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Wizards: Tales of Arcadia
Wizards Tales of Arcadia poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre Science fantasy
Created by Guillermo del Toro
Voices of
  • Colin O'Donoghue
  • Lexi Medrano
  • David Bradley
  • Lena Headey
  • James Faulkner
Composer(s)
  • Jeff Danna
  • John Fee
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 10
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Guillermo del Toro
  • Marc Guggenheim
  • Aaron Waltke
  • Chad Quandt
  • Chad Hammes
Running time 23–24 minutes
Production company(s)
  • DreamWorks Animation
  • Double Dare You Productions
Distributor
  • NBCUniversal Television Distribution
  • Netflix
Release
Original network Netflix
Picture format HDTV 1080p
Audio format Stereo
Original release August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Chronology
Preceded by 3Below: Tales of Arcadia
Followed by Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans

Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (or simply Wizards) is an American computer-animated fantasy limited series created by Guillermo del Toro, and produced by DreamWorks Animation Television and Double Dare You Productions. The award-winning series is the third and final installment of the Tales of Arcadia trilogy, following Trollhunters (2016–2018) and 3Below (2018–2019), and was released on August 7, 2020 on Netflix.

It is the first and only limited series in the Tales of Arcadia franchise, a fantasy time travel saga that explores the world's mythological origins and introduces a new protagonist in Hisirdoux "Douxie" Casperan, an erstwhile apprentice to the legendary Merlin who was forgotten for centuries and is now eager to prove his worth as a sorcerer in the eyes of his former master.

Wizards has been widely acclaimed by critics as a groundbreaking animated series, both for its complex storytelling and high quality animation. Alci Rengifo of Entertainment Voice writes, "...Del Toro wants everyone, even the adults, to get something out of Wizards. This makes it an adventure worth taking, like any great fairy tale." In 2021, the series won the Kidscreen Award for "Best New Series," a category including all live-action and animated programming that year.

It will be followed by a full-length feature film titled Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, scheduled for release in July 2021.

Synopsis

Following the events of Trollhunters and 3Below, Hisirdoux " Douxie" Casperan - who has secretly been the apprentice of Merlin for nine centuries - must recruit the Guardians of Arcadia to travel back in time to the 12th-century's Camelot. During the journey, the heroes learn why the amulet was built, how Morgana became the Pale Lady, and what events lead up to the battle at Killahead Bridge. However, their arrival in the past has unexpected consequences, and now they must ensure history occurs as it was always meant to. Upon returning to the present, they must find a way to save Jim from a dangerous magical corruption infecting him, protect their friends, and confront the evil Arcane Order who want to unleash raw magic across the globe and remake the world without humanity.

Voice cast

The series features an ensemble cast of voice actors returning from Trollhunters and 3Below, alongside new voice actors.

