For the final episode of the fairy tale series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at three films that transpose classic fairy tale stories onto the setting of the modern day: The Red Shoes (1948), Ponyo (2008), and Undine (2020). We discuss how fairy tale elements can help us look at the ordinary parts of life with a new appreciation, how the form and style of a film affects the perception of the magical elements, and ways to incorporate the unknown into modern storytelling.
Also on Apple Podcasts
Skip to: The Red Shoes (8:58), Ponyo (27:59), Undine (54:53), Overall (1:10:37), Coming Attractions (1:20:24)
Resources referenced in this episode:
- READ: “On Fairy Stories” by J. R. R. Tolkienc
- READ: “The Red Shoes” by Hans Christian Andersen
- EXPLORE: Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation
- READ: “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen
- READ: “Undine” by Friedrich de la Motte Foque
- WATCH: Christian Petzold on His Mythological Melodrama Undine
- Related previous episodes:
- Ep 87. Disney Doesn’t Die on The Little Mermaid (1994)
- Ep 45. Happy Henson on Labyrinth (1986)
- Ep 10. Mystical Miyazaki on My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Hayao Miyazaki
- Ep 129. Cartoon Saloon’s (Mostly) Celtic Saga on Song of the Sea (2014) and Cartoon Saloon
Coming Attractions – New season in January!
Stay tuned for a new season all about the major directors of the French New Wave when we come back in 2024.
Intro/outro music:
Ash by Mike Braudrick
Receive new episodes directly:
The Filmlings 