Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Genre	Animation Anthology
Written by	Joe Menendez Daryl G. Nickens Gordon Lewis Franklyn Ajaye Barry Douglas
Directed by	Bruce W. Smith Anthony Bell Edward Bell
Narrated by	Robert Guillaume
Composer(s)	Stephen James Taylor
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	39 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	Hyperion Pictures Two Oceans Entertainment Group Confetti Entertainment Company
Release
Original network	HBO
Original release	March 12, 1995 – July 18, 2000

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American anthology animated television series that premiered March 12, 1995 on HBO. Narrated by Robert Guillaume, the series aired 39 episodes from 1995 to 2000. Reruns are currently airing HBO Family.

Plot

Each episode details a classic story in different cultures, which contains characters voiced by famous actors, comedians, singers, dancers, models, political activists, athletes, stunt performers, and other famous celebrities.

Episodes

Season 1 (1995)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
1	"Jack and the Beanstalk"	Bruce W. Smith	March 12, 1995 [1]
A retelling of the tale with an African-American twist. Featuring the voices of Wayne Collins as Jack, Pauletta Washington as Mother, Harry Belafonte as the magician, Tone Loc as the giant, and Jackée Harry as the giant's wife.
2	"Little Red Riding Hood'"	Bruce W. Smith	March 19, 1995 [1]
Set in Ancient China, Little Red Happy Coat learns that some wolves can't be trusted when she makes a delivery to her grandmother Poa Poa. Featuring the voices of Mai Vu as Little Red Happy Coat, B.D. Wong as Wolf, James Hong as Baba and Mr. Sung, Amy Hill as Mother and Mrs. Oolong, Pearl Huang as Mei Li and Poa Poa, and Brian Tochi as the tailor.
3	"Hansel and Gretel"	Bruce W. Smith	March 26, 1995 [1]
The tale is told in a Mexican setting in the heart of a rain forest, with two kids named Hanselito and Gretelita. 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.
4	"The Emperor's New Clothes"	Bruce W. Smith	April 2, 1995 [2]
In ancient Japan, 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". Featuring the voices of Gedde Watanabe as the Emperor, George Takei as Keiji, Brian Tochi as the Prince, John Wesley as the Minister, Peter Jason as the Treasurer, and Denice Kumagai as Toshio.
5	"Rumpelstiltskin"	Bruce W. Smith	April 9, 1995
The tale is set in the West Indies, with an old Caribbean and Jamaican twist. Featuring the voices of Jasmine Guy as Jonae, Denzel Washington as King Omar, Robert Townsend as Rumpelstiltskin, Roscoe Lee Browne as Friar Ferdinand, Sherman Hemsley as the Miller, Rodney Kageyama as the Turbaned Merchant, Denice Kumagai as the Hat Merchant, and Ross Mapletoft as Royal Servant.
6	"The Frog Prince"	Bruce W. Smith	April 16, 1995
The classic story is set in the African jungle where a princess named Ebony meets a frog that was once a prince. Featuring the voices of Sinbad as the Frog Prince, Cree Summer as Princess Ebony, Jay Kenneth Johnson as the Magician, Tommy Davidson as the jester Danny Glover as the King, LeVar Burton as The Monk, Jay Leno as Jay Frog, and Branford Marsalis as Branford Frog.
7	"Sleeping Beauty"	Bruce W. Smith	April 23, 1995
The classic Peter Tchaikovsky story is told with a Hispanic flavor, when a sleeping beauty named Rosita is cast into a long sleep by a wicked fairy named Evelina, and awakened by Prince Luis. Featuring the voices of Marie Barrientos as Rosita, the Sleeping Beauty, Ricardo Montalbán as King Carlos, Lucie Arnaz as Queen Maria, Paul Rodriguez as the Court Jester, Vanessa Marquez as the six fairies, Julia Migenes as Evelina the wicked fairy, Carmen Zapata as the seventh fairy, Carlos Mencia as Poncho, Jacob Vargas as Prince Luis, and Ross Mapletoft as the old man.
8	"Rapunzel"	Bruce W. Smith	April 30, 1995
The tale is told in the bayous of New Orleans, Louisiana. Featuring the voices of Tisha Campbell-Martin as Rapunzel, Whoopi Goldberg as Zenobia the Hoodoo Diva, Meshach Taylor as Woodcutter, Hazelle Goodman as Woodcutter's Wife, Donald Fullilove as Friend #1, and Tico Wells as Friend #2.
9	"The Valiant Little Tailor"	Bruce W. Smith	May 7, 1995
The classic story is set in the West African Sahel, where a height-challenged tailor named Bongo sets out to prove his worth. Featuring the voices of David Alan Grier as Bongo, James Earl Jones as King Dakkar, Mark Curry as the Giant, Dawnn Lewis as Princess Songe, Zakes Mokae as Mr. Babooska, Barry Shabaka Henley as Horrible-Looking Giant #1, and Hugh Dane as Horrible-Looking Giant #2.
10	"Cinderella"	Bruce W. Smith	May 14, 1995
The classic Charles Perrault tale gets a hilarious Latin twist. Featuring the voices of Daphne Zuniga as Cinderella, Liz Torres as the fairy godmother, Edward James Olmos as Rey Emiliano, Jimmy Smits as Prince, and Raquel Welch as Stepmother.
11	"Beauty and the Beast"	Bruce W. Smith	May 21, 1995 [3]
The classic story is set in Africa as a beauty falls in love with a beast. Featuring the voices of Vanessa L. Williams as the Beauty, Gregory Hines as the Beast, Debbie Allen as Precious, Terrence C. Carson as the Tree, and Paul Winfield as the Father.
12	"Snow White"	Rufus Diznee	May 28, 1995
The classic story is set in the American southwest about a beautiful woman named White Snow, who befriends the seven little men. Featuring the voices of Elaine Bilstad as White Snow, Jeri Arredando as Sly Fox, Graham Greene as Brown Bear, Zahn McClarnon as Gray Wolf, and Buffy Sainte-Marie as the Spirit in the Mirror.
13	"The Princess and the Pea"	Bruce W. Smith	June 4, 1995
The classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is set in Ancient 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 Karen Lew as the Princess and Margaret Cho as the Queen.

