# The Storyteller (1988)

> A cynical dog and a wandering Storyteller narrate classic folk tales, fables, and legends to young viewers.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/5030

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 9
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: fantasy, family, animation
- Created by: Jim Henson
- Network: NBC, Channel 4
- Cast: John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Abigail Cruttenden, Jane Horrocks, Gabrielle Anwar, Gemma Jones, Bob Peck, Steven Mackintosh
- TMDB rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092383/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: eerie, wry, gentle, haunting, whimsical

## What critics say

Audiences broadly regard the series as an acclaimed, enchanting family anthology of folk tales, with its puppetry and John Hurt's narration singled out for praise.

## Synopsis

The Storyteller (1988) is a British fantasy anthology series created by Jim Henson for NBC and Channel 4. Played by John Hurt, the title narrator is a wandering teller of tales who is joined by a cynical dog that comments on each story with dry sarcasm. Across nine twenty-five-minute episodes, he recounts classic folk tales, fables, and legends, each with its own cast of princesses, witches, soldiers, and kings. The engine of each episode is the plot of the tale itself: a wish, a trial, a bargain, or a clever escape that turns on fairy tale logic and moral consequence. The stories unfold in an invented, storybook realm rather than a specific historical place, with handcrafted puppets and creature design giving the fantasy a tactile, handmade texture. The tone is eerie and haunting, but gentle and wry, balancing wonder with the dark edges of old folklore. Fans of Faerie Tale Theatre, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and Fraggle Rock will find resonance in its blend of puppetry, moral storytelling, and family-friendly fairy tale atmosphere. It is a single season of self-contained stories suited to families and children who enjoy classic tales told with a knowing wink.

## Shows like The Storyteller

- [Clangers (1969)](https://ember.film/tv/245)
- [Frankelda's Book of Spooks (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/113762)
- [The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992)](https://ember.film/tv/10061)
- [In the Night Garden (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/2899)
- [Freaky Stories (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/8879)
- [The Animals of Farthing Wood (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/172)
- [The Box of Delights (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/19692)
- [Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/9182)
- [Hungarian Folktales (1977)](https://ember.film/tv/37885)
- [Creeped Out (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/67429)

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