Claudia Schwabe: The dark origins of Disney fairy tales

The dark origins of Disney fairy tales

An evil stepmother demands a maiden’s lungs and liver; a girl is ripped from a wolf’s stomach; and sisters mutilate their feet to squeeze into a gold slipper. During the early 1800s, brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm gathered these unflinchingly gory details from stories circulating around what’s now Germany. Claudia Schwabe explores how these now-infamous tales evolved as they spread worldwide. [Directed by Skirmanta Jakaitė, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Cem Misirlioglu, Brooks Ball].

Many beloved fairy tales began as brutal stories filled with violence, cannibalism, and harsh realities. Originally collected in the early 1800s, the tales reflected adult concerns like poverty, abandonment, and revenge. As the stories spread, they were softened to align with changing values and were edited to appeal to children and more conservative audiences. Over seven editions, these tales transformed, hiding their grim roots under layers of fantasy, morality, and sanitized endings.

Grimm Fairy Tales Began Dark And Grew Carefully Sanitized

Before fairy tales were bedtime stories, they featured violence like sisters mutilating their feet for gold slippers or mothers serving their sons for dinner. The Brothers Grimm originally collected these stories for adults, reflecting harsh realities like poverty and abandonment. Over time, they softened and edited the tales to appeal to children and conservative values, removing gore and reshaping characters. Adaptations worldwide further sanitized these stories, turning once-grim folklore into the charming narratives known today.