HBO Storybook Musicals is a series of television specials that aired on HBO, combining animation that is true to the original storybook's illustrations, plus high-spirited songs from musical songwriters.
When Doctor DeSoto was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short, HBO and animator Michael Sporn agreed to make animated specials for the network as it also was oriented on family-friendly programs and never financed/produced a children's television series before.
Sporn directed and produced Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical, HBO's first animated television special and aired on November 18, 1987.
[2][3] Then, HBO presented a few animated specials, such as The Story of the Dancing Frog (aired in October 1989), The Red Shoes and Earthday Birthday, both aired in early 1990.
The first four episodes originally aired as individual, stand-alone TV specials; the HBO Storybook Musicals branding was introduced with the fifth episode.