Now, Netflix, in collaboration with Wit Studio and six different filmmakers, presents new versions in an original anime omnibus, all of which take a rather darker approach to the originals, frequently including supernatural and sci-fi elements. Each episode begins with Charlotte, younger sister to the Grimm Brothers, asking for a particular type of story and them coming up with one in their repertoire, although, as just mentioned, the original stories are turned into something completely different.
Soon, however, the true villain is revealed to be someone else. The combination of baroque setting, as exhibited in the dolls that appear throughout and the mystery that permeates the story is quite appealing to watch, in a great start to the omnibus. The episode is quite brutal, including scenes of torture, and in general one that aims at entertainment through exploitation. The episode moves into sci-fi territory eventually, although in a way that seems clumsy, in one of the weakest segments here.
The comments about how the particularly industry works and the concept of creativity, inspiration and plagiarism work quite well here, in a rather grounded segment. There is also a sex scene, in a rather unusual tactic for an anime. Her teacher seems to want to save her from her future, but he obviously wants something else too. The pragmatist attitude of the girl is as shocking as the state of mind of the people around her. In general, it is easy to say that the creators succeeded in reinvigorating the stories, although not to the same level, something that also applies to the quality of each episode, as is usually the case in omnibuses.
There are times, however, that they seem to try too hard to make the stories more adult-themed, in an effort to entertain a different audience, while the supernatural elements do not always work. The artform is also quite appealing, with the intros and the outros featuring the Grimm siblings looking as if they jumped out of a children's book, a tactic that also appears throughout the episodes.
On the other hand, the differences in quality and the heaviness of the episodes prevent it from being binge worthy, while the sense that the creators tried too hard is evident throughout.
