"Animated Tales of the World" was inspired by a simple idea: no nation is poor in stories, and we are all enriched by sharing them. In this series, village storytellers become global storytellers for all the children in the world. These indigenous tales and mythology form part of the heritage of each country, and each has been painstakingly crafted in a style of animation that reflects the spirit of its own culture.
As with most romances in folk literature, the road to living "happily ever after" is never an easy one. Rapunzel was locked in a tall tower, and Cinderella could only stay out until midnight. Lovers are usually faced with impossible tasks and enchantments that they must tackle in order to be together. Similar obstacles are present in this romantic tale from Holland in which a young man must overcome competitive odds to win the opportunity to marry the woman he truly loves.
Stories include:
- The Crown and the Sceptre (Arabia)
- The Chief and the Carpenter (Caribbean)
- The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (Denmark)
- Cap O' Rushes (England)
- The Enchanted Lion (Germany)
- Edward Congeger (France)
- Persephone (Greece)
- The Two Brothers (Russia)
- Raven (American Indian)
- Three Golden Apples (Holland)
- King March (Wales)
- John Henry, Steel-Driving Man (U.S.A.)
Production companies include:
- Arab Radio and Television
- BBC Alba/BBC Scotland
- Channel 4 Television Corporation
- Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig
- Danmarks Radio
- Discovery Kids
- Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO)
- La Cinquième
- PTS
- Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)
- RTV
- Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
- Right Angle
- SBS Independent
- School TV
- Sianel 4 Cymru (S4C)
- TG4
- TNB
- TV Ontario
- Tamuz Productions
- Tele-Français Ontario (TFO)
- Television Corporation of Singapore
- Telewizja Polska
