10 Best Shows Inspired by Fairy Tales, Ranked

Fairy tales are a universal part of childhood, expanding minds with stories filled with adventure, love, fantasy, and moral lessons. On the small screen, fairy tales come to life, reimagined, and bringing a fresh take to beloved classic characters.

While some on-screen adaptations are more faithful to their source material, there are many that explore new worlds, themes, and unexpected genres, enticing audiences of all ages. Shows like The Sandman with its darker, more mature themes of the classic, Tin Man, and even Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, a whimsy approach to magic, showcase fairy tale evolution, captivating audiences generation after generation with both nostalgia and modernism.

10

‘Sofia the First’ (2013–2018)

Created by Craig Gerber

Sofia the First is the clear choice for a list based on fairy tale characters. The show follows little Sofia, a young girl, who, overnight, becomes a princess. On her journey as a new royal, Sofia must learn courage, kindness, and friendship.

Sofia the First offers elements of several classic fairy tales, while not directly based on one. The series features appearances of various well-known Disney princesses like Cinderella and Ariel, as it offers many positive messages. With charming characters and touching moments, the series resonates well with its young audiences and their families.

9

‘RWBY’ (2013–)

Created by Monty Oum

RWBY is an unexpected gem for fans of the animation genre. The thrilling series is set in the world of Remnant, following four young ladies–Ruby Rose (Lindsay Jones), Weiss Schnee (Kara Eberle), Blake Belladonna (Arryn Zech), and Yang Xiao Long (Barbara Dunkelman)—as they grow their skills all in the effort of protecting their world from malevolent creatures.

While RWBY had a rough start with its animation journey, the series gained a lot of popularity for its intriguing story, which heavily resembles popular fairy tales. The show distinctly showcases characters with traits inspired by classic tales, with one of the most obvious being Ruby, who dons a red cape and often battles wolf-like creatures. While not obvious, the show’s enticing mesh of fairy tale aspects and its thrilling original story captivates viewers, while still giving a subtle nod to inspirational classics.

8

‘Tin Man’ (2007)

Created by Craig W. Van Sickle and Steven Long Mitchell

Tin Man is a severely underrated miniseries that is definitely an entertaining watch. This reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum follows a young woman who is thrust into the world of the O.Z.-the Outer Zone. There she embarks on a journey to uncover her destiny.

Although darker-toned, Tin Man is a mature twist to a very classic tale. As cherished and loved as The Wizard of Oz is, with its many adaptations, Tin Man offers science fiction and fantasy elements, giving such a familiar story a steampunk-inspired aesthetic. While the series is in no way perfect, it’s remembered for transforming a light, joyful classic into something much darker and more complex.

7

‘The Changeling’ (2023–)

Created by Kelly Marcel

The Changeling is a mixed bag of fantasy, horror, and fairy tale magic. The story follows a rare book dealer, Apollo Kagwa (LaKeith Stanfield), in New York City, whose world is turned upside down following the birth of his child, leading him on a rather fantastical journey.

The Changeling is inspired by the European myth about fairies who replace human children with their own. With a unique and modernized element, audiences are entranced by the series’ story and themes of parenthood. Disguised among the horror and thrills lies a show with a lot of depth.

6

‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)

Created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy

This iconic series was quite popular during its run on screens. Merlin follows the adventures of a young Merlin, as he navigates his life protecting the famed prince, Arthur of Camelot, while magic is forbidden.

The BBC show is inspired by Arthurian legends, offering a unique approach to the traditional story of the renowned wizard, Merlin. Merlin garnered a dedicated fan base with its thrilling story, character developments, and most importantly, the touching relationship between Merlin and Arthur. Even with the show’s natural conclusion, the popular series still draws a mass of new, curious viewers.

5

‘Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure’ (2017–2020)

Created by Shane Prigmore and Chris Sonnenburg

Also known as the Tangled The Series, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure is a sequel to the extremely popular Disney animated film, Tangled. The series follows the adventures of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) as she adjusts to her new life as a princess, expanding on its original story.

Offering new characters and fun plotlines, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure is definitely an enjoyable experience. The show is unmistakenly inspired by the timeless fairy tale, Rapunzel, showcasing fun musical numbers, pleasing animation, and surprisingly complex characters, appealing to both children and adults alike.

4

‘Grimm’ (2011–2017)

Created by Stephen Carpenter, David Greenwalt, and Jim Kouf

This ideal comfort series was an underrated goody that offered an ambitious paranormal fantasy to its audience. Grimm centers around homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), who discovers his new role as a Grimm, a guardian responsible for safeguarding the balance between humanity and fairy tale creatures known as Wesen.

Inspired by the Brothers Grimms’ fairy tales, Grimm features classic stories like Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel, with a rather modernized approach. The series kept its viewers engaged with its thrilling mix of supernatural elements and crime-solving themes. Unfortunately, the series was canceled in 2016, disappointing many fans.

3

‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011–2018)

Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz

Nothing screams, “great story,” like the famed words, “Once upon a time.” The popular fantasy series Once Upon a Time is set in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, where fabled characters have been placed under a curse to live in the “real world,” without the memories of their actual identities. To help them reveal the truth is the cynical outsider Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who may not be just an ordinary outsider after all.

Once Upon a Time is a hotbed of popular fairy tale characters. Featuring iconic characters like Cinderella and Prince Charming, and even famed villains like the Evil Queen and Rumpelstiltskin, Once Upon a Time is cherished for its inventive recounting of beloved classics. While the series suffered from a slightly convoluted plot later on in its years, audiences still enjoyed the adventurous story and the depth it brought to dear characters.

2

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2012–2016)

Created by Jennifer Levine, Sherri Cooper-Landsman, and Ron Koslow

The CW network has been known to produce some of the most captivating guilty pleasures for audiences, and one of them happens to be the beloved series, Beauty and the Beast. The show centers around a detective, Catherine Chandler (Kristin Kreuk), as she partners with ex-soldier Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan). Due to a failed experiment, Vincent hides from the government, while suffering beastly side effects.

Beauty and the Beast is a modern adaptation of the iconic classic of the same name. The series explores themes of identity, social acceptance, and, most importantly, love. Beauty and the Beast appeals to both fans of the original tale and new unfamiliar audiences, due to the show’s emotional depth and character relationships.

1

‘The Sandman’ (2022–)

Created by Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer

The Sandman gained a massive following after its premiere in 2022. The dark fantasy is an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s popular comic series and follows the personification of dreams, Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), who after many years has escaped his man-made prison. Now Morpheus must embark on a journey to restore his power and his dilapidated realm.

While The Sandman is not directly based on any particular fairy tale, the story pulls its inspiration from various mythological folklore, such as Norse, Greek, and Christian mythology, as well as the folklore of dreams and death. The series is a faithful adaptation of the source material, seamlessly blending fantasy themes with real-world elements. Though The Sandman is ending with Season 2 following sexual assault allegations against Gaiman.

NEXT: The Best Fairy Tale Movies of All Time, Ranked