listen to or read fairy fib is a quintessential part of grow up . After all , stories are how humans have made good sense of the earth since the dawn of time , and for many , that begins in childhood . queer tales tend to sport a common construction and recur trope , many of which have become so famous that they ’ve allow their mark on all the storey to have arrive after . It ’s no surprise , then , that many goggle box shows draw off brainchild from pouf tales , either basing their entire premiss around this impulsive storytelling or taking more specific elements from them .

hatful of films and shows attempt to retroflex the magic — and sometimes darkness — of poof tales , withDisney ’s definitive animated moviesbeing the most obvious examples . It ’s no secret that cinema likeCinderellaorSnow Whiteare modeled after fairy fib , even if they put new spin on the classic narratives . And clowning likeShrekbase many of their charactersand figure on these traditional types of stories , poking fun at them and offering fresh takes . The continued use of fairy tales to shape modern stories test how abiding and timeless their charm really is .

9Shadowhunters (2016-2019)

Faerie Folklore Is Prominent

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Shadowhunters is a television receiver serial ground on the Quran serial publication by Cassandra Clare . premiere in 2016 , it follow Clary Fray , who discovers her lineage and joins a grouping of demon hunter call Shadowhunters . As she navigates her new reality , she embarks on a commission to rescue her abduct female parent .

Shadowhuntersis the second springy - action adaptation of Cassandra Clare’sShadowhunter ChroniclesafterThe Mortal cat’s-paw : City of Bonesmovie . The tale espouse New York stripling Clary Fray as she actualize that she is one of the Shadowhunters : half - human , half - backer warrior task with preserve the world safe from demon . The fantasy show unravels from there , and its independent lore swear heavily on spiritual custom . However , there are other creatures that populate this world , admit faeries .

The faery inShadowhuntersare inspired by westerly folklore , with their hidden clandestine courts , erotic love of trickery and wordplay , and inability to rest all stemming from fairy tale .

Two reaction images featuring BBC’s Merlin and Arthur

Andthe faeries inShadowhuntersare animate by westerly folklore , with their hidden underground Margaret Court , love of shenanigan and paronomasia , and inability to lie all staunch from fairy tales to some extent . All of these thing makeShadowhunters’world feel rich , though their smaller influence on the show ranks it crushed than other fairy tale - enliven series .

8Merlin (2008-2012)

The Arthurian Cycle

In this reimagining of Arthurian legend , immature Merlin saves the life-time of young Prince Arthur , and realize that the reason for his magical natural endowment is to protect the future king . However , because thaumaturgy is illegal , Merlin must hide his endowment , even as he and Arthur become protagonist over their adventure .

All five season ofMerlinaired on the BBC , reimagining the legend of the Arthurian cycle , which are perfectly poised to infuse fag tale elements into their story . While the stories of King Arthur , his knights , and his magic adviser Merlin are not proper fairy story , the characters and adventures of the Arthurian bicycle feel corresponding in many ways . The details of Arthurian lore finger just as ever - present in westerly literature and culture as fag tales , and certain theme and pilot even overlap .

Merlin is still spill about today , principally thanks to the family relationship between Arthur and Merlin , which stay on one of the most memed on societal medium .

The Magicians Has 1 Of The Best Villain Introductions In A Fantasy Show

That ’s why it feels likeMerlinpulls from fairy tales to tell the history of a young warlock arrive in Camelot and meeting Prince Arthur . From that first encounter , the story moves through the yr and the events most people are familiar with : Arthur becoming King of Camelot , his marriage to Guinevere , and the threat posed to the realm by Morgan Le Fay . These events makeMerlinfeel familiar , even as the show throws surprise our way . It ’s a great series , if only loosely connected to pansy taradiddle .

7The Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016-2017)

Based On A Korean Legend About Mermaids

The Legend Of The Blue Sea is a South Korean television system series starring Jun Ji - hyun and Lee Min - ho . The story travel along a mermaid named Shim Cheong who navigates the modern world after come ashore and encounters Heo Joon - jae , a genius cozenage creative person . Their lives entwine as they uncover a deep joining root in their past during Korea ’s Joseon Dynasty . The series fuse fancy , romanticism , and military action with a diachronic backdrop .

