Who has heard of "The Storyteller" TV series?

[Paul Adams]

My girlfriend found this DVD by chance that she remembers from years ago on Swedish TV, a 9-epsiode TV series called "The Storyteller".

Basically they are classic German, Russian & Celtic folk/faerie tales narrated by John Hurt, and they are all acted out by some (very young-looking!) British actors alongside puppet creations from Jim Henson.

I'd never heard of this series at all, despite having Labyrinth and Dark Crystal and recalling the Muppet Show from my youth, and this series is absoultely fantastic!

Some of the actors involved are Sean Bean, French & Saunders, Miranda Richardson, Joley Richardson and a whole host of ones that I recognised but couldn't put a name to.

The copyright on the credits read 1988, so I would have been 13 at the time, and I'm amazed I've not heard of this before.
Does anyone remember this series from when it was originally broadcast?

If you get chance I can thoroughly recommend it - though my girlfriend said she could only source it from Canada, of all places!

[megah0]

I used to love the storyteller.

looks way dated now of course but at the time it was brilliant, they repeated some of them about 4 months ago

[CrapshoT]

I'm a storyteller and my stories must be told...
I can remember it m8 from the 80's lol
Fine kids tv.

[Ravens Nest]

I remember it had a cartoon at the start where i man was singing and he changed into different costumes and a fox was watching him inquisitively.

I used to really enjoy it when i was younger.

"In german im johan in england i am john"

[Sair33]

Yeah, yeah! I remember that!! The cartoon of the man singing at the begining used to be sitting in a tree playing a lute or something? Crumbs.... I'd forgotten that existed, that was a bit of a blast from the past!!!
I would have thought it was slightly older than 1988 though....

[Paul Adams]

Hmm, not sure if the intro was changed for the DVD, but it's not a cartoon - it's a collection of Jim Henson's puppet sequences from various episodes.

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet...e_Storyteller/

Can't remember the exact wording on the intro (despite watching all 9 episodes in 1 night lol), but it ends with a ring falling, bouncing and becoming the "O" in "Storyteller" and John Hurt's voiceover says "the warmest place by the fire was always saved for.... the Storyteller"

[Sair33]

Hmm, not sure if the intro was changed for the DVD, but it's not a cartoon - it's a collection of Jim Henson's puppet sequences from various episodes.

Hmmm... maybe it's not what I'm thinking of then?! I'm sure the one that I'm thinking of WAS called The Storyteller though, and eack week the story was different, sometimes cartoon, sometimes puppets, sometimes actors....
I can even remember the theme tune!!!!

Just Googled, and found this....
""I'm a storyteller, and my stories must be told...I have many stories, tales for both the young and old...On my many travels I have seen many faces, many tales have I...from many places...In Russia I am Ivan, in England I am John...In Germany I'm Johan, In Sweden I am Jaaaaaaaaan." There was an animated blue-dressed storyteller who was chased by a fox, and then the actual programme 'International Storyteller' was overdubbed"

THATS the one I'm thinking of... is that it?!?!?

[markoj32]

Hello,
I'm glad I found this forum. I was looking for info about a programme I think was called "Everything Under The Sun" i'm sure it was on around the same time as The Storyteller. They were both quite similar.
Can anyone help?
Oh, and I think there was more to The Storyteller song. Something like:" To teach you good sense when all else fails, sometimes there are tears, sometimes there is laughter, but always, a happy ever after"
I'm sorry, I got carried away.

[Zak33]

yeah..I believe it was

[Ravens Nest]

Sorry paul adams, i thought "The story teller" was the one with the man singing while playing the lute and having a fox watching him play.

But you meant this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...791047-4425207

[Paul Adams]

Yup, that be the one I meant
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092383/

I do vaguely recall the "animated fox intro" TV series from when I was a lad, have no clue if it was called the same thing though.

[Ravens Nest]

Cool i thought so, The other one i mixed up with "the story teller" was....

STORYBOOK INTERNATIONAL

And here are two different sets of lyric's pick one and then you can all sing along

"I'M A STORY TELLER, AND MY STORIES MUST BE TOLD.
I HAVE MANY STORIES, TALES FOR BOTH THE YOUNG AND OLD.
THROUGH MY MANY TRAVELS I HAVE GATHERED THESE TALES,
TO TEACH YOU GOOD SENSE, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE TEARS, SOMETIMES THERE IS LAUGHTER,
BUT ALWAYS, A HAPPILY EVER AFTER."

"I'm a storyteller, and my stories must be told.
I have many stories, tales for both the young and old.
On my many travels I have seen many faces,
many tales have I from many places.
In Russia I am Ivan, in England I am John.
In Germany I'm Johan, In Sweden I am Jan."

[Stoo]

I remember that, there was a dog puppet he used to talk to a lot

'twas ace

[redsulphur]

Cool i thought so, The other one i mixed up with "the story teller" was....

STORYBOOK INTERNATIONAL

And here are two different sets of lyric's pick one and then you can all sing along

"I'M A STORY TELLER, AND MY STORIES MUST BE TOLD.
I HAVE MANY STORIES, TALES FOR BOTH THE YOUNG AND OLD.
THROUGH MY MANY TRAVELS I HAVE GATHERED THESE TALES,
TO TEACH YOU GOOD SENSE, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE TEARS, SOMETIMES THERE IS LAUGHTER,
BUT ALWAYS, A HAPPILY EVER AFTER."

"I'm a storyteller, and my stories must be told.
I have many stories, tales for both the young and old.
On my many travels I have seen many faces,
many tales have I from many places.
In Russia I am Ivan, in England I am John.
In Germany I'm Johan, In Sweden I am Jan."

.....oh its called 'Storybook International'....Hiya... just passed by to say thanks....now I know the title ..maybe I can track down the DVD!... I have been searching for this series for absolute ages!!... your a star

[damo]

hi everyone,

just wanted to let you know, if you're looking for "Storybook Inernational" aka "International Storyteller", the complete series (65 x 24-minute episodes over 10 discs) is available to buy on dvd here:

starmaker2.com/storybookinternational/SI-Theme.html

US$69.95
equiv.£37.02
or 55.07 EUROS (excl. shipping)

on the webpage, there's a clip of the opening song/animated sequence..."i'm a story teller, and my stories must be told...".
i think it has been re-recorded as, i recall the male vocal was somewhat deeper toned.
i assume they couldn't get clearance to use it? perhaps, the original singer is dead/missing/hiding?

either way, it's worth seeing again. the expressions the fox does cracks me up everytime!

best,
damo

[mccloud]

Thanks for the link, that song has been knocking round on the inside of my head for ages, being trying to remember all the correct lyrics for years! ... and your right the song has been re-recorded. Different voice, but also they have changed the words ... "in America I am John!!!!" , it was always "in England I am John" , 4 syllables instead of 2 - yuck - just does not fit !