The Anti-Disney Tales

I’ve long railed against the Disneyfication of many fairy tales which has left most youngsters (and many adults) thinking that Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid is a happy story with lots of cute animals in it or that to be happy in life, young girls must find a Prince who will take care of them. Anyone who’re read the original; fairy tales will know that they’re a heck of a lot darker than this. If you want to read up about any of this then Mental Floss’ post 8 Fairy Tales And Their Not-So-Happy Endings is a good, brief starting point but I can also recommend Grimm’s Grimmest, Strewwelpeter or for a more modern take why not try Tom Baker’s The Boy Who Kicked Pigs (yes, THAT Tom Baker) or The Melancholy Death or Oyster Boy by Tim Burton (yes, THAT Tim Burton). All highly recommended by me (but not always suitable for very small children.