Overview
The soul of the planet speaks to us
through the mythic imagination
Jonathan Young
FOLKLORE is a three part animated documentary series that explores humanity’s mythic imagination as expressed through the vast and wondrous world of fairytales and folklore. Beautifully animated tales together with thought-provoking interviews and discussions make this series excellent family viewing.
Folklore tales are often maligned as mere superstition and bedtime stories, something that belongs to an ignorant and best-forgotten past. But Folklore is in fact compacted wisdom literature that yields more information with each reading.
Today folklore and mythology are gaining some prominence in our society. Such recognizable modern works of storytelling such as STAR WARS, HARRY POTTER and LORD OF THE RINGS draw a heavy influence from the psychological framework of mythic tales. The very elements that strike a timeless chord with audiences share their roots with many of the world’s great myths, legends and fairytales.
Creators such as George Lucas and J.K. Rowling know that there is much we can learn by reflecting on the stories heard in childhood. Magical characters such as the Pied Piper, the talking frog and the fairy godmother are likely to remain in the imagination for a lifetime. The adventures these stories describe often reflect challenges we face in our journeys and hide a wealth of insights just below the surface. They are clearly more than mere entertainment for children.
Cultures around the world have their own brand of Folklore that reflects the inherent traditional wisdom of the culture. Finland with it’s tales of giants and sorcerers, Denmark has the works of Hans Christian Anderson and his stories such as The Little Mermaid, Germany has its multi-layered tales of social commentary, family tragedy and personal psychology as in The Pied Piper; Baghdad has Arabian Knights and Greece has its treasure trove of mythological tales and aesopic fables.
As one studies these ancient tales, the underlying parallels quickly transcend the cultural differences. Through them can be traced a golden thread that begins to outline what Carl Jung referred to as the collective unconscious and the vast and richly textured psychological landscape that we as individuals share with the rest of humanity.
The documentary series will highlight some of the world’s greatest tales of folklore, animated in a richly luminous style that brings to life the brush stroke of the fine artist using cutting edge animation techniques. The significance of the tales will be explored through interviews with recognized mythologists, psychoanalysts and traditional storytellers.