Season 2 (1997)

#	Title	Directed by	Original air date
14	"Pinocchio"	Edward Bell	April 13, 1997 [4]
The 1800s Carlo Collodi tale gets set in the Barbary Coast, with Pinoak learning to be a real boy with the help of Woody, Old George, and the Blues Fairy. Featuring the voices of Will Smith as Pinoak, Chris Rock as Woody the Termite, Della Reese as the Blues Fairy, Barry Douglas as Redd the Fox, Franklyn Ajaye as Sporty the Cat, Charles S. Dutton as Old George, Garrett Morris as Mr. Buzzard, Brenden Jefferson as the boy, and Rachel Guillaume as the girl.
15	"Thumbelina"	Edward Bell	April 20, 1997
The classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is set in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Featuring the voices of Rosie Perez as Thumbelina, Harvey Fierstein as Mrs. Leaperman the Toad, Bronson Pinchot as Sonny the Toad, Antonio Sabato Jr. as Mario the Butterfly, Chita Rivera as Katy the Katydid, and Edward James Olmos as El Murchielago the Bat.
16	"Puss in Boots"	Edward Bell	April 27, 1997 [5]
The Charles Perrault story 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 Makahata, and Ming-Na Wen as Lani.
17	"The Pied Piper"	Edward Bell	May 4, 1997
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 the music performed by Ronnie Laws. Also featuring the voices of Samuel L. Jackson as the Mayor of Hamelin, Grant Shaud as Toadey, John Ratzenberger as Hinky, and Richard Moll as Dinky.
18	"The Twelve Dancing Princesses"	Edward Bell	May 11, 1997
Twelve young Cuban 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). Featuring the voices of Daisy Fuentes as Princess Daisy, Jon Secada as Juan Carlos, Héctor Elizondo as the King, and Liz Torres.
19	"The Golden Goose"	Edward Bell	May 18, 1997
In this African-American version of the fairy tale, lovable Simpleton befriends a wisecracking old beggar who leads him to a magical golden goose and a grand adventure. Featuring the voices of Sinbad as Simpleton, Loretta Devine as the Mother, Richard Lewis as the Old Beggar, James Avery as Father, Avery Brooks as King Maximus, Vanessa Bell Calloway as Princess Katusha, Heavy D as Drexal, James Hardie as the Innkeeper and Farm Hand, Phil LaMarr as the Magistrate and the Monk, Sugar Ray Leonard as Axel, Meagen Fay as the Older Sister, and Sara Rue as the Younger Sister.
20	"The Little Mermaid"	Edward Bell	May 25, 1997
In this Asian setting at a secret underwater kingdom, a teenage mermaid princess named Mija with her starfish pet 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. Featuring the voices of Tia Carrere as Mija, the Little Mermaid, Margaret Cho as Hul Mu Ni, Amy Hill as Ming, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as King Young-Jin, and Gedde Watanabe as Nuri.
21	"Goldilocks and the Three Bears"	Edward Bell	June 1, 1997
In this hilarious version of the classic, Goldilocks has golden dreadlocks and much to learn about treating people (and bears) right. Featuring the voices of Raven-Symoné as Goldilocks, Ben Vereen as the Snake, Lou Rawls as the Bat, Jenifer Lewis as Black Widow Spider, Tone Loc as Desmond Bear (Papa Bear), Alfre Woodard as Winsone Bear (Mama Bear), and David Alan Grier as Dudley Bear (Baby Bear).
22	"The Fisherman and His Wife"	Edward Bell	June 8, 1997
In this version tale of how greed only begets more greed set to the music of Gypsy guitars and flamenco dancing, a simple fisherman and his wife are happy with their humble life until a magical fish named Gilbert offers them a wish. Featuring the voices of Edward James Olmos as the fisherman, Julia Migenes as the fisherman's wife, and Paul Rodríguez as Gilbert.
23	"Aladdin"	Edward Bell	June 15, 1997
This story takes place in China when Aladdin, a poor dreamer who longs for adventure, meets a genie who wishes to be a kung fu master and uses him to rescue a princess from a jealous sorcerer named Chang. Featuring the voices of B.D. Wong as Aladdin and Genie, Joan Chen as Princess Jade, Pearl Huang as Aladdin's mother, James Hong as the Emperor, Stephen Park as Dong, and George Takei as Chang.
24	"The Elves and the Shoemaker"	Edward Bell	June 22, 1997
In the ancient empire with giant pyramids, a humble shoemaker named Tizoc and his wife 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 Xolotl come to the rescue. Featuring the voices of Paul Rodriguez as Tizoc, Lou Diamond Phillips as Coatl, Jesse Borrego as Tanatiuh the Fierce, Wanda de Jesus as Xochitl, Liz Torres as Malinahl, Abraham Verduzco as the Boy, and A Martinez as the Emperor.
25	"King Midas"	Edward Bell	June 29, 1997
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. Featuring the voices of Blair Underwood as King Midas, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly as Goldina, Alfonso Ribeiro as Kephra, and Jennifer Holliday as the Dream Diva.
26	"Mother Goose: A Rapping and Rhyming Special"	Rufus Dizinne	October 12, 1997
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. Featuring the voices of Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Gooseberg, Jimmy Smits as Old King Cole, Salt-n-Pepa as The Three Little Kittens, Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford as Jack and Jill, Jackée Harry as Little Bo Peep, Nell Carter as Mary, Lauren Tom as Little Miss Muffet, Dave Chappelle as the Spider, Robert Pastorelli as Sgt. Louie, Denzel Washington as Humpty Dumpty and the Crooked Man, George Wallace as the Farmer, Rockapella as the Five Little Piggies, Steven Wright as the Bogeyman, Camille Winbush as the Child, and Marla Gibbs as Old Mother Hubbard.

