The Story of Cinderella

The Story of Cinderella
Cover art from the first volume of the DVD release of Cinderella Monogatari
シンデレラ物語 (Shinderera Monogatari)
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroshi Sasagawa Ricky Corradi
Produced by	Shuji Uchiyama
Written by	Minohisa Arakawa Hiroko Naka
Music by	John Sposito
Studio	Tatsunoko
Original network	NHK
Original run	April 4, 1996 – October 3, 1996
Episodes	26

Cinderella Monogatari (シンデレラ物語, Shinderera Monogatari^?, lit. The Story of Cinderella) is an Japanese 1996 anime TV series based on the fairytale of the same name by Charles Perrault and The Brothers Grimm. It was produced by Tatsunoko Production. The series originally aired from April 4 to October 3, 1996, comprising 26 episodes.

The Story of Cinderella opens as Cinderella's life changes for the worse when her widower father leaves on a business trip. No sooner is he out of sight than Cinderella's stepmother has unceremoniously moved her two own daughters into Cinderella's room, thrown out her things, handed her a servant's dress, and put her to brutal harsh menial labor. The series covers Cinderella's trials and tribulations as she tries to adapt to her new life while suffering the abuse of her stepmother and her two stepsisters. All the while, her fairy godmother, Paulette, subtly watches her and tries to influence events to fix Cinderella's life without her noticing. One of her first acts in this is to grant several of the animals of the house the power of speech, thus giving Cinderella companions in her dog Patch, a pair of mice named Chuchu and Bingo, and a bird named Pappy. The animals provide her company as well as help with her chores. The biggest twist in the series is that Cinderella meets her Prince Charming early - except here he's the roguish Prince Charles, who has a habit of sneaking out of the castle and meets Cinderella by accident while disguised as a commoner. The two have a few misunderstandings before becoming friends and start having adventures together. Meanwhile, the villainous Duke Zaral plots against the royal family throughout the story, at times working Cinderella into his plots and machinations. The series eventually culminates in the ball in which the fairy tale ends, but with its own unique twist.

Cinderella came from a noble family. She is the only daughter of a wealthy and widower duke who has remarried to provide her with a stepmother and two stepsisters. Cinderella's mother died due to illness when she was still a young girl, leaving her with a doll, favorite dress, and a pair of glass slippers.