Long Ago and Far Away

Oh, these are wonderful stories that children and adults know and love. So far, I can find a few on YouTube, but, being the needy student of life I am, I'd love to see all of them again.

I love the opening theme music, I absolutely love this post-Darth Vader James Earl Jones voice that introduces each episode, and even though I'm an adult. I love the various sorts of animation used in various stories.

My absolute favorites of these stories are: "Svathor" and "The Flying Ship and the Fool of the World" both from Russia, "The Talking Parcel", and "The Pied (meaning "colorful" Piper of Hamlin".

I loved this when I was a kid. James Earl Jones narrates in a deep voice. Different media, topic, creator, and culture/country every week. Some deep philosophical topics (what if we were part of a dream?), fables/tales from different countries. This was really mind-bending and absorbing, and I'd love to own a DVD of this so I could share it with my daughter!

I'm extremely glad to see this here. I remember watching "Long Ago and Far Away" as a child and being absolutely mesmerized by the stories. James Earl Jones hosted the series, which televised one-shot cartoons from all over the world. I remember watching a claymation version of "The Adventures of Frog and Toad" over and over again as well as a beautifully animated story about Pegasus and his friend, the muse Minerva. I wish that PBS would play repeats of this show as I believe it to be one of the best children's shows ever to air. If you ever get your hands on a copy of any one of these episodes treasure it because I am sure it is a rare find.

There was an episode that was animated (I think most of them were) but if I remember correctly, it involved some kids with fantasy creature friends and they had to rescue someone in a mountain fortress type thing. I also think that they discovered that water destroyed the monster creatures that were the "bad guys" in the episode. I really hope this rings a bell for somebody. It really is a shame these aren't readily available to anybody since so many people spent their childhood watching them. I remember another episode that I thought was about Johnny Appleseed but I guess it was called something else. Thanks for everyone's help.

I watched all these programs with my four children. I have always felt that this was one of the greatest TV program that my children watched and enjoyed a great deal besides learning and benefiting from the fairy tales. As Einstien has said that stimulating IMAGINATION is what helps children enhance their minds. And of course the great book by Bruno Battelheim..."the uses of enchantment" emphasizes the same thing.

We taped some of them but would like to get my hands on DVD or other format if anyone has found.

I must express my disappointment with PBS -(whom I supported for quite a long time)- that they have at least up till now failed to retain and maintain such superb programs for children.