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original release date
1 "Spellbound" Franciso Ruiz Velasco & Andrew L. Schmidt Story by : Marc Guggenheim, Chad Quadt & Aaron Waltke
Teleplay by : Guillermo del Toro, Marc Guggenheim, Chad Quadt & Aaron Waltke
August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
In the late 12th century, Merlin catches his apprentice Hisirdoux "Douxie" Casperan in the act of using magic to finish his chores. Douxie wants to be "a real wizard like Merlin, with a staff and everything," but Merlin tells him it takes time to master the magic needed to have one. In present day Arcadia Oaks, Douxie and his familiar are summoned by Merlin after centuries of waiting. Something dire is afoot, and Douxie is instructed to gather the heroes of Arcadia. However, Archie can only find Tobias Domzalski, Steve Palchuk and AAARRRGGHH the troll, and takes them to their secret lair hidden in a bookshop. They and Merlin are attacked by monstrous shadow mephits and a strange figure in green medieval armor, The Green Knight, before retreating on an airship that Merlin conjures up. The teens reunite with Claire Nuñez and Blinky in Camelot Castle -- now a flying air fortress -- where they learn that Jim Lake Jr. the Trollhunter was attacked with a onyx shard wielded by the mysterious Green Knight, who Merlin discovers is somehow connected to his fallen apprentice and archenemy, Morgana Le Fay. The onyx shard that wounded Jim slowly killing the poor hero, so Merlin encases him in green crystal to stall its progress. Suddenly, the Arcane Order -- an evil organization of wizards brought by the Green Knight -- attacks Camelot, killing Sir Galahad and forcing Merlin and his wizard companion Nari to open a rift in time. However, during the attack, Claire, Steve, Douxie and Jim all fall into the past and awaken in Camelot's forest, where they are confronted by Sir Lancelot and his men.
2 "History in the Making" Johane Matte Guillermo del Toro, Marc Guggenheim, Chad Quadt & Aaron Waltke August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Upon their crash-landing in the Mid-12th Century, Jim breaks free from the crystal and finds himself alive, despite the onyx shard from the Green Knight's spell still wedged in his chest. However, because he is half-troll and gets petrified in daylight like one, the Knights capture him, Claire, Douxie and Steve and take them to King Arthur and his court, which includes his sister Morgana -- which infuriates Claire because the Green Knight hurting Jim was all her fault (and she had tried to possess Claire's body one year ago). However, Douxie and Morgana convince Arthur to spare Jim's life, even though he ends up trapped in a dungeon with other trolls, and Morgana adopts Claire as her new handmaiden (secretly interested in Claire's Dark magic that she used to save Jim), and Steve trains to be a knight under the command of Lancelot. Meanwhile Douxie returns to his old living space and seeks Past Merlin's help in accessing the time map to return them home to Arcadia Oaks without further altering the timeline.
3 "Witch Hunt" Andrew L. Schmidt Andie Bolt, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

Having staged a dungeon break, Douxie and Claire work covertly to get Arthur and Morgana Le Fay to reconcile, but with Past Merlin and Archie getting involved, Douxie is getting on his master's last nerve. Meanwhile, Jim and the other trolls who were freed are now living in the Wild Woods, protected by a younger Gunmar and his son Bular. However, despite the group's efforts, Jim's new friend Callista gets hurt, Bular is captured by the knights and Morgana, enraged by Arthur's stubbornness, turns against the rest of Camelot's people when they try to kill Jim and Claire right in front of her. But, in the final battle, Arthur cuts off Morgana's left hand with Excalibur and watches as she seemingly falls to her death and disappears into the water below.

In the end tag, Arthur and Claire grieve Morgana's demise and Jim (seemingly on the brink of death) crosses paths with a younger version of his troll mentor Blinkous Galadrigal/Blinky.
4 "Lady of the Lake" Franciso Ruiz Velasco Andie Bolt, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Merlin leads a ragtag group on a mission to collect and reconnect the broken pieces of Excalibur. Meanwhile, Claire's been having nightmares about Morgana and Jim as her dark magic seems to be getting stronger, and Jim tries to convince a young Blinkous Galadrigal that they're on the same side only for an evil AAARRRGGHH to attack the troll sanctuary of Dwoza. Eventually, after teaching Claire to control her shadow magic without Morgana's staff, Douxie's group encounter Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, who reveals herself to be a vicious kraken. She reveals to the teens that Merlin trapped her in the cave long after she gave him Excalibur and she attacked them in the attempt to get her revenge. After breaking down the Cave wall with one of his spells, Douxie earns Nimue's trust and she agrees to repair the Sword of Excalibur. In the show's end tag, Angor Rot discovers Morgana is still alive and brings her to the cave of the Arcane Order, who revive her and give her a new left hand to replace her old one. When she asks why, their leader Bellroc tells her that she will be their 'Champion'.
5 "Battle Royal" Johane Matte Andie Bolt, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

