"The Storyteller" (1988) TV series 1988-

Creator:

Jim Henson
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 May 1988 (UK)

Genre:

Fantasy

Plot:

An old storyteller tells European folk tales to his sarcastic dog.

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Wedding | Forest | King | Hedgehog

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

John Hurt	...	The Storyteller (9 episodes, 1988)
Brian Henson	...	Storyteller's Dog / ... (9 episodes, 1988)

Series Directed by
Steve Barron		(3 episodes, 1988)
Jim Henson		(2 episodes, 1988)

Series Writing credits
Anthony Minghella		(9 episodes, 1988)
Jim Henson		(1 episode, 1988)

Series Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1988)
Jim Henson	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1988)
Duncan Kenworthy	....	producer (8 episodes, 1988)

Series Original Music by
Rachel Portman		(9 episodes, 1988)

Series Cinematography by
John Fenner		(9 episodes, 1988)

Series Film Editing by
David Yardley		(8 episodes, 1988)
Colin Green		(3 episodes, 1988)

Series Casting by
Debbie McWilliams		(9 episodes, 1988)

Series Production Design by
Roger Hall		(9 episodes, 1988)

Series Costume Design by
Ann Hollowood		(9 episodes, 1988)
Polly Smith		(9 episodes, 1988)

Series Makeup Department
Sally Sutton	....	makeup supervisor (9 episodes, 1988)

Series Production Management
Chris Carr	....	production supervisor: Creatureshop (8 episodes, 1988)
Donald Toms	....	production manager (8 episodes, 1988)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Layton	....	third assistant director (4 episodes, 1988)
Terry Madden	....	assistant director / first assistant director (4 episodes, 1988)
Callum McDougall	....	key second assistant director (4 episodes, 1988)
Barry Wasserman	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1988)

Series Art Department
Dean Coldham	....	plaster department (9 episodes, 1988)
Micky Mills	....	props (9 episodes, 1988)
Paul Bradburn	....	props (unknown episodes)
John Davis	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Cookman	....	dubbing mixer / post-production sound (9 episodes, 1988)
Peter Sutton	....	sound recordist (8 episodes, 1988)
Nigel Read	....	post-production sound (4 episodes, 1988)

Series Special Effects by
Jane Gootnick	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (9 episodes, 1988)
John Schoonraad	....	animatronics / creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (9 episodes, 1988)
John Stephenson	....	creative supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (9 episodes, 1988)
Mike Osborn	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (6 episodes, 1988)
Ron Mueck	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (5 episodes, 1988)
Geoff Paige	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (5 episodes, 1988)
Cas Willing	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (5 episodes, 1988)
Nigel Booth	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (4 episodes, 1988)
Dave Housman	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (4 episodes, 1988)
Stephen Norrington	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (4 episodes, 1988)
Chris Barton	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (3 episodes, 1988)
Steve Donald	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (3 episodes, 1988)
Verner Gresty	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (3 episodes, 1988)
Gary Pollard	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (3 episodes, 1988)
Polly Smith	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (3 episodes, 1988)
David Barrington-Holt	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1988)
Paul Catling	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1988)
Pauline Fowler	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1988)
Jim Sandys	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1988)
Nik Williams	....	creature designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1988)

Series Visual Effects by
Chris Carr	....	production supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (1 episode, 1988)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Taylor	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1988)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daryl Bristow	....	wardrobe supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Sue Taylor	....	post-production coordinator (4 episodes, 1988)

Series Other crew
J. Nigel Pickard	....	series consultant (8 episodes, 1988)
Monica Rogers	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 1988)
Lissa Ruben	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 1988)
Brian Bailey	....	production accountant (4 episodes, 1988)

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA)
• TVS Television

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (1988) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (separate release)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (the complete collection)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (the complete collection)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (the definitive collection)
• Verenigde Arbeiders Radio Amateurs (VARA) (1989) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Also Known As:

"Jim Henson's The Storyteller" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

225 min (9 episodes) | 25 min (9 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

Jim Henson hadn't actually thought of having the Storyteller's Dog talk, but Anthony Minghella simply assumed that since he was writing for Jim Henson, animals talk, and thus the Storyteller had a talking dog.

Quotes:

The Storyteller:[opening lines] When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories, foretold the future with stories, the best place by the fire was kept for... The Storyteller.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: Episode #34.11" (2005)

amazingly satistfying

i loved this series when i was 6 and now i own it on dvd i love it even more.The key to this(and all the other jim henson fantasies)is that if they had recreated all those monsters with a computer, it might have looked okay then but by now it would of been laughed at by any critical viewer.The stories are all so beautifully created they are extremeley hard to forget, and who said the title music was corny!! my favourite of all the stories is probably the three ravens in a close tye with the soldier and death. the only episode i dont like is hans my hedgehog, this can be forgiven as it was made as a pilot and probably had smaller budget, the camera is shakey storytellers makeup is different and hans mum and dad are two terribly annoying actors but all the rest are great buy and enjoy edward