Revolting Rhymes

Once upon a time, many, many moons ago… Actually, it wasn’t that way at all! And it is none other than the bad wolf himself imparting alternative facts to the childhood books of fairy tales in “Revolting Rhymes”. So, for example, Red Riding Hood and Snow White were best friends as children; Snow White was, in actual fact, a blonde; and Red Riding Hood avenges herself on the wolf that ate her grandmother by literally fleecing it and is henceforth seen out and about wearing a stylish wolf fur coat. By and large, the wolves in “Revolting Rhymes” seem to be an endangered species that have to be wary of the other fairy-tale characters’ cunning and malice. But this is not the place to spoil the ending by revealing any further unexpected twists in the film. However, it is worth brushing up on your fairy tales a bit before viewing: classics like “Snow White”, “Red Riding Hood” and “Cinderella” are intermixed with English fairy tales lesser known in this country, such as “Jack and the Beanstalk” or “The Three Little Pigs”. The female characters in “Revolting Rhymes” have shed their role of playing the victim and prove to be emancipated and capable of defending themselves. The wolf narrates the storyline in dark yet delightfully humorous British-English rhymes.
The British-German co-production “Revolting Rhymes” began with Part 1 in 2016, based on the book of the same name by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Five of the six rhymes from Dahl’s book are retold and interwoven in this two-part film. The first part of the film was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Animated Short Film in 2018 and won Best Animation from the British Academy Children’s Awards. (so)