Breaking Down Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Part One

Hans My Hedgehog

There are a collection of adults that grew up with Jim Henson's The Storyteller who are haunted by the terrifying tales shared in this award-winning children's program. I know it used to cause me nightmares, even though I adored it (to be fair, The Muppets also gave me nightmares).

In this collection of blogs, we will be looking at the origin of each episode's tale. Fairy tales often are vital teaching tools during our childhood, helping us learn about society, class, relationships and morals to name a few.

There are many different airing orders for The Storyteller. I will be taking my order from the original US airing.

Hans My Hedgehog tells the sorrowful tale of a poor boy born half hedgehog half boy. Originally an old German tale, the Brothers Grimm shared the story with the world in 1815. Of course, it's beginnings are much more primative than the Jim Henson version.

The Brothers Grimm tell the tale of a peasant and his wife, who are well of with plenty of land, but missing a child from their lives. When the peasant and his wife head to town they are often mocked for not having any children. One day after a particularly nasty encounter in the town the peasant becomes so angry he swears "he will have a child - even if it's a hedgehog!"

In true fairy tale form, the peasant gets his wish - a hedgehog for a son. The top half a hedgehog, the bottom half a boy. The poor child cannot be baptised because "we cannot ask anyone to be his godfather" and the only name they can give him is "Hans-my-hedgehog". Thus, the child's fate is sealed.

Given a bed of straw behind the stove, the wretched Hans is forgotten, his father resenting him for the humiliation he has brought on the family. After being given some bagpipes and a rooster to ride, Hans rides off into the forest relieving his parents of his company.

In the forest Hans lives his best life. He tends to the wild pigs of the forest and soothes them with his beautiful bagpipe playing. Years pass, till one day a King gets lost in the forest. Hans agrees to show the King out of the forest, but only if the King promises Hans the first thing that greets him when he returns in writing. Betting that Hans cannot read, the King agrees and writes down a riddle.

Hans shows the King out of the forest, the King reuniting with his daughter. Hans remains

in the forest, tending his pigs until one day another King gets lost in the forest. Hans makes the same offer to this King as the previous, and the King agrees - writing down that he promises Hans the very first thing that greets him once he reaches his kingdom.

Hans guides the King to safety, where the King is greeted by his beautiful only daughter. The King is sorrowful and tells her of his promise. The princess agrees that she must go with Hans when the time comes, as they should not break their promise.

Hans cares for his pigs so well that eventually the forest is overflowing. He warns his Father that he will be going to town with his pigs, and to empty out every stall, as he would be coming with such a large herd of pigs everyone would be able to have some. The father did as his son wished and there was a gigantic slaughter in the town. Hans promises his father that this would be the last time they saw each other and vows never to return.

Riding his rooster, Hans rides to the kingdom of the first king. The king had ordered for anyone riding a rooster to be shot dead. Upon Hans arrival he is greeted by kingsmen carrying bayonettes. Instead of being scared, Hans' rooster is spurred on, flying over the gate and into the King's castle. Hans calls for the King to give him his daughter or it will cost them their lives. The King gives in, giving his daughter over to Hans, where the ride off together.

The King is devastated, thinking he will never see his daughter again. Suddenly he sees his daughter running towards him, covered in blood. Hans had taken her out of town and then pricked her all over with his spines. This was their reward for their deciet - cursing the King and his daughter for as long as they live.

Hans continues on his way to the second King's province. Here Hans is greeted with salutes of respect, as he is escorted to the royal table. This King wanted to ensure that Hans was treated with the reverence he deserves for saving a kings life. Upon seeing Hans, the Princess is horrified, but knows nothing can be done. She marries Hans without protest and sits with him as the court celebrates their odd union.

That evening draws to a close, with bedtime coming soon. The princess is fearful of Hans' quills. Hans' consoles her that he will not hurt her and asks for four of the Kingsmen to stand guard outside the bedroom and make a large fire. There Han's would take off his suit of quills for the kingsmen to throw into the fire.

At the strike of midnight, Hans goes to bed removing his hedgehog quills. The kingsmen immediately run in and throw the suit of quills on the fire. As the fire consumes the hedgehog's skin, Hans' true form of a handsome young man is revealed - he has finally been redeemed.

Once the Princess sees Hans new state, she is overjoyed and the marriage is celebrated for real throughout the land.

Many years later Hans returns to his father and forgives him for his cruelty, allowing his father to come live with them all in his inherited kingdom.

Hans My Hedgehog has many tropes that are seen within the realm of fairy tales - the biggest take away being "never judge a book by it's cover". Hans is elevated to that of a monster super hero, defeating the evil king who was cruel to him culminating in the victory of becoming "normal". It is also worth noting that while Hans is of small stature (small enough to ride a rooster!) he is treated like miscreant due to his deformities - unlike other "tiny" heroes of the time like Tom Thumb. Hans deformities also lets the reader see him as the underdog, rather than the scary freak the first king and his father view him as.

The theme of metamorphosis is one often seen in Grimm's tales. Once Hans sheds his skin he is able to become the man he was always meant to be.

The Storyteller is now streaming on Amazon Prime.