Huntsman (Snow White) facts for kids

The Huntsman is an important fictional character from the classic fairy tale Snow White. He is usually a kind person who is ordered by the Evil Queen to kill Snow White, but he cannot bring himself to do it. Instead, he lets Snow White escape and tricks the Queen.

The Original Fairy Tale

In the original "Snow White" fairy tale, the Evil Queen learns from her Magic Mirror that Snow White is the fairest person in the land. Because she is so jealous, the Queen orders an unnamed Huntsman to take Snow White deep into the woods. She tells him to kill Snow White and bring back her lungs and liver as proof.

The Huntsman takes Snow White into the forest. But when he raises his knife, Snow White cries and begs him not to kill her. The Huntsman feels sorry for her. He decides to let her go, hoping she will be safe from wild animals. Instead of Snow White's organs, he brings the Queen the lungs and liver of a wild boar. The Queen's cook prepares them, and the Queen eats them, believing she has gotten rid of Snow White.

Modern Adaptations

1916 Film

In the 1916 silent movie, the Huntsman has a name: Berthold. He was played by the actor Lionel Braham.

Disney's Snow White

The Huntsman also appears in the 1937 Disney animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His voice was done by Stuart Buchanan. The Evil Queen is very jealous of Snow White's beauty. She orders the Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her. She warns him about the punishment if he fails. The Queen also demands that he bring back Snow White's heart in a special jeweled box.

When the Huntsman is about to use his knife on Snow White, he cannot do it. He tells Snow White that the Queen wants her dead and tearfully asks for her forgiveness. He then tells Snow White to run away into the woods and never return to the castle. Later, the Evil Queen shows the Magic Mirror the heart in the jeweled box. But the Magic Mirror tells her it is a pig's heart. This makes the Queen very angry, and she decides to deal with Snow White herself. The Huntsman is not seen again in the movie.

In 1994, the Huntsman was added to the theme park ride Snow White's Scary Adventures. In this version, he is voiced by Peter Renaday.

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics

The Huntsman appears in the "Snow White" episode of Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics. In the English version, his voice was provided by Mike Reynolds. The Evil Queen sends him to get rid of Snow White. However, Snow White's friend Klaus helps her escape. When the Huntsman chases Snow White, a wild boar attacks him. He falls off a cliff into the forest below.

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

In the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child version of Snow White, the story is set with a Native American theme. The character in the Huntsman's role is named Gray Wolf. He is voiced by Zahn McClarnon. Gray Wolf is from the same tribe as his older sister, Sly Fox.

Sly Fox tells Gray Wolf to take White Snow into the forest and kill her. He must bring back her liver as proof. When Gray Wolf takes White Snow into the forest, he cannot bring himself to kill her. He believes it is not a warrior's way to harm a child. White Snow learns that Sly Fox wants her dead. Gray Wolf tells her to run away into the woods and never come back. After White Snow leaves, Gray Wolf takes the liver of a deer to trick Sly Fox. Later, he visits Chief Brown Bear's tribe. He gives Sly Fox a bag with the deer liver, which she thinks is White Snow's.

Once Upon a Time

The Huntsman appears in the first season of the TV show Once Upon a Time. He is played by Jamie Dornan. In this story, the Huntsman is a solitary hunter who was raised by wolves. He sees wolves as his true family and is sad when animals die. The Evil Queen Regina thinks he is the perfect assassin. She hires him to kill Snow White. However, he spares Snow White because he is selfless.

When he offers the Queen a stag's heart instead, she realizes he tricked her. She then tears out the Huntsman's heart. She keeps it in her vault and uses it to make him her slave. When Prince Charming is about to be executed, the Huntsman helps him escape. The Prince asks him for help, but the Huntsman says he cannot leave. He tells the Prince not to let the sacrifice of his heart be for nothing.

In the town of Storybrooke, he is Sheriff Graham Humbert. He is the town's handsome and calm police officer. Sheriff Graham helps Mayor Regina Mills stop Owen and Kurt Flynn from leaving town. When Emma Swan arrives, he is one of the few people who go against Regina. He makes Emma his deputy. He and Emma are attracted to each other, but he has a secret relationship with Regina. Emma later finds out and feels betrayed. As he remembers parts of his past life, he asks Henry Mills for advice. Henry tells him about his story.

Graham cannot find his heart. He ends his relationship with Regina and starts a new one with Emma. He gets his lost memories back. However, Regina crushes his heart, and he dies in Emma's arms. He thanks Emma for helping him remember who he truly was.

The Huntsman Film Series

Snow White and the Huntsman

The Huntsman is one of the main characters in the film Snow White and the Huntsman. He is played by Chris Hemsworth. His name is Eric. Eric's wife, Sara, was seemingly killed while he was fighting in a war. After Snow White escapes into the Dark Forest, Queen Ravenna and her brother Finn make a deal with Eric. They promise to bring his wife back to life if he captures Snow White.

The Huntsman finds Snow White. But Finn reveals that Ravenna cannot actually bring people back to life. The Huntsman then fights Finn and his men while Snow White runs away. Throughout the movie, Eric becomes Snow White's friend and helps her fight against Queen Ravenna. He becomes very loyal to Snow White. He sees the same goodness in her that he loved in his wife. He also realizes that the Queen's trickery caused his wife's death.

The Huntsman: Winter's War

The Huntsman is the main character in the film The Huntsman: Winter's War. This movie is a prequel, meaning it tells a story that happened before Snow White and the Huntsman. Chris Hemsworth plays Eric the Huntsman again. The movie starts by showing Eric growing up as a Huntsman under the command of Freya. Freya is Ravenna's sister. Eric runs away from Freya's kingdom after his wife Sara is killed. This happens because Freya tries to make her huntsmen reject love.

Seven years later, after the events of the first film, Eric is asked to destroy Ravenna's mirror. But he ends up fighting Freya and is reunited with Sara. Sara reveals that her 'death' was faked by Freya. Freya used her magic to make Eric see Sara die, while Sara saw Eric seemingly leave her. Eric convinces Sara that Freya tricked them. Freya briefly uses the mirror to bring Ravenna back to life. However, Freya then helps her huntsmen kill Ravenna when she learns that her sister was responsible for the death of her baby daughter.

Ever After High

In Ever After High, a character named Hunter Huntsman is the son of the Huntsman. He is voiced by Grant George.

See also

In Spanish: Blancanieves para niños