Having been revived by the Arcane Order (consisting of a younger Nari, Skrael, and Bellroc), Morgana gains new powers and golden battle armor and dubs herself the Mother of Monsters and vows to bring in an Age of Reckoning by fighting for all magics. Meanwhile, Douxie continues training Claire when she overhears Morgana plotting in the Shadow Realm and accidentally contacts her. Having barely escaped with their lives, Archie and Claire must form a counterattack for when Morgana returns to Camelot. Meanwhile Jim and Callista try to defend Dwoza from Gunmar and his general AAARRRGGHH, who are angry about Bular being held prisoner in Camelot. Luckily, Jim's actions inspire both Blinkous and his brother Dictatious to lead a revolt to drive back Gunmar's presence in their village, and Callista successfully captures AAARRRGGHH. Jim suggests they rehabilitate AAARRRGGHH and Vendel, the future leader of Trollmarket, puts the fallen general under the watchful care of Blinky.

Back in Camelot, Claire dons her armor and poses as a knight named Sir "Clairee", as she exposes a changeling sent by Morgana to free Bular and assassinate Arthur. Luckily, Douxie and his group come to Arthur's rescue, despite a bombing of the castle walls allowing Bular to escape, and they capture the changeling spy. In the end tag, Morgana approaches Gunmar and proposes an alliance.
6–7 "Killahead" Franciso Ruiz Velasco Andie Bolt, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott (Part 1) Chad Quadt & Aaron Waltke (Part 2) August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

To defend what's left of Camelot, King Arthur seeks an alliance with the good trolls living in Dwoza, and Claire tries to reunite with her lover, Jim Lake. Meanwhile, AAARRRGGHH and Blinky's friendship begins, Morgana Le Fay enchants Gunmar's Decimaar Blade to control minds, and Douxie and Merlin finish building the Trollhunter's amulet, with Merlin promoting Douxie to the rank of Master Wizard with his own staff and watching as the amulet chooses Callista to be its first wearer. The trolls reject Callista at first and they refuse to join in the battle. However, the battle for Killahead bridge begins regardless. In the end tag scene, Callista reads a rock with troll writing, translated "Deya." Accepting her new role, she renames herself Deya the Deliverer and sets the stage for the original Trollhunters timeline.


In part 2, despite our heroes' best efforts, Lancelot and King Arthur are killed by Bular and Bellroc in the battle for Killahead Bridge just after the Arcane Order decide to make themselves known. But just as all seems lost for the humans, Deya leads the trolls into battle to aid the humans. When Deya and Gunmar are at the bridge, she places the amulet on the side of the large construct, which opens the portal into the Darklands causing Gunmar and the Gumm-Gumms to be sucked in. At the same time, Claire, Douxie and Merlin succeed in imprisoning Morgana, with Claire foreshadowing their next and last encounter in the future and sending her across the world to where she is imprisoned in Trollhunters.
8 "Wizard Underground" Johane Matte Andie Bolt, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
After returning home to Arcadia in the 21st century, and destroying the high school with Camelot's crash-landing, the team reunites with present-day Merlin, Toby, Blinky and AAARRRGGHH, and learn how Nari defected from the Arcane Order and sought protective asylum. However, the Arcane Order attacks and the Green Knight pushes the onyx shard closer into Jim Lake's chest. Jim sacrifices himself by pushing the shard completely into his chest, turning into a full troll and allowing him to fight back before he weakens. However, Troll Jim becomes enslaved by the Green Knight, who is revealed to be a resurrected Arthur Pendragon, now under the spell of Bellroc, the leader of the Arcane Order. The Order then takes the Amulet of Daylight and uses it in a ritual to resurrect Morgana and re-induct her into their ranks. In the end tag, Arthur kills Merlin, and the wizard leaves behind a book for Claire and Douxie to safeguard.
9 "Dragon's Den" Andrew L. Schmidt Chad Quadt, Aaron Waltke, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

In a flashback, we learn how Merlin adopted Douxie and Archie by saving them from persecution in the streets of Camelot by Sir Galahad. In the present, Archie and Douxie, along with Claire and Steve, mourn Merlin's death. To stop the Arcane Order, Archie and Douxie visit Archie's father, a large dragon named Charlemagne the Devourer aka 'Charlie', to help translate Merlin's spellbook in order to determine the location of the Genesis Seals. While Krel, Steve, and Toby keep watch over Nari, Claire enters the shadow realm to find Jim's soul.

