The Grimm Variations Review – Fairly Wicked
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
What if the big bad wolf from “Little Red Riding Hood” was a wealthy handsome man preying on women, or the animals from “The Town Musicians of Bremen” a group of human misfits looking for a new home? The Netflix anime series “The Grimm Variations” (original title: Grimm Kumikyoku) completely transforms six classic fairy tales, to the extent that some bear almost no resemblance to any known versions or re-imaginations. Now, this might excite some viewers, others, not so much.
Directed by Grant George, each episode of “The Grimm Variations”/”Grimm Kumikyoku” kicks off with the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm engaging in discussion about a story they are writing with their younger sister, and the latter often wonders if the protagonists really get to live “happily ever after”. In contrast to the sugary, PG-13 Disney updates for fairy tales, this Anime series embraces a darker, wittier, and unsettling tone. The character designs for the series have been done by the Japanese manga artist group “Clamp,” known for their work on titles such as “Cardcaptor Sakura” and “Tsubasa.” The animation is pretty vibrant, quite like “Demon Slayer” – colorful, flashy and shiny.
The first episode titled “Cinderella” sets a strong tone for the show, and is most loyal to its source material versus the others, but with a wicked twist. The 2023 live-action Japanese movie “Once Upon A Crime” had its own fun spin on Cinderella – she gets caught up in a murder-mystery along with Red Riding Hood while on her way to the royal ball. This anime retelling of Cinderella is both highly entertaining and delightfully creepy. All characters are portrayed with shades of gray, from the stepmother, a former geisha, to her bickering daughters, and even Cinderella herself, initially introduced as a little girl named Kiyoko. In this version, Kiyoko exhibits traits of a masochist — she appears to derive pleasure from debasing herself and being subservient to her step-sisters and step-mother. Although the climax feels somewhat contrived, it offers a wicked twist on the beloved classic.
Episode two shifts focus to “Little Red Riding Hood”, which is set in a futuristic dystopian world, where humans live in virtual realities and an elite club of “wolves” enjoy hunting down beautiful young women. It’s a very fresh re-imagining, dwelling subtly on class divide, with lots of violence, blood and gore. While the first two editions were riveting, “The Grimm Variations”/”Grimm Kumikyoku” becomes challenging to watch from episode three onward.
The siblings “Hansel & Gretel” get the spotlight in episode three, and it was the weakest link in the anime, a peculiar science-fiction fantasy tale with no punch. Despite retaining some familiar motifs and characters from the original, it not only differed greatly but was boring with a random ending. “The Elves and the Shoemaker” and “The Town Musicians of Bremen” are up next. While the former features an author as its protagonist and quite literally embodies the modern nightmare of “imposter syndrome,” the latter feels like a Japanese western, following three outlaws who unite in search of a new home. While the author’s tale comes together quite well, “The Town Musicians of Bremen” is disjointed and too short to invoke any emotion in the viewer and could’ve perhaps been a small mini-series by itself.
“The Grimm Variations”/”Grimm Kumikyoku” manages to end on a high note with its sixth episode – “Pied Piper of Hamline” – which again bears almost no resemblance to the original tale, except for the fact that a stranger visits a little remote village and happens to have a flute. However, it presents an intriguing story about 17-year-old Maria, content with her sheltered life. Her authoritarian grandmother, who is also the village head, makes all her life decisions, including arranging her engagement. When her teacher shows her a peculiar painting from the outside world, Maria’s entire outlook on life shifts. The final episode is perhaps the only one with a coherent lesson/moral (if you’re looking for it) and has an uplifting climax reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films.
Throughout “The Grimm Variations”/”Grimm Kumikyoku,” the creators incorporate classical music, predominantly diverse renditions of Beethoven’s famous pieces. This juxtaposition engagingly clashes with the reimagined fairy tales. With its clever twists and wicked humor, this anime series is a good pick for those who enjoy seeing familiar stories transformed into something entirely new and unexpected.
Rating: 7 on 10. Watch “The Grimm Variations” on Netflix.
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