User Reviews

Quite simply one of the best ever Shakespearean adaptations, because it achieves the near-impossible balance of comedy and melancholy that makes 'Twelfth Night' the favourite Shakespeare play of the discerning. More than either, 'Twelth night' makes tangible a feeling of longing, the exquisitely fine puppetry, the richly detailed mise-en-scene, the haunting Elizabethan pastiche score, all frame characters alone and desiring unrequited. this courtly anguish is satisfyingly countered by the cruel, physical humour of Toby and Aguecheeks' world, but even here, Malvolio's mirroring humiliation returns us to sadness.

As said many times, have always had a lifelong love of animation, old and new. Disney, Studio Ghibli, Hanna Barbera, Tom and Jerry, Hanna Barbera, Looney Tunes and also the works of Tex Avery and Fleischer. With a broader knowledge of animation styles, directors, studios and how it was all done actually love it even more now.

Have also loved William Shakespeare's work from an early age, remember very fondly reading various parts aloud in primary and secondary school English classes when studying the likes of 'Macbeth', 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Twelfth Night' and various film adaptations such as Kenneth Branagh's 'Much Ado About Nothing' and Roman Polanski's 'Macbeth'. So a large part of me was hugely intrigued by 'Shakespeare: The Animated Tales', with such a high appreciation of both animation and Shakespeare. There was also the worry of whether Shakespeare would work as short animated adaptations compressed and condensed, when some much longer adaptations have suffered.

It was wonderful that 'Shakespeare: The Animated Tales' not only lived up to expectations but exceeded them. All my worries of whether it would work quickly evaporated when it absolutely did work and brilliantly.

Even with the short length, the essence and spirit of 'Twelfth Night', one of my favourite plays of Shakespeare and ever, are brought out brilliantly. It doesn't suffer from the condensation, even when everything is not there, nothing is incoherent which is a big achievement. For me, this is one of the best episodes of the series and one of my personal favourite versions of 'Twelfth Night'.

Shakespeare's colourful and thought-provoking language is as colourful and thought-provoking as one would hope, so many recognisable moments with all their impact. All in a way to appeal and be understandable to a wide audience, being easy to understand for younger audiences (of which the series is a perfect introduction of Shakespeare to), with such complex text and story elements a lot of credit is due. Adults will relish how the text is delivered, the many quotable lines and how well the essence of is captured.

Younger audiences and adults alike will marvel and be entranced by the riotous comedic elements and the emotion. There shouldn't be any confusion and there is nothing to scare youngsters. The characters are true to personality and handled with great respect.

The visuals are very appealing to look at, colourful, meticulously detailed, nicely rendered and atmospheric and perfectly suited to the various characters and tone of the play, not just the sparkling comedy but also the beautifully balanced melancholic edge that is not lost at all under the humour. The music is never inappropriate, the narration is never over-explanatory or annoying, brilliantly delivered by Rosemary Leech.

Fiona Shaw and Hugh Grant are immensely charming as Viola and Sebastian, while Roger Allam is a noble Orsino and Suzanne Burden's Olivia is dignified and moving. Stephen Tompkinson, Gerald James and William Rushton are hilarious and never overdone.

All in all, one of the high-points of this wonderful series. 10/10 Bethany Cox