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TV series

This is W.I.T.C.H.ipedia's article on the W.I.T.C.H. TV series. For other uses, see W.I.T.C.H. (disambiguation).

W.I.T.C.H. is a French-American animated TV series based on the Italian comics of the same name. Like the comics, the series follows five ordinary girls: Will Vandom, Irma Lair, Taranee Cook, Cornelia Hale, and Hay Lin, who become endowed with various magical and elemental abilities and become the Guardians of the Veil.

However, in the second season, when the Council of Kandrakar lowered the Veil permanently, they become "the Guardians of the Infinite Dimensions" and their duties extend to protecting the integrity of the multiple worlds of the cosmos.

Summary

The Guardians of the Veil were tasked with saving the planet Meridian from the power-craving sorcerer Prince Phobos and his faithful, shapeshifting companion Lord Cedric, who were searching for the twelve-year-old younger sister of the tyrannical prince, the long-lost princess of Meridian and rightful heir to the throne. The said princess wais later revealed to be Elyon Brown, the best childhood friend of Irma Lair, Taranee Cook, Cornelia Hale, and Hay Lin; all having recently befriended the redheaded new girl, Will Vandom.

When all of Meridian was finally free from evil and Elyon took the throne as queen, a mysterious and powerful sorceress named Nerissa freed Prince Phobos's top henchmen and reformed them as the Knights of Vengeance in order to distract the Guardians. Once the Guardians learned more about the sorceress and her evil plan of reuniting the former Guardians, they were able to defeat the Knights, only to have even stronger and more powerful Knights of Destruction attack them.

Contrary to the comics and Chapter books, the new Guardians' chief ally and mentor is Hay Lin's own paternal grandmother, Yan Lin, who herself was the former air Guardian, many decades ago in her youth.

They were also helped by Caleb, a heroic rebel soldier from Meridian, leader of the rebellion against Prince Phobos, and Blunk, a frog-like goblin creature (known as a Passling) who takes things between Earth to Meridian, mistaking everyday objects for other things or items of value. When Matt Olsen, Will's boyfriend, accidentally learned about Meridian and saw all the trouble going on, he learned how to become a warrior to help them. The Guardians were also helped by the Oracle, leader of the mystical world of Kandrakar itself, who is responsible for the selection of each generation of Guardians of the Veil.

Episodes

Season 1

This is a very loose adaptation of The Twelve Portals.

  1. It Begins
  2. It Resumes
  3. The Key
  4. Happy Birthday Will
  5. A Service to The Community
  6. The Labyrinth
  7. Divide and Conquer
  8. Ambush At Torus Filney
  9. Return of The Tracker
  10. Framed
  11. The Stone of Threbe
  12. The Princess Revealed
  13. Stop the Presses
  14. Parent's Night
  15. The Mudslugs
  16. Walk This Way
  17. Ghosts of Elyon
  18. The Mogriffs
  19. The Underwater Mines
  20. The Seal of Phobos
  21. Escape from Cavigor
  22. Caleb's Challenge
  23. The Battle of The Meridian Plains
  24. The Rebel Rescue
  25. The Stolen Heart
  26. The Final Battle

Season 2

This is a very loose adaptation of Nerissa's Revenge

  1. A is for Anonymous
  2. B is for Betrayal
  3. C is for Changes
  4. D is for Dangerous
  5. E is for Enemy
  6. F is for Facades
  7. G is for Garbage
  8. H is for Hunted
  9. I is for Illusion
  10. J is for Jewel
  11. K is for Knowledge
  12. L is for Loser
  13. M is for Mercy
  14. N is for Narcissist
  15. O is for Obedience
  16. P is for Protectors
  17. Q is for Quarry
  18. R is for Relentless
  19. S is for Self
  20. T is for Trauma
  21. U is for Undivided
  22. V is for Victory
  23. W is for Witch
  24. X is for Xanadu
  25. Y is for Yield
  26. Z is for Zenith

Characters created specifically for the series

Deceased comics characters alive in the series

Magical items created for the series

Opening sequences

The British and American versions of W.I.T.C.H. have two different opening sequences and theme songs. The British version shows the girls and their powers in a "story version" with unique footage for the openings, while the American version shows action clips from some episodes and scenes from the W.I.T.C.H. demo reel.[citation needed]

In the UK version, the opening theme is W.I.T.C.H. Theme Song performed by Sabrina. In the UK version, the opening sequence of the second season is changed to incorporate the new plot developments and characters.