Popular K - DramaThe Legend of the Blue Seafollows main characters Shim Cheong and Heo Joon - jae — respectively , a mermaid and a inmate artist — who mysteriously encounter in Spain before their paths cross again in Seoul . They are bound together by fortune and have already been lovers once before during the Joseon earned run average , something that is gradually revealed over the row of the drama .

The Joseon era is the period of Korean history that goes from the remainder of the fourteenth century to the remnant of the 18th C , when the Korean peninsula was rule by a monarchy .

Regina Emma and Neal in Once Upon a Time surrounded by a blue background

The K - Drama ’s story is based on an old Korean legend , one of the very first to be document in a collection of such tales . This finicky narrative center on a fisher who captures and then release a mermaid . This level is , of line , make over forThe Legend of the Blue Sea . The K - Drama does an impressive job of bringing this narrative to aliveness , honor Korean folklore and invest an intriguing twirl on it . It ’s one of the show to take on a more original fairy story , even if it is n’t as well - known or be intimate as some of the big serial to do so .

6Willow (2022)

A Feast For Fairy Tale Lovers

Based on the 1988 plastic film of the same name , Willowfollows a Nelwyn prestidigitator and an babe girl who are designate to unite their realms . Set over twenty years after the cinema ’s events ; Willow sees a ragtag crew of heroes pass by the titular Willow Ufgood as they journey to stop the Gales , an evil radical prepare on conquering the humankind .

Disney’ssadly short - livedWillowseriesis a continuation to the 1988 classical illusion movie of the same name , where would - be sorcerer Willow Ulfgood embarks on a journeying to save the new-sprung Elora Danan from the repellant machinations of Queen Bavmorda . Now a teen , Elora Danan has no idea of what power she sincerely holds . But like many Chosen Ones in fantasy stories , she finds out as she embark on an escapade under Willow ’s counselling .

illusion picture show from the ' 80smight not be for everyone , but theyowe everything to westerly fagot narrative and folklore , from their esthetics to their story anatomical structure and image . Disney’sWillowutilizes many sprite tale stapes as well , admit magic , enchanted forests , vicious fortress , brave princess disguised as kitchen maids , and horse eager to raise their Charles Frederick Worth . It ’s an absolute fete for fairy tale lovers , and it ’s a shameWillowwon’t see time of year 2 . Its shorter ravel land it modest among fairy fib - inspired series , but it ’s still deserving watching .

Emma from Once Upon a Time and Wirt and Greg in Over the Garden Wall

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

5The Magicians (2015-2020)

A Darker & More Mature Take On Narnia

The Magicians follows a mathematical group of immature adults who recruit at Brakebills University , a secretive mental institution devoted to teaching magic . As they engage in an unlawful education in spellcasting , they realize that a puerility fantasy world is indeed literal and introduce a significant scourge to humanity .

The Magiciansis free-base on Lev Grossman ’s Koran trilogy of the same name , which centre on a group of untried witching substance abuser who attend the honored Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy . The show ’s assumption is heavily reminiscent ofThe Chronicles of Narnia , and that ’s because it string aspiration from C.S. Lewis ' books , as well as stories likeHarry Potter . These obviously pull elements of their narratives from faery tales , butThe Magiciansalso puts a dark twirl on common fantasy theme , giving it a tone that almost feels more in line with sure fairy tales .

When compare The Beast ’s villain introduction to other iconic fantasy television show , it ’s gentle to see that The Magicians did it well .

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Shadowhunters is a television series based on the book series by Cassandra Clare. Premiering in 2016, it follows Clary Fray, who discovers her lineage and joins a group of demon hunters called Shadowhunters. As she navigates her new reality, she embarks on a mission to rescue her kidnapped mother.

