Elyse Maloway
Cleo (voice)
Overview
From Goldilocks to Hansel and Gretel, the Super Monsters reimagine classic fairy tales and favorite nursery rhymes with a musical, magical spin!
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe special that lets Goldilocks freeze mid-bite
I was not expecting to care about a 25-minute Netflix preschool special. Super Monsters: Once Upon a Rhyme arrives with the fanfare of a library story hour. Bright, brief, built to keep tiny humans still while a parent finishes coffee. Somewhere between the first musical number and the third remixed nursery rhyme, I leaned in.
Not because the special invents a form. Because it treats preschoolers as already able to handle a little complexity.
The Super Monsters gang, vampires, werewolves, and other pint-sized creatures with supernatural flair, take classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes and give them a musical, magical spin. Goldilocks and the Three Bears becomes a story about consent and boundaries. Goldilocks, voiced by Elyse Maloway, realizes mid-bite that she should not help herself to someone else's porridge. Hansel and Gretel is not a tale about getting lost in the woods.
It is about teamwork and problem-solving. The siblings use their wits, and a well-timed song, to outsmart the witch. The special updates these stories for kids who can stay past "happily ever after."
That trust is why Once Upon a Rhyme feels different from so much children's media. No condescension. No talking down.
The special assumes viewers can follow a moral without capital letters, and that they can read a face. Take the Goldilocks sequence. She freezes, mid-chew, and looks at the bears' untouched bowls.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 5.7/10
"A lighthearted, musical twist on classic nursery rhymes that charms younger audiences but feels too simplistic for older viewers."
Viewers appreciate the colorful animation and musical reimagining of familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes, making it an enjoyable watch for young children. However, the lack of depth and overly simplistic storytelling leaves older audiences and parents wanting more substance or originality.
What viewers praise
- Engaging for kids The bright animation and musical numbers keep young children entertained and engaged.
- Familiar stories The reimagining of classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes provides a comforting and recognizable experience for children.
- Musical appeal The songs add a fun, magical twist that enhances the storytelling for its target audience.
Common complaints
- Too simplistic The plot and characters lack depth, making it uninteresting for older viewers or adults.
- Lacks originality The rehashing of well-known stories without significant innovation feels uninspired to some.
- Limited appeal The content is narrowly targeted at very young children, leaving little for broader audiences to enjoy.
Recommended for
Young children Fans of musicals Parents of preschoolers Nursery rhyme lovers Super Monsters fans
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s "Super Monsters: Once Upon a Rhyme" Brings Nursery Rhymes to Life—But Is It Worth the Hype?
Netflix’s Super Monsters franchise has been a staple for preschoolers since 2017, blending spooky-cute characters with gentle life lessons. The 2021 special Super Monsters: Once Upon a Rhyme takes the gang on a musical detour, reimagining classic nursery rhymes through the lens of its young monster students. Directed by Steve Ball, the 28-minute animated short leans into the franchise’s signature mix of humor, heart, and catchy tunes—but does it deliver enough fresh magic to stand out?
A Familiar Formula with a Rhyming Twist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6x_1VJ6V7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXWDyw_jo4o
Once Upon a Rhyme follows the Super Monsters crew—Drac, Cleo, Katya, and the rest—as they prepare for a school talent show. The twist? Each act is a reworked nursery rhyme, from "Humpty Dumpty" to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," now infused with monster flair. The approach isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a natural fit for the show’s playful tone. Trailers [4][5] tease vibrant musical numbers, suggesting the special doubles down on the franchise’s strengths: bright animation, kid-friendly scares, and a cast of voice actors who clearly relish their roles.
The voice cast, led by Elyse Maloway (Drac), Vincent Tong (Lobo), and Erin Mathews (Cleo), has been a consistent draw for the series. Their chemistry shines in trailers, where the characters’ personalities—Drac’s earnestness, Katya’s mischief—translate well to the musical format. Alessandro Juliani (Mr. Mothman) and Nicole Anthony (Miss Mina) round out the adult roles, though their screen time in Once Upon a Rhyme appears limited to supporting the kids’ antics.
Behind the Scenes: A Low-Stakes but Polished Production
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgqBWyLW184
Unlike the franchise’s earlier seasons, Once Upon a Rhyme is a one-off special, not a multi-episode arc. This likely streamlined production, allowing the team to focus on refining the musical elements. Director Steve Ball, a veteran of children’s animation (including My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic), has a knack for balancing humor and sincerity—key for a show that aims to entertain both kids and parents. A review snippet [1] describes the short as "a fun, if slight, addition to the Super Monsters universe," hinting that while it won’t redefine the franchise, it’s a polished, inoffensive watch.
The special’s biggest gamble is its musical direction. The Super Monsters series has always featured original songs, but Once Upon a Rhyme leans on public-domain rhymes, which could risk feeling stale. However, trailers [4][5] suggest the team puts a fresh spin on the classics, blending them with the show’s signature pop-rock style. Whether this pays off remains to be seen—no reviews or behind-the-scenes details confirm how the music was adapted or who composed the arrangements.
The Verdict: A Safe Bet for Fans, But Don’t Expect Surprises
Once Upon a Rhyme feels like a calculated move for Netflix: a low-risk special designed to keep the Super Monsters brand alive between major releases. The evidence doesn’t point to any major behind-the-scenes drama or creative risks—just a straightforward, family-friendly musical romp. For parents of young kids, that might be enough. The special’s brevity (under 30 minutes) makes it an easy watch, and the familiar characters ensure it won’t alienate existing fans.
That said, the lack of concrete details about the production is telling. No interviews, cast anecdotes, or insider tidbits have surfaced in the available evidence [1][4][5]. This suggests Once Upon a Rhyme was a smooth, uneventful project—far from the chaotic energy of some animated productions. If you’re hoping for juicy gossip or bold creative choices, you’ll likely leave disappointed.
For now, the special’s biggest selling point is its accessibility. It’s free for Netflix subscribers, requires no prior knowledge of the Super Monsters series, and delivers exactly what its title promises: nursery rhymes, reimagined by monsters. Whether that’s enough to justify its existence depends on how much you value the franchise’s brand of gentle, musical fun.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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