REVIEW: ‘The Grimm Variations’ Takes A Shotgun Approach To Storytelling

The classic fairy tales of Europe are known to many of us. Timeless tales like Cinderella and The Pied Piper have been part of many of our upbringings. But what if you take these iconic tales and turn them inside out? Take familiar characters and concepts and twist them into something new. While unique takes on these stories have been done before, The Grimm Variations from WIT Studio looks to take a truly unfettered approach to these classic stories.

Boldness is The Grimm Variations’ prevailing element. Not only does it go to unexpected places with its classical inspirations, but the sheer breadth of storytelling styles used is surprising, to say the least. Walking into an anthology project, one expects to find some tonal threads that help give the series a measure of consistency. This series throws that out, choosing instead to dance between genres, settings, and tones with brazen confidence. If you looked at a list of the styles and settings of these stories it would seem bewildering. However, there is a method to the madness.

The first entry in the series is “Cinderella.” The closest to its source material, this version sees the story begin in Meiji Era Japan. While many of the beats of the story appear the same in a vacuum, surrounding elements twist the tale into a low-key psychological horror tale filled with manipulation and gaslighting. It is a chillingly disturbing take on the tale that works brilliantly.

As The Grimm Variations continue to bring along horror elements it moves further away from the familiarity of setting and narrative. In episode two, “Little Red Riding Hood,” the Big Bad Wolf is a businessman looking for reality in a future world dominated by the virtual. He finds this reality through the brutal killing of innocent people. The most violent of the stories, this episode has key moments and recognizable characters, even as the story becomes largely lost in the blood-soaked future of its setting.

The remaining entries are outlandish depictions mashing up settings and tones in unique, creative, and largely successful ways. Science fiction and fantasy blend to form some wildly memorable moments that give these inspired pieces as much staying power as some of their inspirations.

While each story has its strengths, the series’ shining star has to be “The Town Musicians of Bremen.” It’s a techno Western about three women who breeze into town to take out a gang. The story captures the sci-fi presentation and mixes it beautifully with Western/Ronan motifs and storytelling. The cast shines as the battles unfold. WIT brings the wandering fighter trope into the story wonderfully, while allowing it a warm heart. If WIT announced an ongoing series based on this world it would be an instant hit.

The narratives aren’t the only element of these stories that get remixed. Some familiar classical pieces of music appear in ways I never knew I needed. Incorporating guitars and embellishments to the familiar tunes makes the old favorites feel as new as the stories they accompany. It is a brilliant touch that reinforces the core concept of the project.

The one shared element throughout the series is each episode’s introduction. A trio of characters have a brief interaction that sets up the coming tale. The two brothers and their little sister that prompt each story give the narratives a slim string that keeps them together. The interactions are interesting and each gives a bit of meaning to why the tale isn’t quite what you’d expect.

While many of The Grimm Variations’ musical choices are inspired, its animation is brilliant across the board. From the brutal sadism of its cruelest villains to the truest beauty the world has to offer in a painting-inspired sequence, the animation delivers time and again. Gorgeous, tense, thrilling, and creative are all adjectives that can be used at some point to describe the visual presentation.

The only place where this series significantly falters is in its pacing. Many of the episodes are stretched just a bit too thin. With most narratives coming in right around 45 minutes, more than one could’ve used a bit of a trim. However, the default 25 minutes of anime episodes would’ve definitely been too short.

The Grimm Variations delivers a series of surprising, thoroughly impressive tales. Its broad selection of narrative styles all but guarantees few viewers will love every entry. But finding the ones that will is easily worth the time it takes to watch.

The Grimm Variations is streaming now on Netflix.