The Legend of Snow White (白雪姫の伝説, Shirayuki Hime no Densetsu) is a Japanese-Italian anime series produced by Tatsunoko Production and Mondo TV, based on the 1812 European fairy tale. Directed by Kunitoshi Okajima, the series premiered on NHK on 6 April 1994 and ran for 52 episodes until its conclusion on 29 March 1995.
The series uses two pieces of theme music: one opening theme, "Heart no mori e tsuretette" by Miki Sakai with Red Dolphins, and one ending theme, "Folk Dance" (フォークダンス, Foku Dansu) by Mebae Miyahara. The original score was written by video game composer Hiroki Kikuta.
Contents
Plot
The story starts with the birth of a beautiful princess whose skin was as white as snow, hair like ebony and lips like the red color of the roses. Her parents, King and Queen of the Emerald Valley, name her Snow White. The little girl grows happy and healthy, and when her 4th birthday arrives, her parents give her three delightful pets for her presents: a puppy, a cat and a dove.
Soon, Queen Isabelle falls ill and dies, after which Lady Chrystal takes her place, who turns out to be not only an evil, selfish, ambitious woman, she also indulges in the black art of sorcery.
After the king's departure, she makes life difficult for Snow White, although Prince Richard does a bit to liven up the life of the young princess. Later, when the Evil Queen makes an attempt to kill Snow White due to her famed beauty, the little girl ends up in a cozy little cottage, house to the seven dwarfs who eventually befriend her and conjure to protect her from all harms inflicted by her stepmother.
Queen Chrystal tries to take the life of Snow White several times: once by a poisoned ribbon, another time with an enchanted comb, and times at which the dwarfs save her with help from their Book of Knowledge. But during the Queen's last attempt, she finally succeeds to put her in an enchanted sleep - by means of a poisoned apple - in order to take over her body, for hers is aging rapidly due to use of sorcery against a pure soul.
Characters
King Conrad: King of the Emerald Valley, he is heartbroken when his beloved queen passes away, but agrees to fulfill her last wish so that his young daughter, Snow White, can be brought up and educated by a mother.
Queen Isabelle: First Queen consort of Emerald Valley and wife to King Conrad, she dies when her daughter, Snow White, is only 4 years old. Her dying wish is for her little girl to be raised up by a new mother.
Molly: Queen Isabelle's personal maid and head over all castle staff, Molly takes care of Snow White; until an unfortunate event occurs and she is banished from the castle.
Snow White: Voiced by Yuri Amano. A beautiful and kind-hearted girl, the princess of Green Valley and the titular protagonist of the show, Snow White lives happy; until war breaks out in the kingdom and her father is forced to leave her in the care of her then-loving stepmother. Not long time would come to pass until her stepmother would force her away from the castle.
Lady/Queen Chrystal: Voiced by Mari Yokoo. Ruling over a small neighbouring kingdom, she comes to the Emerald Valley in order to marry King Conrad and to raise his daughter, the young Snow White. She is famed for her beauty, which she desperately worships above anything else and she would stop at nothing to rest the fairest woman in the land. She is evil, selfish and ambitious and dabbles in the art of sorcery.
Speck, Spirit of the Mirror: Speck's origins are unknown at the beginning, just as those of the object inside which he resides, reflecting the truth. Through enchantments, he is able to respond to whoever calls him from the mortal world and is obliged to answer truthfully.
Prince Richard: Voiced by Takehito Koyasu. The son of King of Albertville, a close ally of Conrad, he falls in love with princess Snow White, but is soon called to join his father in battle. Torn from his beloved not only by his unknowing father, but also by the jealous Queen, he fights to find the whereabouts of the princess and to restore her rank.