School for Sillies

King Kilian is convinced he’s the cleverest man alive — and that his daughter is just as clever. So clever, in fact, that she’ll only marry someone even smarter than she is, which means: no one at all. The princess despairs over a life of loneliness until she meets Kit, a young man who wins her heart but not the king’s approval.

To outwit the monarch, Kit opens a “School for Sillies” where the lessons prove that even the self-proclaimed wisest can act foolish. When the king himself ends up shut in a box, he has to admit that Kit has bested him.

Henstra’s characters are lively — not stiff or formal, but full of personality. Their poses, faces, quirky costumes carry a touch of grotesque exaggeration, yet remain playful. The palette recalls old book illustrations or hand-colored engravings and the selective use of color makes each scene stand out.