Paul Topolos

If you know Miyazaki's work, you know he is passionate about preserving childhood joy and the future of the planet. Ponyo was another fairy tale (with The Little Mermaid roots) that looked at the state of our oceans. My Neighbor Totoro looks at the importance of nature and the forest in our lives and healing. That's not to say they're focused on the ecological issues though. These films are delightful tales in and of themselves but they're told within the framework of folklore, wonder and imagination.

Totoro No by Richard Vander Wende

The Totoro Forest Project came about quite a few years ago now, in 2008, as part of an effort to help preserve a special stretch of natural forest.

The Resting Place by Luc Desmarchelier

In tribute to Miyazaki and to support this cause, artists from all over the globe created pieces to be auctioned to raise money for the forest's preservation.

When I Whisper Totoro's Name by Manuel Arenas

From the official site:

A fund raising exhibition/auction to support the national trust Totoro Forest Foundation that Oscar winning film maker Hayao Miyazaki has been helping over the years, featuring original art created by internationally acclaimed artists in the fields of animation, comic books, and illustration. 

Untitled by Rebecca Dautremer

Hayao Miyazaki has been actively supporting the preservation effort of Sayama Forest for more than ten years. This 8750 acre park in the outskirts of Tokyo is also known as Totoro Forest. It's in these woods in fact that the concept for the film "My Neighbor Totoro" was born. 

Untitled by Andrea Blasich

In the past few decades, the forest has been subject to urban development. Only continued support to the Totoro Trust Fund can help preserve this much needed island of green in the midst of Tokyo's urban sprawl. We intend to donate the entire proceeds of the project to this worthy cause. 

Tree Spirit with Bike by Scott Campbell

This event can also be a symbolic gesture, sending a strong message to the world in terms of environmental and social awareness.  Imagine artists from all over the world coming together to donate artwork to help conserve a forest they have never seen.

Kappa no Tabi - The Kappa Journey by Enrico Casarosa

You can find out more about the project HERE.

Untitled by Jillian Tamaki

In this post you can see a small (yes small!) selection of the pieces created and made available for purchase. Here are some more:

Tilden Totoro by Emanuela Cozzi

The Tree Man by Paul Conrad

The Keepers by Jony Chandra

Rescue by Noah Klocek

Intruder by Steve Pilcher

Guardian of Autumn by Eric Orchard

A Gift by Jackson Sze

Alive by Enrique Fernandez

Gatherer by James Jean

Come Out and Play by Charles Vess

I just love it when artists come together to help a cause! There was a limited print run of the artworks made for the auction, the cover of which you can see below. I know they've been looking into getting a reprint but apparently it's not a straightforward thing to do, so if you see one, don't let it disappear... (what an interesting parallel that makes!).