It’s been a rough week and I need to go to my happy place. In my happy place, the theme songs from these two cartoons of childhood play on repeat:
Thing #1 – Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics
This is one of those Japanese animation shows I watched before I knew what Japanese animation was. Each episode was a re-telling of one of Grimm’s classic fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel. Some of the stories, like Snow White, spanned several episodes. Of all the cartoons I watched in the 80s, I think Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics has the happiest theme song I’ve ever heard. It makes me think of rainbows and fluffy clouds and bunnies and sunshine.
Here, have a listen. I guarantee it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Come along, come along!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QswFm2rvSY8
Thing #2 – The World of David the Gnome
The second happiest cartoon theme song I’ve ever heard is from The World of David the Gnome. It kind of has the same musical vibe as The Neverending Story theme song and has lyrics like, In every wish and dream and happy home, you will find the kingdom of the gnomes. David the Gnome was voiced by American television actor Tom Bosley, who sadly passed away just two years ago. His familiar, comforting voice made me feel as if I was listening to my grandfather when I watched this show.
Look around you…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISHIR3laLng
What do these two things have in common?
Besides having ridiculously happy theme songs, Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics and The World of David the Gnome are both animated shows that aired on Nickelodeon around the same time, in the mid-eighties. They were part of the original Nick Jr. lineup that I used to watch early in the morning. Both of these shows had a charming, sweet innocence about them and usually instilled some moral value or taught a life lesson. Also, both shows were adapted from foreign languages: Japanese in Grimm’s case, and Spanish in David the Gnome’s.
Just this year a David the Gnome 3-disc DVD box set was released but it’s hard to get a hold of without paying a ridiculous price. Similarly, Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics is also difficult to find on DVD, and even if you do, only a handful of select episodes are available and even then it’s for Region 2 (EU).
What is Two Things about?
A series of posts in which I gush about two semi-related things I love, explain why I love them, and what they have in common. I know, it all sounds so riveting. But I hope you’ll at least find it mildly entertaining, and maybe even discover some cool things you might not know about.