The Magiciansfeels like a more " adult " take onThe Chronicles of Narnia , and its fantasy element draw from faggot tales and folklore in intriguing ways . This is best find out in Fillory , but it goes beyond the fantastical domain and its tool and encompasses the lesson the grapheme pick up and the nighttime turns the story takes . All of these thing makeThe Magiciansone of the best telecasting usher to pull from poof tales and folklore , though its more pernicious use of its inspiration lands it in the middle of the list .

4Galavant (2015-2016)

A Musical Spin On Classic Fairy Tales

Galavant is a musical drollery television serial that follows the adventures of the eponymic horse as he seek to domesticise his reputation and his love , Madalena , from the nefarious King Richard . Created by Dan Fogelman , the show combines elements of fancy and melodic theater , featuring a blend of liquid body substance , romance , and catchy songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater .

Galavantis what would chance ifThe Princess Diarieswas a musicalthat also subverted all its predictable trope . When Galavant , a jaunty horse , storms into the vicious King Richard ’s castle to deliver his beloved Madalena , he happen out that she prefers wed the King and have accession to his money and might . From there , Galavant embarks on a hilarious and melodic quest to win back his gayly ever after . The premiss alone is redolent of classic fairy tale , but that is n’t all .

Hilarious and sate with songs that will wrestle their way into anyone ’s ears — starting with the opening number , “ Galavant " — Galavanthas all the esthetics and spell of the most Greco-Roman queen tales , and it features all the archetypes — from knights and princesses to tycoon and sorcerers . But while it recycles these elements of faerie tales , it puts a unparalleled spin on them , lead in a compelling show that should have continued beyond two seasons . It ’s not as well - known as other appearance based on fairy tale , but it ’s still easily among the top five .

Headshot Of Katherine McNamara In The MPTF NextGen Annual Summer Party

3Grimm (2011-2017)

Fairy Tale Meets Police Procedural

Detective Nick Burkhardt let on he ’s a Grimm , a guardian tasked with prevent the balance between humanity and mythological creatures . As he navigate his new role , he battles dangerous Wesen while expose secrets about his root . With the help of friend , Nick face dark force threatening both worlds .

NBC’sGrimmis the perfect example of reworking sprite tarradiddle convention for modern hearing , as the show compound this category of storytelling with a police adjective data format . Grimm ’s floor watch over investigator Nick Burkhardt , who is a Grimm , a guardian tax with keeping the human mankind secure from the creatures of legend and folklore acknowledge as Wesen . He battles a great number of them over the course ofGrimm ’s six seasons , act upon alongside his partner , Detective Hank Griffin , who is ab initio unaware of Nick ’s supernatural nature .

Grimm ’s drear phantasy undertones reflect the original works well .

Headshot Of Cassandra Clare

As the title suggests , Grimmtakes its inspiration from the piece of work of the Brothers Grimm , who pull together the most popular German pansy tarradiddle of their sentence in the bookGrimms ’ Fairy Tales , print in 1812 . Most of their fairy narrative , even those that have become popular thanks to adaptation , are blue and bloody in nature . Grimm ’s dark fantasy undertones meditate the original kit and boodle well . This elevates it to be one of the best poove tarradiddle boob tube shows of all fourth dimension , though there are a couple that capture their effect even good ( even if they ’re not as morose ) .

2Over The Garden Wall (2014)

A Dark & Whimsical Animated Fairy Tale

Over the Garden Wall is a illusion - risky venture series create for Cartoon web by Patrick McHale . Two blood brother named Wirt and Greg become lose in a winding wooded kingdom known as the Unknown and must work with various wood - inhabit people and brute within to happen their direction home . The series was continued in a funny book run to expand the universe further .

The critically acclaimedOver the Garden Wallis an animated show that follows two half - brothers as they journey together and get lost in a mysterious and enchanted forest . The woodland itself is remindful of common fairy tale setting , with even its name — the Unknown — advert to the cryptic whimsy of these sorts of floor . In the Unknown , the brothers meet an regalia of the great unwashed and creatures as they endeavor to find their direction back home . All the while , they must elude the terrible Beast , who traps lost souls who have abandoned all hope .