However, the US opening uses a demo version of the song We Are W.I.T.C.H. until episode 14 when it was replaced with a version sung by Marion Raven. From episode 14 onward, her version of "We Are W.I.T.C.H." is used as the theme for the show's opening sequence, replacing the "demo" version. In the American theme, Irma Lair's Guardian outfit is first shown with a teal shirt and purple skirt, which are the true colors, but then later in the song, her clothes switch colors. In the United States, Season 2 did not receive a new opening because Disney wanted consistency when it transmitted Seasons 1 and 2 simultaneously.[citation needed]

Guardian powers

Each Guardian's powers are fueled by Kandrakar, transmitted to its Heart through the Aurameres, the orbicular physical representations of the Guardians' powers and abilities. The Aurameres grant the same powers to each of their Guardians; for instance, Cassidy would also have possessed any powers and abilities that Irma now holds.[citation needed]

When the Guardians transform, they change form and grow wings, which help them fly through the air. Using the Heart of Kandrakar, a Guardian can create an Astral Drop, a duplicate of herself, when the words "Spord Lartsa," which is "Astral Drops" spelled backwards, are said. The Guardians can also combine their powers and abilities together and create a concentrated beam of mystical magical bright pink-colored glowing energy.[1] In the second season, after the removal of the Veil, the Guardians can also travel across other worlds and planets by opening folds with the aid of the Heart of Kandrakar.[2]

To travel to another place in the same world, each Guardian can "tele-transport." Tele-transporting is a difficult power and ability to learn, and one can materialize into another solid object if not careful enough. Also if a Guardian tele-transports while not connected to an Auramere or a Heart, then they will drain their life force, which will greatly weaken them.[3]

The Guardians can also become one with their dragon (or in Will's case, the nymph Xin Jing) and literally become one with their element, which increases all their powers and abilities to innumerable uncontrollable levels but this is risky and rather dangerous, for it costs them their humanity (both their human form and the memory of their human life) and they could be easily controlled and enthralled.[4]

Also, it has been shown that if a Guardian uses her elemental powers and abilities and is not connected to an Auramere, then doing so will drain their life force, which will weaken them enormously. According to Cassidy, this may be why Nerissa aged so much faster than the rest of C.H.Y.K.N.[citation needed]

A Guardian can also become a Quinto-Guardian. A Quinto-Guardian has all of the powers and abilities over all five elements: water, fire, earth, air and quintessence, including the individual powers. A Quinto-Guardian can also gain the amazing power and ability to create solid ice out of nothing.[citation needed] The only known Quinto-Guardians are Cornelia (granted briefly by the Aurameres)[5] and Nerissa (by using her Seal).[6]

Worlds

Various worlds play an important role in the W.I.T.C.H. series. Earth is the home of the Guardians, while Meridian, Kandrakar, Zamballa and Aridia are mystical planets that are introduced as the story progresses and the evil forces get much stronger and more dangerous.

Mystic Hearts

Main article: Hearts

The Hearts are the sources of mystical energy for each of the worlds they come from. They can be represented by a jewel, a talisman or a living being of great magical power and strength.

Prominently featured in the series is the Heart of Kandrakar; an orb-shaped crystal amulet that allows the five W.I.T.C.H. members to transform into their Guardian forms and magnifies their abilities. Over the course of the series, it is revealed that Elyon Brown, the rightful heir and queen of Meridian, is the very Heart of Meridian, and Lilian Hale, Cornelia's younger sister, is the Heart of Earth.

The mystical Heart of Zamballa is a small orb of crystalline material, just like the Heart of Kandrakar, but it is colored purple and affixed to a wooden staff.

Production

See also: Unaired pilot

Two seasons were produced, which adapt plot elements from The Twelve Portals and Nerissa's Revenge comic arcs. Each season consists of 26 episodes, creating a total of 52 episodes. For season 2, SIP Animation brought in a new studio for production, and it premiered in the United States, Canada and the UK in June 2006.

Cancellation

In early 2007, the producers of the W.I.T.C.H. TV series were considering making a third season based on Arc 3: A Crisis on Both Worlds, but recently, according to Justine Cheynet, the show ended after 52 episodes in 2009 as a result of "very little to no interest both from the investors' and the producer's side in making a third season." There are no credible sources that refer to a plan for the series to be spun off into a movie despite rumours.[citation needed] Clues for a planned third season can be seen in the second season's finale Z is for Zenith. There have been many complaints about the unplanned season and petitions to bring the series back.

Reception

W.I.T.C.H. received little notice from critics. Common Sense Media, one of the few outlets to review the series, noted that the show is "an animated fantasy-adventure series for Tweens," and gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

In the early stages of the first season, the series was a major hit and a TV breakout, receiving great recognition, and gained a fair amount of popularity. Though popularity declined with little information available as to why leading to the series' end after Season 2.

