ASIN : B0009PY6H4
Twisted Fairy Tales Hansel
Manufacturer : McFarlane Toys
Price: $11.99
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Total New: 1
Total Used: 0
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours
Toy
UPC : 787926411010
FEATURES
Weight in pounds: 0.55
Dimensions in inches: 9.20 by 9.20 by 3.50
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REVIEWS
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Summary: Poor Hansel is being fattened up for the slaughter
Date: 2005-07-26
Rating: 4
Review: The story of "Hansel and Gretel" is obviously a warning against children talking to strangers. But it is also an argument against eating someone's house and the story represents the triumph of the poor working class characters over the witch and her upper class pretensions. But my Marxist leanings are more Groucho than Karl, so I am not inclined to think deep thoughts in that particular direction.
In the original manuscript of the story of the siblings were referred to as Little Brother and Little Sister. The Brothers Grimm chose Hansel because it was a common name in German fairy tales (their equivalent of John Doe so to speak) and picked Gretel for essentially the same reason (which makes her Jane Doe). Then again, your ability to identify with the Twisted Fairy Tales version of Hansel from McFarlane Toys is probably going to be limited by the fact that he is trapped in a cage and being fattened up by the witch when she cooks him up as a main course.
Hansel comes in at 7 1/2 inches tall, although the figure itself is about 3 inches tall stuck in his cage. Actually he is 3 inches tall when you remove him from the cage, at which point you discover he has articulation in his neck, biceps and thighs. For that matter, you can be really cruel and take away his boner. Meanwhile, the candy cane base has chain and pulley guides to play with as well, but be careful because this is not a toy (well, okay, it IS a toy, but it is not THAT kind of toy).
Twisted Fairy Tales is the fourth series of McFarlane's Monsters, and the rest of the menagerie consists of not only Hasnel and Gretel, now redone as a German princess, but also Red Riding Hood, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, and Little Miss Muffet. If you were aware about the probable origins of a lot of the classic fairy tales then you already knew that Mother Goose had a twisted sense of humor. With these figures McFarlane Toys certainly takes being twisted to the next level. Even if you do not want the entire set, there should be one of these figures that captures the Jungian dark side of the tales that we were all raised on once upon a time that most appeals to you.
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Summary: Great sandplay therapy image, not for younger kids.
Date: 2005-07-17
Rating: 5
Review: I use this in sandplay therapy and find it highly effective. As a "toy," it's not for kids and decidedly fragile. Once out of the packaging, expect the ax and/or crank on side of candy pole to break off one way or another. Bone in hand pops out and can be put back in, but is small so is likely to be lost before you realize it's out. Chain runs over rollers (that don't roll) and will swing off allowing cage to fall. Get it for the powerful and intense imagery.
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