Season 3 (1999–2000)

#	Title	Directed by	Original air date
27	"The Three Little Pigs"	Anthony Bell	June 22, 1999 [6]
This tale is told with country music, when three female piglets go to a summer camp called Camp Piggywood and they ward off Big Bad Wolfgang. Featuring the voices of Sinbad as Big Bad Wolfgang, Loretta Lynn as Dell Porkchop, Courteney Cox as Emerald Salt Pork, Sandra Oh as Breadcrumb, Tyra Banks as Barbie Q. Pepper, Julie Brown as Lottie Balogna, Brian Reddy as the TV Announcer and the Security Guard, and Peter Renaday as Pig Daddy.
28	"Ali Baba"	Anthony Bell	July 14, 1999 [7]
This tale is given a feminist twist as a girl named Ali Baba must rescue Cassim and outsmart the 40 thieves to save their family. Featuring the voices of Jurnee Smollett as Ali Baba, Tommy Davidson as Cassim, Marla Gibbs as the Grandmother, Will Ferrell as Mamet the Moocher, George Wallace as Baba Mustafa, and Bruno Kirby as the Great One.
29	"The Bremen Town Musicians"	Anthony Bell	August 12, 1999
The classic Brothers Grimm tale is told with a country/African-American twist, as outcast barn animals become singers and go on their way to Bremen. Featuring the voices of George Clinton as Scratchmo, Gladys Knight as Chocolate, Jenifer Lewis as Hazel, Dionne Warwick as Miss Kitty, Brent Jennings as Farmer Farouk, Marlon Wayans as Itch, and Shawn Wayans as Bad Bobby.
30	"The Empress' Nightingale"	Anthony Bell	September 16, 1999
The classic tale is given a feminine makeover when a greedy empress learns about the true meaning of beauty. Featuring the voices of Pam Grier as the Empress' Nightingale, Amy Hill as the Empress, Phil Hartman as the Game Show Host, and Robin Leach as the Chamberlain. Note: This episode is dedicated in memory of Phil Hartman.
31	"The Happy Prince"	Anthony Bell	October 6, 1999
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 Kiernan as the French Nanny and the Irish Tourist, and Phil LaMarr as Pigeon #1 and the New Mayor.
32	"Henny Penny"	Anthony Bell	November 2, 1999 [8]
A news reporter hen named Henny Penny convinces barnyard denizens that the sky is falling. Featuring the voices of Sharon Stone as Henny Penny, Patricia Welch as the singing voice for Henny Penny, Henry Kissinger as Ducky Lucky, Mary Hart as Goosey Lucy, Jesse Jackson as Cocky Lockey, Johnnie Cochran as Foxy Loxy, Alan M. Dershowitz as Turkey Lurkey, Geraldine A. Ferraro as Merle, Rudolph W. Giuliani as Earl, and John McLoughlin as Wooster Rooster.
33	"The Frog Princess"	Anthony Bell	January 3, 2000
In this country version of a Russian fairy tale, a frog princess proves that love conquers all. Featuring the voices of Jasmine Guy as Frog Princess Lylah, Greg Kinnear as Prince Gavin, Wallace Langham as Prince Bobby and the Fish, Mary Gross as Elise, Beau Bridges as King Big Daddy, Anne-Marie Johnson as Verena, and Scott Thompson as Prince Rip.
34	"The Princess and the Pauper"	Anthony Bell	February 21, 2000
