Apple TV's 'Once Upon A Time x Rise Of The Guardians' Fantasy Series Is Officially Back Next Month

Published Sep 12, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT

Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Critic on ScreenRant's TV team, covering new-release and classic TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy. 

Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones).

It's just about time for one of Apple TV's key fantasy shows to return for its second season, and if you're a fan of projects like Once Upon a Time or Rise of the Guardians​​​​​, you won't want to miss out. While at their core, these feel like two entirely different things, it can't be denied that both ABC's live-action fantasy TV show and DreamWorks' animated film capture a very specific sort of magic. Once Upon a Time and Rise of the Guardians both put a twist on the sorts of fairytales and legends that we know and love, all packaged with a delightfully dark, complex tone.

This is a vibe that has done rather well in the world of entertainment. It's hard to find stories more iconic or lasting than those around Snow White, Jack Frost, Sleeping Beauty, Father Christmas, and beyond. When an air of dark mystery is woven into these classic childhood adventures, the magic takes on a new sort of life. It's something that can appeal to audiences young and old alike, with haunting surprises, magical twists, and a comforting sort of fantastical beauty.

That's where Apple TV's The Sisters Grimm comes in. This animated TV show is based on the book series of the same name by Michael Buckley, and originally premiered on October 3, 2025. Critical reception for The Sisters Grimm was rather spectacular, with Rotten Tomatoes reflecting a perfect 100% score. It should be no surprise, therefore, that this series was renewed for a second season, which will arrive on the streaming platform on October 2, 2026.

The Sisters Grimm Will Suit Fans Of Once Upon A Time & Rise Of The Guardians

The Sisters Grimm revolved around two orphaned sisters living in a town full of people who seemed to have been pulled straight from fairy tales and folklore. With that basic premise in mind, it's no big question how this series is similar to Once Upon a Time. Both shows place the heroes and villains of Grimm fairy tales in a modern-day small town. Here, they must function as a typical contemporary society, and thanks to the parameters of a magical curse, they are unable to leave. There are even significant similarities in how both shows present these fairytale characters.

Rise of the Guardians revolves around a different set of folklore characters, but what makes this film so comparable to The Sisters Grimm is the way it complicates the identities of what would otherwise be considered two-dimensional characters. They aren't just these perfect figures of fairy tale. Rather, they vary from morally grey to well-intentioned but flawed to downright problematic. This effectively subverts expectations surrounding these stories and adventures as the central protagonists of both Rise of the Guardians and The Sisters Grimm work to maintain balance between magic and realism.

Is The Sisters Grimm Suitable For Younger Viewers?

The best thing about The Sisters Grimm is that it is suitable for viewers of all ages. Where Once Upon a Time could get a bit too dark for younger audiences at times, Apple TV's offering finds a more careful balance between its intriguing darkness and the lighthearted comedy of a more traditional children's series. The Sisters Grimm has its fair share of dark-fantasy chills, but it's packaged in a way that most young children should be able to enjoy.

On the other side of that, The Sisters Grimm is sure to be a hit with adult viewers as well. Like Rise of the Guardians, this story is aimed at families, but the subverted tropes and intriguingly complexified characters make it a wonder for more mature audiences as well. It's light, easy watching, but there is more than enough here to really grip viewers who would want to enjoy a story alongside their children, or even just watch alone or with other adults. Overall, fantasy fans can't go wrong with The Sisters Grimm.

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  Ariel Winter

  Sabrina Grimm (voice)

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  Laraine Newman

  Relda (voice)