'The Worn Out Dancing Shoes' is one of the "alternate" titles given to the fairytale commonly known as the Brothers Grimm-penned 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses'. It is, and always has been, one of my most read fairy tale stories. Just fell in love with how the setting is described and the details stick in the memory and still entrance. It really is a great story and one can see the Brothers Grimm's appeal and why they are so highly regarded.
While the late 80s anime series 'Grimm Masterpiece Theater' is a very interesting and enjoyable series as an overall whole with a lot of good to great episodes, even though the music and voice acting are inconsistent throughout (not in all episodes though), their adaptation of 'The Worn Out Dancing Shoes' is one of the best episodes and just loved what was done with it. A fresh and imaginative take on it while treating the original story with respect.
Although so much is done right, the animation has been much better in other episodes before and since, actually don't have an issue with it usually. It is hard to tell though as to whether it was the video quality or the animation itself. Anyway, it's the very detailed backgrounds that come off best but the drawing usually in the series has much more finesse than here, on top of being somewhat recycled the drawing looks rough.
It is strange that the two elements that are inconsistent in the series are fine here. The music is not too 80s and appealed to my ears at least. It was effectively hypnotic even in the dancing scenes and had an ominous (though not in an obvious way) quality in the climactic moments. The voice acting at least fits the characters, the narration is very soothing and distinguished and the king is voiced with authority. Peter is a likeable protagonist and one likes him even more in his role in the climactic moments and the princesses (three focused upon here) are not bratty or ones one hates from the start like some 'Grimm Masterpiece Theater' episodes have with their female protagonists. Those demons did give me the creeps, even by young adult standards.
Mentioned before that although there are significant changes, which did not hurt the story at all, it was great see a take on a story that was fresh while still respectful. Particularly effective was a genius twist, which makes for an unexpectedly creepy (the stuff of nightmares perhaps for some) ending. One that was actually plausible, actually personally prefer it over the original story's ending (probably not a popular opinion) and it is something that Brothers Grimm would have included if they had thought about it as it is true in spirit to their style from personal perspective. Liked the dialogue too, the prince in the dungeon burn was great, though did think that the reveal of the twist was over-explained a touch.
Concluding, animation aside an often excellent episode and one of the series' best. 8/10