Rabbit Ears Productions' 1991 adaptation of 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears' is often partnered as a double bill with their adaptation of 'Little Red Riding Hood'. Two stories that are very well known around the world and both are adapted and riffed frequently and mostly successfully. There are similarities between the two in that they have the same crew (including Meg Ryan as narrator and Art Lande as composer), though 'Goldilocks' has a slightly lighter-hearted tone.
'Goldilocks' is another very charming and excellent effort. It is to me not quite as good or as memorable as 'Little Red Riding Hood', with no scene here quite having the same impact as that adaptation's quite unforgettable take on the infamous scene between Red and the wolf disguised as the grandmother. It does however have pretty much all the great things 'Little Red Riding Hood' had while doing great as a standalone, a more than worthy addition to the wonderful "Storybook Classics" series from Rabbit Ears Productions.
The art is beautifully done, vibrant in colour, meticulously detailed and there is nothing ugly about the way things are drawn. Goldilocks looks cute without being overly so and the bears don't look too fearsome. Lande's music does add a good deal, did prefer his work in 'Little Red Riding Hood' that had a wider variety of moods but the upbeat and slinky sounds are very appealing on the ears.
It was great that Ryan also narrated 'Goldilocks'. It isn't quite as varied in tonal delivery like it was in 'Little Red Riding Hood', but she narrates with a lot of enthusiasm and sweetness and the voice she uses never comes over as stereotypical.
A great job is done with not making such a familiar story feel stale, thanks to the lively energy and the light on the feet heart, the familiar elements of the story are all there faithfully done without being too faithful. The charm of the original story is also not lost. The writing is neither too simplified or becomes more complicated than needed, nothing convolutes or dumbs down the story.
Overall, excellent. 9/10.
'Goldilocks' is another very charming and excellent effort. It is to me not quite as good or as memorable as 'Little Red Riding Hood', with no scene here quite having the same impact as that adaptation's quite unforgettable take on the infamous scene between Red and the wolf disguised as the grandmother. It does however have pretty much all the great things 'Little Red Riding Hood' had while doing great as a standalone, a more than worthy addition to the wonderful "Storybook Classics" series from Rabbit Ears Productions.
The art is beautifully done, vibrant in colour, meticulously detailed and there is nothing ugly about the way things are drawn. Goldilocks looks cute without being overly so and the bears don't look too fearsome. Lande's music does add a good deal, did prefer his work in 'Little Red Riding Hood' that had a wider variety of moods but the upbeat and slinky sounds are very appealing on the ears.
It was great that Ryan also narrated 'Goldilocks'. It isn't quite as varied in tonal delivery like it was in 'Little Red Riding Hood', but she narrates with a lot of enthusiasm and sweetness and the voice she uses never comes over as stereotypical.
A great job is done with not making such a familiar story feel stale, thanks to the lively energy and the light on the feet heart, the familiar elements of the story are all there faithfully done without being too faithful. The charm of the original story is also not lost. The writing is neither too simplified or becomes more complicated than needed, nothing convolutes or dumbs down the story.
Overall, excellent. 9/10.