In 2006, Joey Paul Jensen, the character-voice provider casting advisor for the show was nominated for the Casting Society of America's Artios Award for Best Animated Voice-Over Television Casting.

DVD releases

Main article: DVD releases

W.I.T.C.H. has been released on DVD in Europe, Australia, the Philippines (both in DVD and VCD versions, which is currently in the first season), Brazil, and Malaysia currently spanning 3 volumes, each containing episodes of season 1. They each come with 2 art cards featuring one of the W.I.T.C.H. girls. The DVDs together only contain the first 11 episodes. Volumes 4, 5 and 6 are planned to be released on the 3rd September 2007 for Region Code 1 and 2 and on the 17th of October for 3 and 4, which could see the rest of Season 1 on DVD. Two box sets have been released in the United Kingdom and Russia: the first box containing volumes 1, 2 and 3. The second contains volumes 4, 5 and 6. No episodes have yet been released in America.

Trivia

  • In the UK, six DVDs containing all 26 episodes of Season 1 were released, but as of the summer of 2020, Season 2 had yet to be released there.
  • In the episode M is for Mercy, a few scenes involving Shagon and W.I.T.C.H. fighting each other was censored in the UK version, but was left alone in the US Version. The reason was because it showed abusiveness, when the girls were being violently beaten up by a boy.[citation needed] But doing this eliminated important materials for the plot of the scene, and also for the episode. Also, the UK version was cut due to 'taunting' on both Shagon's part and from the girls.
  • In episodes R is for Relentless and V is for Victory of Season 2, Usagi Tsukino (Serena in the English Dub) from Sailor Moon, dressed in her school uniform, made two cameo appearances, first in the lunch line and then walking through the corridors of Sheffield Institute. This was an obvious display of the show having drawn much inspiration from Sailor Moon.
  • W.I.T.C.H. was planning of making Season 3, based on the Arc 3: A Crisis on Both Worlds, but was canceled, due to criticism.[citation needed] Clues of a planned Season 3, can be seen in the last episode of Season 2, Z is for Zenith. There have been many complaints and petitions about the canceled season.
  • In the final episode of season 2, Z is for Zenith, a man resembling David Xanatos, from Gargoyles, appears among the people in the streets.
    • Interestingly, Jonathan Frakes, who provided the character voice of David Xanatos, was considered for voicing Victor Doomstadt, one of the planned villains for the planned third season, which would have been based on Arc 3: A Crisis on Both Worlds but W.I.T.C.H. was canceled before that third season's official production, disappointing many fans.[citation needed]
  • There are many Lord of the Rings film series references throughout the series most notably the in-universe movie starring Vance Micheal Justin as an Elf.
  • In some international transmissions, It Begins and It Resumes are transmitted consecutively, as one episode.
  • The creator of Miraculous Ladybug (from Zag Studios), Thomas Astruc, worked on the storyboard of the TV series before joining Zag.
  • In the comics, Yan Lin faked her death the day after revealing to the others about being Guardians, but in the show, she did not die and remained a starring character in almost every episode.
  • In the comics, only Hay Lin can fly at first because she is the Guardian of air, while in the TV series all of the girls can fly from the start, though Hay Lin is the only one to do it well early on and remains the best flier throughout the series. Later in the comics, all the Guardians can fly with their New Power forms.
  • The colors on Irma's top and skirt were reversed in the American opening sequence.

References

  1. ↑ It Begins
  2. ↑ C is for Changes
  3. ↑ J is for Jewel
  4. ↑ Z is for Zenith
  5. ↑ N is for Narcissist
  6. ↑ V is for Victory
TV series
Season 1 It Begins · It Resumes · The Key · Happy Birthday Will · A Service to The Community · The Labyrinth · Divide and Conquer · Ambush At Torus Filney · Return of The Tracker · Framed · The Stone of Threbe · The Princess Revealed · Stop the Presses · Parent's Night · The Mudslugs · Walk This Way · Ghosts of Elyon · The Mogriffs · The Underwater Mines · The Seal of Phobos · Escape from Cavigor · Caleb's Challenge · The Battle of The Meridian Plains · The Rebel Rescue · The Stolen Heart · The Final Battle
Season 2 A is for Anonymous · B is for Betrayal · C is for Changes · D is for Dangerous · E is for Enemy · F is for Facades · G is for Garbage · H is for Hunted · I is for Illusion · J is for Jewel · K is for Knowledge · L is for Loser · M is for Mercy · N is for Narcissist · O is for Obedience · P is for Protectors · Q is for Quarry · R is for Relentless · S is for Self · T is for Trauma · U is for Undivided · V is for Victory · W is for Witch · X is for Xanadu · Y is for Yield · Z is for Zenith