"The Storyteller" Complete Collection Coming To Blu-ray!

Australian company Via Vision Entertainment will release the blu-ray debut the classic Henson anthology series The Storyteller this summer.

While the series has been released on DVD and streaming before, this will be the series first time on Blu-ray and the first time the series will be available on physical media since being remastered. 

This set includes all nine stories from the original The StoryTeller series plus the Greek Myths sequel series as well. 

For those unfamiliar, the original series starred John Hurt, and his cynical dog, who narrates fascinating tales that combine humor, intrigue, and magic. Featuring both human actors and creations from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop retelling classic folk tales, fables, and legends, the series marked a more mature direction for Henson, more in the vein of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, then The Muppets. 

Be aware Bluray.com has the release as Region B only, which will not play in most US players, though that may change closer to it's release. 

The set comes out August, 20th, and you can pre-order the set on Blu-ray and DVD from Via Vision Entertainment.  

RIP Michael Gambon (1940-2023)

Michael Gambon who played the role of the StoryTeller in The StoryTeller: Greek Myths has died. 

Gambon provided the voice of the Ultragorgon in The Jim Henson Hour's "Monster Maker" episode, 

and played Sir William McCordle in the film Godsford Park which included digital effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. 

He may be best known to audiences for taking over the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. 

Michael Gambon was 82.

The Storyteller Soundtrack Coming Very Soon!

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jim Henson's The Storyteller Varèse Sarabande announced it will release a limited-edition box set of music from the series. 

The box set will be limited to 1500 copies, contain music from both Jim Henson's The Storyteller and Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Greek Myths, and include a 32-page booklet of exclusive interviews with the producers of the series and Academy Award winning composer Rachel Portman, as well as a collection of behind-the-scenes photographs.

From Soundtrack.net:

The series was the brainchild of Jim Henson's eldest daughter, Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. Lisa, who majored in folklore and mythology at Harvard, suggested they create an anthology series based on these stories.

Composer Rachel Portman had been writing music professionally for only a few years when brought on by director Steve Barron to work on the pilot. "Steve and I talked about each film having a special sound and a special voice, and some special instrument that would be part of it. I chose very carefully a different coloration for each story, what the main instrument was going to be—because I wasn't able to have very many instruments, and I wanted it to be orchestral," Portman described.

Brian Henson, who was also the series head puppeteer and is currently chairman of The Jim Henson Company) had nothing but praise for the music. "Rachel Portman gives it a timelessness. She makes the show important," he said. "She makes the stories important. There's a gravitas that comes with her music, but then also the light, lyrical melody. I think it's just beautiful scoring of fantasy."

"I felt I had real freedom to go as dark as I wanted, musically," explained Portman. "I didn't shy away from being really sad, or really dark, or really happy. I think that really matched the way the whole series was done, and the scripts. It always kind of ends in minor. I don't know why. They all come back to a sad chord at the end."

The track list:

Disc I: 

1. Main Title (Extended Version) (0:41)
2. Hans My Hedgehog (Suite A) (4:19)
3. Hans My Hedgehog (Suite B) (6:22)
4. A Story Short (Suite A) (6:50)
5. A Story Short (Suite B) (5:19)
6. Fearnot (Suite A) (5:27)
7. Fearnot (Suite B) (6:37)
8. The Luck Child (Suite A) (6:17)
9. The Luck Child (Suite B) (5:09)
10. The Heartless Giant (Suite A) (6:50)
11. The Heartless Giant (Suite B) (6:53)
12. End Title (0:34)

 Disc II:

1. Main Title with Narration (featuring John Hurt) (0:41)
2. The Soldier and Death (Suite A) (5:04)
3. The Soldier and Death (Suite B) (7:59)
4. The True Bride (Suite A) (5:41)
5. The True Bride (Suite B) (6:18)
6. The Three Ravens (Suite A) (7:34)
7. The Three Ravens (Suite B) (7:59)
8. Sapsorrow (Suite A) (5:18)
9. Sapsorrow (Suite B) (6:03)
10. Main Title (Short Version) (0:37)
11. Unused Bumper A (0:12)
12. Unused Bumper B (0:10)

 Disc III:

1. The Storyteller: Greek Myths Main Titles (UK Version) (0:39)
2. Theseus & The Minotaur (Suite A) (7:23)
3. Theseus & The Minotaur (Suite B) (9:13)
4. Perseus & The Gorgon (Suite A) (7:00)
5. Perseus & The Gorgon (Suite B) (7:21)
6. Daedalus & Icarus (Suite A) (6:42)
7. Daedalus & Icarus (Suite B) (7:18)
8. Orpheus & Eurydice (Suite A) (8:47)
9. Orpheus & Eurydice (Suite B) (6:57)
10. Main Titles (US Version) (0:33)

 Disc III Bonus Tracks:

1. Theseus (Suite) (1:34)
2. Orpheus (Suite) (1:29)

Jim Henson's The Storyteller can be currently viewed via the STARZ app and Fathom Events Labyrinth screenings (April 29, May 1&2) will include a special theatrical The Storyteller excerpt.

The 3-CD set is now available for pre-order and will be released on April 27, 2018.