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. Featuring the voices of Raven-Symoné as Princess Olivia and Zoe, David Alan Grier as King Maynar, Phylicia Rashad as Lady Fulten, Andre Braugher as Julian Andrews, and John Witherspoon as Scofflaw.
35	"Rip Van Winkle"	Anthony Bell	March 21, 2000 [9]
In a feminist retelling of the story, young hippie Vanna falls in love with Rip Winkle and must rediscover her voice after not being respected by her sexist husband. 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. Featuring the voices of Tom Arnold as Rip Van Winkle, Calista Flockhart as Vanna, Patricia Welch as the singing voice for Vanna, Sandra Bernhard as the Bluebird, Maya Angelou as the Fairy Godmentor, Martin Grey as the Assistant and R.D., Gary Lazer as Rocky, and Linda Ellerbee, Betty Friedan, Jessye Norman, Ann Richards, and Gloria Steinem as the Thunder Mountain Women.
36	"The Snow Queen"	Anthony Bell	April 18, 2000
An Inuit 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. Featuring the voices of Eartha Kitt as the Snow Queen, Táska Cleveland as Gerda, T'Keyah Crystal Keymah as the Grandmother and the Robber Girl, Brandon Hammond as Kai, Doug E. Doug as the Raven, and Bronson Pinchot as the Killer Whale and the Reindeer.
37	"The Steadfast Tin Soldier"	Anthony Bell	May 16, 2000
In an African-American twist and feminist twist, 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. Featuring the voices of Tisha Campbell-Martin as Goldie, Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones and Cindy Herron (En Vogue) as Dolls 1, 2, and 3, Savion Glover as the Dancer, Kadeem Hardison as the Clown, Ruby Dee as the Grandma, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly as Imani, Q-Tip as the Teddy Bear and the Cockroach, Caroline Rhea as Spidey and Kim Wayans as Jackie-In-The-Box and Lulu.
38	"Robinita Hood"	Anthony Bell	June 19, 2000 [10]
A Mexican feminist version of the classic story. Robinita Hood leads her band of the Merry Chicas to stop the greedy Sheriff Juan Jose del Ramon de Jamon with the help of her love interest Mario. Featuring the voices of Rosie Perez as Robinita Hood, Marc Anthony as Mario, Rick Najera as Sheriff Juan Jose del Ramon de Jamon, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Little Juana, Idalis DeLeón as Guillermina Scarlet, Nancy Garcia as Elena Dale, Nestor Carbonell as Sir Gooey, and Ian Gomez as Basilio.
39	"Aesop's Fables"	Anthony Bell	July 18, 2000 [11]
A beautiful detective tracks down Aesop's Fables which has been stolen by some Aesop characters. Featuring the voices of Angie Dickinson as the Detective, Diahann Carroll as the Crow, Dabney Coleman as Monsieur Fox, Harvey Korman as the Lion, Jaleel White as The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Katey Sagal as the Hare, Kevin Pollak as the Mouse and the Grasshopper, Melanie Chartoff as Grape Fox, and Ruth Brown as the Tortoise and the Ant.

