234 | Why Fairy Tales Are The Foundation For Modern Storytelling (ft. Kelly Younger)
Jan 23, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Kelly Younger, a fairy tale expert and writer for The Muppets, dives deep into why fairy tales are the backbone of modern storytelling. He shares how these timeless narratives foster connections through personal experiences and explore themes of adversity and growth. Younger discusses the significance of the underdog archetype in fairy tales, as well as strategies for overcoming writer's block. His insights into the challenges of writing for beloved characters like the Muppets add a delightful twist to the conversation.
Fairy tales serve as foundational structures in modern storytelling, embodying universal themes that resonate with audiences today.
Kelly Younger's personal journey into storytelling illustrates how childhood experiences can shape an individual's creative career path.
The podcast emphasizes the opportunities in reimagining classic fairy tales, allowing writers to subvert traditional themes for contemporary relevance.
Deep dives
The Significance of Fairy Tales in Storytelling
Fairy tales serve as a fundamental building block in Hollywood storytelling, influencing the structure and themes of various narratives. They often embody universal experiences that resonate deeply with audiences, such as overcoming adversity or facing fears. The podcast highlights that fairy tales typically feature underdog heroes, often characterized as orphans or those who overcome significant obstacles, which allows for relatable storytelling. Additionally, these stories present valuable life lessons about courage, resilience, and the promise of transformation, making them timeless and relevant in modern storytelling.
The Journey from Childhood Fascination to Professional Writing
Kelly Younger shares his personal journey, which reflects a childhood passion for storytelling fueled by a love for reading and films that depicted heroic adventures. His experience, including the challenges within his family and the influence of iconic movies such as 'The Goonies,' inspired him to explore narratives deeply. Despite initially pursuing a career in archaeology, he ultimately redirected his focus toward writing and education, blending his academic background in mythology and folklore with practical applications in storytelling. This journey illustrates how personal experiences can shape a career in creative fields, reinforcing the relevance of fairy tales in understanding one's own narrative.
Finding Relevance in Classic Fairy Tales
In writing, the restructuring or reinvention of classic fairy tales poses both challenges and opportunities for modern storytellers. The podcast emphasizes that while fairy tales often follow recognizable plots, their themes can be subverted to create fresh perspectives, allowing for new interpretations that resonate with contemporary audiences. By examining the structure and essence of traditional tales, writers can utilize these foundational elements to enhance their narratives and draw connections to familiar archetypes. This approach can lead to innovative storytelling that honors the past while making it relevant for current contexts.
Navigating the Dark and Complex Aspects of Fairy Tales
The podcast discusses how fairy tales frequently tackle darker themes, illustrating justice and morality amidst hardship. Unlike sanitized versions commonly presented in modern adaptations, original fairy tales depicted harsh realities, serving as cautionary tales that resonate with human fears and anxieties, especially in children. This acknowledgment of darkness allows writers to explore essential moral questions in their narratives, revealing deeper truths about human experiences. Ultimately, embracing these complexities enriches storytelling by fostering meaningful engagement with the audience's emotional landscape.
The Interplay of Fear and Creativity
Kelly Younger underscores the importance of confronting fears through storytelling, equating the monsters in fairy tales to the personal challenges faced by writers. By recognizing and embodying these fears as characters, writers can access profound insights and emotional truths that enhance their narratives. The podcast encourages writers to utilize resources, like fairy tale anthologies, to explore themes relevant to their personal experiences, thereby fostering a deeper connection with their work. This artistic exploration creates a pathway for personal growth, allowing writers to translate their struggles into relatable and impactful stories for audiences.
To say that Kelly Younger is a fairy tale expert is an understatement. He's built an entire career around his obsession with fairy tale principles, so much so that he's become a coveted story consultant, and a frequent writer for THE MUPPETS universe, with credits on MUPPETS NOW and MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION. Younger has developed at Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney Studios, Paramount Animation, Warner Animation Group, DreamWorks Animation, Disney Originals, and has also consulted at Skydance Animation, in addition to Illumination on both SHREK 5 and PUSS IN BOOTS 2.
So why should we care so much about a centuries-old art form? Today, Kelly breaks it all down.