While not revolutionize by one specific fairy tale , Over the Garden Wallundoubtedly draws inspiration from the genre . The dark forest is just the tip of the iceberg ; there are also wizardly helpers who are n’t what they seem , a looming evil threaten the protagonists , and two brothers willing to give themselves for one another . There ’s a reasonOver the Garden Wallcontinues to be discussed a decennary after its release , and it ’s because it embodies everything we know about fairy fib . There is one show that does this on an even wide weighing machine , however .

merlin

In this reimagining of Arthurian legend, young Merlin saves the life of young Prince Arthur, and realizes that the reason for his magical gift is to protect the future king. However, because magic is illegal, Merlin must hide his gift, even as he and Arthur become friends over their adventure.

1Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)

The Biggest & Best Fairy Tale Mash-Up

Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy - drama serial publication created for ABC that feature fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a forward-looking context . When Emma Swan and her Logos Henry accidentally drive into the Ithiel Town of Storybrooke , they shortly distinguish the inhabitants are those from fairy tale , and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry . Robbed of their pasts and collapse new identity by the Evil Queen know as Regina , the hope of the Ithiel Town ’s residents consist solely in the hands of Emma , who has stronger connections to the town than she knows .

Once Upon a Timeis perhaps the most famous slice of culture medium inspired by fairy tales , since a huge telephone number of them are adapted over the form of its seven seasons . All the fairy tale type one might recollect of make appearance inOnce Upon a Time , and they ’re all connect to one another . It makes for quite a complicatedfamily tree inOnce Upon a Time , but it ’s also the perfect apparatus for a shameful number of twists and turns .

Over its seven - season streamlet , Once Upon a Time has had many heart - breaking moments from character deaths to great romances ostensibly ending .

Headshot Of Colin Morgan

The history starts when Emma Swan arrive in the fancied town of Storybrooke , whose residents are all fairy tale character transported to the real world by a spell of the Evil Queen . The spell robs them of their memories , and they believe the individuality the Evil Queen crafts for them . Emma uncovers this and tries to save them with the help of her Logos , leading to an emotional and gripping streak . It ’s undoubtedly one of the ripe telecasting shew to take on fairy tales because it covers such a wide range of a function of them in a fresh mode .

Headshot Of Bradley James

The Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016)

The Legend Of The Blue Sea is a South Korean television series starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho. The story follows a mermaid named Shim Cheong who navigates the modern world after coming ashore and encounters Heo Joon-jae, a genius scam artist. Their lives intertwine as they uncover a deep connection rooted in their past during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. The series blends fantasy, romance, and action with a historical backdrop.

Cast Placeholder Image

Willow TV Series Poster

Based on the 1988 film of the same name,Willowfollows a Nelwyn magician and an infant girl who are destined to unite their realms. Set over twenty years after the film’s events; Willow sees a ragtag crew of heroes led by the titular Willow Ufgood as they journey to stop the Gales, an evil group set on conquering the world.

Headshot Of Tony Revolori

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The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.

Headshot Of Olivia Taylor Dudley

Headshot Of Jason Ralph

Galavant-1

Galavant is a musical comedy television series that follows the adventures of the eponymous knight as he attempts to reclaim his reputation and his love, Madalena, from the villainous King Richard. Created by Dan Fogelman, the show combines elements of fantasy and musical theater, featuring a blend of humor, romance, and catchy songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.

Headshot Of Timothy Omundson

Grimm TV Poster

Detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he’s a Grimm, a guardian tasked with keeping the balance between humanity and mythological creatures. As he navigates his new role, he battles dangerous Wesen while uncovering secrets about his ancestors. With the help of allies, Nick confronts dark forces threatening both worlds.

Headshot Of Russell Hornsby

Over the Garden Wall TV Series Poster

Over the Garden Wall is a fantasy-adventure series created for Cartoon Network by Patrick McHale. Two brothers named Wirt and Greg become lost in a winding wooded realm known as the Unknown and must work with various forest-dwelling people and creatures within to find their way home. The series was continued in a comic book run to expand the world further.

Headshot Of Elijah Wood

Once Upon a Time Poster

Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.

Headshot Of Ginnifer Goodwin