Home Media

Most episodes of Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child were released on VHS, but only a few episodes were released on DVD. There was one DVD where four episodes ("Pinocchio", "The Pied Piper", "The Golden Goose", and "Mother Goose: A Rapping and Rhyming Special") were released on DVD. In the United Kingdom, there are four DVDs with three episodes on each.

References

1. O'Connor, John J. (March 23, 1995). "Critic's Notebook; Setting Higher Sights for Animation". The New York Times. pp. C18. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
2. Moore, Scott (March 26, 1995). "HBO's Colorful, Diverse Fairy Tales". The Washington Post. pp. Y9.
3. "Robert Guillaume Narrates 'Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child'". Los Angeles Sentinel. May 24, 1995. pp. B4.
4. King, Susan (April 10, 1997). "'Grease,' 'Titanic' in the Lineup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
5. 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.
6. Mifflin, Lawrie (June 22, 1999). "Giving Fairy Tales a Feminist Twist". The New York Times. pp. E8. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
7. Gates, Anita (July 14, 1999). "Television Review; Say, 'Open, Sesame,' and Poof! Ali Baba Is Now a Girl". The New York Times. pp. E5. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
8. "In The Know". The Augusta Chronicle. November 2, 1999. pp. B1.
9. Bianculli, David (March 21, 2000). "Feminist 'Rip' Gets a Little Tiring". Daily News. p. 79.
10. Berkowitz, Lana (June 19, 2000). "Girls get the goods in animated Latin-flavored 'Robinita Hood'". Houston Chronicle. p. 6.
11. Berkowitz, Lana (July 18, 2000). "HBO whodunit musical a twist on classic morality plays". Houston Chronicle. p. 6.

External links

• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child at the Internet Movie Database
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child at TV.com