New Netflix Anime is a Must-Watch For Fans of Retro Anime for One Big Reason

Summary Netflix's The Grimm Variations changes the game by blending classic fairy tales with unique twists and engaging storytelling.

Collaborating with CLAMP brings a fresh and captivating flair to retro anime and manga fans looking for innovative adaptations.

The anime features familiar stories like Cinderella with unexpected developments, transforming them into compelling and exciting new takes.

Netflix original net animations have featured exciting adaptations of popular Japanese manga, but The Grimm Variations takes a different approach to adaptations. One central appeal to this new Netflix anime is the presence of the legendary CLAMP manga artists group among its production staff, which may appeal to retro fans. It brings The Grimm Variations from already having a bold premise to draw viewers' curiosity into one that commands their attention.

Regarding Netflix originals, The Grimm Variations has a relatively simple appeal as an anime. As the title suggests, it is an anthology of fairy tales by the Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, given an impressive array of twists, including different settings, periods, and even genres. But viewers may be excited by one credit as the elegant title sequences roll, with retro fans rejoicing for the contribution of CLAMP.

Related Classic Fairytales Get a Twisted Retelling in New Anime From Netflix Iconic fairy tales like Cinderella are set to get their own anime adaptations in a new anthology from Netflix, but with a much darker twist.

Netflix Anime The Grimm Variations Features Iconic Manga Artists Group

CLAMP Designed Many Characters For the New Anime

The Grimm Variations is a collaboration that features not only Netflix and WIT Studio but also twenty characters initially designed by legendary manga artist group CLAMP, Anime News Network reports. The anime is a Netflix anthology of Grimm fairy tales featuring distinctive one-shot characters created by the Cardcaptor Sakura, X, and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle creators. The unique character design gives flair and personality to each story, with specific highlights including "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Town Musicians of Bremen."

CLAMP is the name given to the iconic all-female mangaka group composed of Nanase Okawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi. Their art style incorporates cute, attractive character designs, such as in Cardcaptor Sakura, but The Grimm Variations also incorporates gloomier, moodier, even dystopian designs, like in Clover. This results in an elegant collaboration with WIT Studio for engaging stories with memorable characters, down to the charming watercolor-style framing device as Jacob and Wilhelm tell tales to a young Charlotte.

Twisted Takes on Classic Stories in This Netflix Original Anime

CLAMP Creates Characters Who'd Fit in Trigun or Black Mirror in The Grimm Variations

The Grimm Variations tells six original twists on classic Grimm fairy tales, each bookended by appearances by the Brothers Grimm and Charlotte to narrate them. None of the tales are told as they are remembered initially, and in many cases, namely Little Red Riding Hood or The Elves and the Shoemaker. However, the result is a set of refreshing twists on what could have otherwise been a stale experience, thanks to CLAMP and WIT Studio's signature quality.

The six episodes of The Grimm Variations in the order they appear on Netflix: Cinderella Little Red Riding Hood Hansel and Gretel The Elves and the Shoemaker The Town Musicians of Bremen Pied Piper of Hamelin

Each story features a distinctive twist in its genre, along with unexpected developments in the plot. "The Town Musicians of Bremen" suddenly becomes a sci-fi Western in the style of Trigun, "Little Red Riding Hood" features a lethally capable title character, and "Pied Piper of Hamelin" plays like a quest for enlightenment. The Grimm Variations results in a fascinating anime collaboration using CLAMP's signature style, elegant renditions of classical music, and mature themes. It'll surely be a hot topic for anime fans as they compare their favorite of its featured episodes.