Andre Robinson
Hansel (voice)
Overview
Follow Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story into a winding and wickedly witty tale full of strange — and scary — surprises.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 10 episodes
- First aired
- Oct 8, 2021
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe fairy tale that will not blink first
I was not prepared for how much A Tale Dark & Grimm would unsettle me. Not because it is a horror show, though it is, in the way fairy tales have always been. It will not let its young audience off the hook.
It looks children in the eye and tells them the world is cruel, and they will survive it, and they will not do that without scars. A heavy promise for a cartoon. It pays.
Hansel and Gretel walk out of the gingerbread house story and into a maze of other Grimm tales. A wry narrator stitches the pieces with a knowing voice. The show unpicks as much as it retells.
A king who beheads his wives. A dragon that reads less like a monster than a lonely, misunderstood animal. A forest that breeds danger instead of hiding it.
The animation works the split. Candy-bright when the hour is playful, then a plunge into shadow when the tone drops, as if the screen were holding its breath.
The jokes sit next to the gore on purpose. The narrator winks at you, a co-conspirator, then drops a line like, "And then the king did what kings do best: something stupid." You snort.
Then you feel guilty, because the next beat is often genuinely horrifying. The show trusts kids to handle that whiplash. A story here is allowed to be more than one thing.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s A Tale Dark & Grimm Brings Dark Fairy Tales to Life—But Is It Really for Kids?
Netflix’s 2021 animated series A Tale Dark & Grimm takes a bold swing at reimagining the Brothers Grimm’s most twisted tales, blending dark fantasy with modern humor. The show, based on Adam Gidwitz’s 2010 novel of the same name, follows Hansel and Gretel as they navigate a world of cursed forests, sinister witches, and moral ambiguity. latestnetflix.com's view is that but behind the vibrant animation and star-studded cast lies a question: Is this series truly for children, or is it a darker ride than Netflix’s family-friendly branding suggests?
A Star-Studded Cast Brings the Grimm Tales to Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg6hgGsmYOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cWT-rysNpo
The series boasts an impressive voice cast, including Tom Hollander (The Crown), Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad), and Adam Lambert (Queen). Andre Robinson and Raini Rodriguez voice the lead siblings, Hansel and Gretel, while Scott Adsit (Big Hero 6) and Ron Funches (Tuca & Bertie) add comedic flair. The ensemble delivers a mix of whimsy and menace, staying true to the source material’s eerie tone .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3akS9YsmfU
Rumors suggest the casting was strategic—balancing A-list talent with voice actors known for family-friendly projects to appeal to both kids and adults. However, no official confirmation ties specific actors to behind-the-scenes creative input .
Dark Themes and a Questionable Rating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IOgWK8pmA
A Tale Dark & Grimm doesn’t shy away from the macabre. The series adapts stories like Hansel and Gretel, Faithful Johannes, and The Seven Ravens, complete with body horror, child endangerment, and moral dilemmas. Some parents and critics have questioned whether the show’s tone aligns with Netflix’s "family" label .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ZdOz2SeaQ
The French review site SensCritique gave the series a 7.4/10, praising its animation and humor but noting its unsettling edge 
. Meanwhile, YouTube reviews debate whether the show’s dark themes make it unsuitable for younger audiences . Netflix has not publicly addressed these concerns, leaving the target demographic ambiguous.
Animation and Creative Direction: A Mixed Bag?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w29fMfqLsyg
Little is known about the show’s production, but rumors suggest Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon) was involved in early development . The animation style leans into a gothic, storybook aesthetic, blending 2D and 3D elements to create a visually striking world.
However, some viewers have criticized the pacing and episodic structure, arguing that the show struggles to maintain consistency across its first season . Without official confirmation on episode counts or renewal status, it’s unclear whether Netflix plans to expand the series.
The Verdict: A Bold but Divisive Adaptation
A Tale Dark & Grimm stands out in the crowded kids’ animation space by embracing its source material’s darkness. While the voice cast and visuals deliver, the show’s tone has sparked debate—is it a clever subversion of fairy tales, or too intense for its intended audience?
For now, the series remains a curiosity: a Netflix experiment that either delights or unsettles, depending on who’s watching.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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