Cinderella

Cinderella, also known by the Japanese title Shinderera Monogatari, is a Japanese animated television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and based on the Cinderella fairy tale associated with Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. The series originally aired from April 4 through October 3, 1996, and consists of 26 episodes. Rather than presenting only the familiar final portion of the tale, it expands Cinderella’s life into an extended serialized adventure involving family conflict, friendship, palace intrigue, romance, and an attempted coup. The story begins with Cinderella living as the daughter of a wealthy widowed duke. After her father leaves on a lengthy business trip, her stepmother moves her into the attic, gives her a servant’s clothing, and subjects her to exhausting domestic work alongside her two stepsisters. The series emphasizes Cinderella’s perseverance and emotional resilience while depicting her gradual adaptation to her new circumstances. Her isolation is softened by a group of animal companions: her dog Patch, the mice Chuchu and Bingo, and the bird Pappy. Cinderella’s fairy godmother, Paulette, secretly watches over her and gives the animals the power of speech, allowing them to support Cinderella and assist with her daily struggles. The series significantly changes the conventional structure of the fairy tale by introducing the prince early in the narrative. Cinderella encounters a boy who claims to be a page serving the prince of the Emerald Castle. She recognizes that he is not telling the truth and calls him a liar, not realizing that he is actually Prince Charles in disguise. Charles regularly leaves the castle because he dislikes the restrictions and duties of royal life. After their initial misunderstanding, Cinderella and Charles become friends and share a succession of adventures. Their relationship gradually develops into a romance, while Charles gains a more serious understanding of responsibility after seeing the hardship Cinderella experiences. A parallel political storyline centers on Duke Zaral, who seeks influence over the royal family and attempts to arrange a marriage between his daughter Isabel and Prince Charles. Isabel eventually understands that Charles does not love her and chooses another path with a childhood friend. Zaral’s ambitions later develop into a conspiracy to overthrow the king and queen. Cinderella and Charles become involved in uncovering the plot, and Charles ultimately identifies Zaral as its instigator. The confrontation forces Charles to reveal his royal identity to Cinderella. Feeling deceived and believing that a prince could never marry a servant, Cinderella breaks off their friendship. The familiar ball and glass-slipper elements appear near the end of the series. Charles’s parents organize a ball after deciding that he is ready to assume the throne. Cinderella plans to attend in order to say farewell, but her stepfamily destroys her invitation and ridicules her mother’s old dress. Paulette then reveals herself as Cinderella’s fairy godmother, repairs the dress and invitation, and creates a carriage, warning Cinderella that the enchantment will end at midnight. At the ball, Charles is drawn to the disguised Cinderella because her manner seems familiar. She leaves before midnight but loses one of her shoes. Charles’s page Alex later searches for the woman who wore the shoe. Cinderella initially hesitates to identify herself, but her animal companions help establish that she possesses the matching shoe. She is taken to the palace and becomes engaged to Charles. The final conflict occurs on the wedding day, when Zaral poisons Charles and kidnaps Cinderella in an effort to force the kingdom’s surrender. Charles has only pretended to be poisoned, and he confronts Zaral at the castle clock tower. Their fight ends with Zaral falling to his death. The series concludes with the restoration of peace and Cinderella’s marriage to Charles. The program combines f…

Cinderella is a Japanese anime adaptation of the traditional Cinderella fairy tale. It was produced by Tatsunoko Production and broadcast in 1996 as a 26-episode television series. The production expands the traditional story beyond the ball, transformation, and marriage. Its opening episodes establish Cinderella’s difficult position after her father leaves on business: her stepmother and stepsisters move her to the attic and force her to perform household labor. A major structural feature is the early introduction of Prince Charles. Disguised as a page, Charles meets Cinderella outside the palace and initially conceals his identity. Their relationship develops through repeated encounters and adventures, allowing the series to explore both Cinderella’s hardships and Charles’s gradual recognition of royal responsibility. The supernatural dimension is represented by Paulette, Cinderella’s fairy godmother, who operates discreetly for much of the story. She gives speech to Cinderella’s dog, two mice, and bird, creating a supporting group that helps Cinderella endure her treatment and navigate later events. The series also introduces an original political antagonist in Duke Zaral. His attempts to connect his family to the royal line eventually become part of a larger conspiracy against the king and queen. Cinderella and Charles help expose the plot, but the revelation of Charles’s identity temporarily breaks their relationship. The story then returns to recognizable fairy-tale motifs through the royal ball, magical restoration of Cinderella’s clothing, the midnight deadline, and the lost shoe. The closing episodes add another original danger. Zaral kidnaps Cinderella and attempts to use her as leverage against the kingdom after apparently poisoning Charles. Charles’s poisoning is revealed to have been feigned, leading to a confrontation at the castle clock tower and Zaral’s death. Cinderella and Charles marry after the threat is defeated, providing the expected happy ending while preserving the series’ expanded adventure and political plotlines. The television series originally aired from April 4 to October 3, 1996. Its associated original soundtrack contains 26 tracks. John Sposito composed the music, Paola Granatelli wrote the lyrics, and Erica Gaura performed the theme song Cenerentola. The supplied reference material does not establish later seasons, a current owner, a continuing production status, or a separate consumer-products business.

• 1996

  Television series premieres

  [1]Cinderella (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  Cinderella began its original Japanese television broadcast on April 4, 1996.

• 1996

  Original broadcast concludes

  [1]Cinderella (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  The 26-episode series completed its original run on October 3, 1996.

• 1996

  Original soundtrack released or associated with the series

  [1]Cinderella (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  An original soundtrack associated with the series contains 26 tracks, including the theme song Cenerentola.

A serialized family-oriented fairy-tale anime that combines the Cinderella story with original character development, talking-animal companions, romantic adventure, and royal political intrigue.

• Anime television series · 1996

  Cinderella

  A 26-episode Japanese animated television series produced by Tatsunoko Production. It adapts the Cinderella fairy tale into a longer fantasy narrative involving Cinderella’s mistreatment by her stepfamily, her friendship with disguised Prince Charles, the intervention of fairy godmother Paulette, talking animal companions, and Duke Zaral’s conspiracy against the royal family.

• Television soundtrack · 1996

  Cinderella Original Soundtrack

  A soundtrack collection associated with the animated series and consisting of 26 tracks. The music was composed by John Sposito, with lyrics credited to Paola Granatelli. Its principal theme is Cenerentola, performed by Erica Gaura.

1. 1Cinderella (TV series)en.wikipedia.org