Revolting Rhymes (film) facts for kids

Revolting Rhymes is a fun, two-part TV film from 2016. It uses computer animation to bring to life stories from the famous book Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl. Quentin Blake illustrated the original book.

The film retells and mixes together five of the six poems from Dahl's book. Dominic West narrates the stories. The movie was made by Magic Light Pictures in Berlin and Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town. It was shown on BBC One in the UK and PBS in the United States.

The first part of the film was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. This was at the 90th Academy Awards.

Exploring the Story: Part 1

The film begins with an old woman, Miss Hunt, sitting alone in a restaurant. A wolf in a trenchcoat joins her. He says he is waiting for a friend. Miss Hunt is waiting to babysit children across the street.

The wolf sees her fairy tale book. He says he knows the "real" stories. He mentions his two nephews, Rolf and Rex. Then, he starts to tell his version of events.

Red Riding Hood and Snow White's Friendship

Years ago, a young Red Riding Hood sold flowers. She sold mistletoe to a young princess, Snow White. Snow White dropped it on her mother's grave. Red joined her, and they quickly became friends.

Snow White's father, the king, married a new queen, Miss Maclahose. She brought a magic mirror to the castle. The mirror always said she was the fairest. But when Snow White grew up, the mirror said Snow White was the fairest. The queen was very angry. She told the Huntsman to get rid of Snow White.

Red Riding Hood's Adventures

As an adult, Red Riding Hood ran her own flower stall. She kept her money in a piggy bank at Porkley's Bank. Red and Snow White were in the forest. The Huntsman appeared and took Snow White away. Red picked up his dropped pistol.

Meanwhile, Rolf, one of the wolf's nephews, was looking for food. He tricked Red's grandmother. Then he tried to trick Red. But Red was smart. She used the pistol to scare him away. She later made a new coat from his fur.

Snow White and the Jockeys

Snow White convinced the Huntsman to let her go. She ran away and ended up in the city. There, she became a cook for seven former jockeys. They loved to gamble on horse races but always lost.

Red Riding Hood tried to get her money from Porkley's Bank. The pig who ran the bank lied. He said the bank had no money. He had used the money for building projects with two other pigs. These pigs were building houses of straw and sticks.

The Three Pigs and the Wolves

The two building pigs were quickly scared away by Rex, the wolf's other nephew. Rex then went after the banker pig. The banker pig hid behind his strong teller window. The wolf decided to come back later to blow up the bank.

The banker pig called Red for help. He had read about her bravery. Red arrived and scared Rex away too. The banker pig thanked Red. Red then found out the bank had lots of money. She also found her broken piggy bank.

Friends Reunite and Get Rich

Snow White wanted to help the jockeys. She snuck back into her father's castle. She took the magic mirror. They used it to pick winning horses. The mirror said "Mistletoe" would win the next race. This made Snow White sad, and the mirror showed her Red on a bus.

Snow White met Red at the bus station. The two friends were very happy to see each other. Red had kept her money in a pigskin travel case. Red gave Snow White a fur coat made from Rex's skin. They and the jockeys became very rich from their horse racing wins.

The Wolf's Plan

The story ends back in the restaurant. The wolf reveals he has tied up Miss Hunt. He put on her clothes. He plans to get revenge on Red for scaring away his nephews. Snow White arrives at Red's house. Red lives there with her two children. Red and Snow White leave together. The wolf, dressed as Miss Hunt, goes to the house.

Exploring the Story: Part 2

Red's children quickly realize the wolf is not Miss Hunt. The daughter is surprised, but the son finds the wolf funny. The wolf goes to the kitchen and starts cooking. He playfully says he wants to eat the boy. The girl stops him by saying it's story time. The wolf agrees to read two stories.

Jack and Cinderella's True Story

The boy wants to hear Jack and the Beanstalk. The wolf says he must also tell Cinderella. He claims the stories they know are not the "true" versions. He then begins his story.

Jack lives in a poor house with his mother. He likes his neighbor, Cinderella, who is treated badly by her stepsisters. One morning, Cinderella takes some jam. Jack tries to warn her. Cinderella's stepsisters throw her into the basement. Jack's mother tells him to sell their old cow.

Jack trades the cow to a magic fairy for a bean. His mother is angry and throws the bean away. She then scolds him.

Cinderella's Wish and the Prince

Cinderella's stepsisters leave for a dance at the castle. Cinderella cries for help. The fairy appears. Cinderella asks for a beautiful dress and a coach. She wants to go to the dance and meet the prince. The fairy grants her wish. She warns Cinderella to leave by midnight.

Cinderella is the star of the dance. The prince dances with her. Her stepsisters are jealous. At midnight, Cinderella tries to leave. The prince tries to stop her. Her dress tears, and she loses a silver shoe. The prince says he will marry whoever the shoe fits. But he carelessly leaves the shoe. One of the stepsisters swaps it for her own smelly shoe.

Jack and the Beanstalk's Golden Leaves

The next morning, Jack sees a huge beanstalk. Its leaves are made of gold. Jack's mother sends him up. He finds a giant who threatens to eat him. Jack comes down quickly. His mother goes up instead and is scared away. Jack decides to clean himself. He then climbs up and collects the golden leaves. The giant cannot smell him.

The Prince's Search and Cinderella's Choice

In town, the prince tries to find the shoe's owner. The short stepsister's shoe is too big for everyone. When she tries it on, it fits. The prince is shocked. He had promised to marry the person the shoe fit. He tries to get out of it. He then acts very badly towards the stepsisters.

Cinderella is upset by the prince's actions. The prince does not recognize her. He chases her with his guards.

A Happy Ending for Cinderella and Jack

Red's son falls asleep. The daughter asks about Cinderella. The wolf is about to give a sad ending. But he sees the girl's worried face. The magic fairy appears to help Cinderella. Cinderella tells the fairy she doesn't want princes or money. She just wants a good person.

The fairy turns the prince and his guards into frogs. She leaves Cinderella in front of her old magic shop. Jack bought the shop and made it into a jam shop. Jack and Cinderella later marry. They have two children and live happily ever after.

The Wolf's Change of Heart

Both children are now asleep. The wolf decides not to get revenge. Red returns home. She finds her children sleeping. She also finds Miss Hunt's fairy tale book. Red is surprised to see the wolf. But the wolf simply says good night and leaves. Red sits in her kitchen, eating the stew the wolf made. The wolf leaves on a bus and returns to the woods.

Meet the Cast

• Dominic West plays the Wolf, the Magic Fairy, and the Giant.
• Rob Brydon plays the King, Rolf, the Banker Pig, and the Short Sister.
• Bertie Carvel plays the Mirror, the Huntsman, the Senior Dwarf, and the Prince.
• David Walliams plays Rex, the Straw and Twig Pigs, a Bystander, the Tall Sister, and Jack's Mother.
• Tamsin Greig plays Miss Hunt, Miss Maclahose, and Grandma.
• Rose Leslie plays Red Riding Hood.
  • Dolly Heavey plays Young Red Riding Hood.
• Gemma Chan plays Snow White.
  • Eden Muckle plays Young Snow White.
• Isaac Hempstead Wright plays Jack.
• Bel Powley plays Cindy.
• Dylan Issberner plays Red Riding Hood's son.
• Amelie Forester-Evans plays Red Riding Hood's daughter.

Where to Watch at Home

If you want to watch Revolting Rhymes at home:

• In the United Kingdom, it was released on DVD by Entertainment One and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in February 2017.
• In the United States, PBS Home Video released it on DVD in August 2017.