Tim Burton’s “Hansel and Gretel” (1982)

Undoubtedly the rarest movie Tim Burton has ever made and probably the weirdest version of “Hansel and Gretel” ever told, was recently uploaded on YouTube (13th June) for all to see. This rendition has an obvious Burtonesque style and features an all asian cast, for some reason. At least there’s no CGI overkill.

The surreal half-hour version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale was produced in partnership with Disney who aired it only once on the Disney Channel on Halloween night in 1983.

For the 24-year-old Disney animator, it was Burton’s first experience working with live actors so it is understandable that the performances suffer a little. It remains an early glimpse at the director’s imagination and ability to bring that to life.

Apparently, the frightening subject matter was too much for the distraught Disney Channel execs to handle, that they vowed it would never see the light of day again. Unbeknownst to them however, people owned these things called VHS recorders. Hansel and Gretel has played publicly in art exhibits, but has long been one of the rarest of Burton’s films. Until now — elusive 1980s oddity, welcome to the internet:

CAST: Hansel — Andy Lee, Gretel — Alison Hong, Stepmother / Wicked Witch — Mother Yama, Father — Jim Ishida, Dan Dan the Gingerbread Man (Voice) — David Koenigsburg.