Meanwhile, Morgana realizes that her interests are no longer aligned with the Arcane Order, and she must try to repair her relationship with Arthur; she leaves for the shadow realm to find her brother's soul and free him from Bellroc and Skrael's influence. Morgana and Claire help each other in the shadow realm, but neither are successful in saving Arthur or Jim's souls; Jim is literally being torn apart, and Arthur brought Morgana back from the dead so that she could see him and the Order kill Merlin. Nevertheless, Morgana is now on the side of the Trollhunters and Wizards of Arcadia.
10 "Our Final Act" Andrew L. Schmidt Chad Quadt, Aaron Waltke, Ian Rickett, & Lila Scott August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

Returning to Arcadia, Douxie tries to protect Nari from the Arcane Order and retrieves Krel Tarron from the wreckage of a fight at Hex Tech. The other heroes face Bellroc and Skrael in an epic battle aboard the Arcane Order's ship; Morgana and Arthur battle each other on the ground, while Claire, Toby, Blinky, and AAARRRGGHH desperately try to save Jim's soul. At the end of Jim's fight with his friends, he turns into stone and dies. As Claire hugs Jim's stone form and cries, a tear falls off her cheek, landing on stone Jim and causing him to crumble. From the rubble rises Jim in his original human form, but he no longer has the Amulet of Merlin (which the Arcane Order destroyed) or the powers of the Trollhunter. Morgana causes a large section of Camelot to fall and crush Arthur, unfortunately dying herself, as well. Douxie, meanwhile, is gravely injured in his battle with the Arcane Order. The spirits of Douxie, Morgana and Merlin have a final conversation in Merlin's old library before Morgana and Merlin walk through a door into a bright light and Douxie's soul returns to his body. Douxie vows to spend the rest of his life protecting Nari from the Arcane Order to prevent the breaking of the Genesis Seals.

When Arthur dies, Excalibur is stuck in a stone. Jim and Toby try to remove the sword, but to no avail. Douxie assures them that the greatest strength they have is the one they get from their friends. Douxie, Archie and Nari leave on Merlin's airship while Jim, Claire, Toby, Steve, Blinky, AAARRRGGHH and Krel remain behind as the champions tasked with protecting Arcadia from future threats. The series ends a short while later, with Nari and Douxie walking on a street in New York City while Bellroc watches them from atop a building planning for their revenge.

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2021 Kidscreen Awards Best New Series Guillermo del Toro, Marc Guggenheim, Aaron Waltke, Chad Quandt, Chad Hammes. "Wizards: Tales of Arcadia" Won
Golden Reel Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Animation Short Form Supervising Sound Editors: James Miller, Otis Van Osten Foley Editor: Tommy Sarioglou, Aran Tanchum Dialogue Editors: Carlos Sanches, Jason Oliver Foley Artist: Vincent Guisetti, "Spellbound" Pending
Annie Awards Best Voice Acting, TV/Media David Bradley for the character of Merlin. "Wizards: Tales of Arcadia", Episode: "Our Final Act" Pending
Best FX for TV/Media Greg Lev, Igor Lodeiro, Brandon Tyra, Cui Wei, Ma Xiao. Episode: "Killahead, Part Two" Pending

Follow-up

On August 7, 2020, following the premiere of Wizards, it was announced the Tales of Arcadia trilogy would be concluded with a full-length feature film titled Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, set to be released on Netflix in July 2021.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wizards: Tales of Arcadia para niños

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