Magic Mirror (Snow White) facts for kids
The Magic Mirror is a special object from the story of Snow White. It can be a small hand mirror or a large mirror on a wall. This mirror is magical because it can talk and always tells the truth.
Contents
- The Fairy Tale Story
- Real-Life Ideas for the Mirror
- Modern Stories and Shows
- Disney
- Other appearances
- The 10th Kingdom
- Faerie Tale Theatre
- Sesame Street
- Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics
- Happily Ever After
- Snow White (1990)
- Snow White: A Tale of Terror
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
- Shrek
- The Suite Life
- The Hunters
- The Huntsman film series
- Mirror Mirror
- Princesses
- Simon the Sorcerer
- Sinister Squad
- Sisters Grimm
- Snow White: The Fairest of Them All
- The Wolf Among Us
- Ever After High
- Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs
- Magic Mirror Inspired Technology
The Fairy Tale Story
The Magic Mirror belongs to the Evil Queen. Every morning, the Queen would ask, "Mirror mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?" The mirror always replied, "My Queen, you are the fairest in the land." This made the Queen very happy because the mirror never lied.
But when Snow White turned seven, she became even more beautiful than the Queen. So, when the Queen asked her mirror again, it said, "My Queen, you are fair, it's true. But Snow White is a thousand times more lovely than you." This made the Queen very angry. She then tried to get rid of Snow White.
Later, after the Queen thought Snow White was gone, she asked the mirror again, "Magic Mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?" The mirror replied, "My Queen, you are fair, it's true. But Snow White, beyond the mountains with the Seven Dwarfs, is a thousand times more lovely than you." This made the Queen even angrier, and she tried to harm Snow White again.
Finally, after Snow White married the Prince, the Evil Queen asked the mirror one last time. The Magic Mirror said, "You, my Queen, are fair, it's true. But the young Queen is a thousand times fairer than you." The Queen soon found out that the "young Queen" was Snow White. This led to the Queen's end, which happens differently in various versions of the story.
Real-Life Ideas for the Mirror
Some people think the German fairy tale "Snow White" might have been inspired by a real person named Maria Sophia Margaretha Catherina von und zu Erthal. She was born in Lohr am Main, Germany, in 1725. After her mother passed away, her father remarried. Her stepmother, Claudia Elisabeth, was very strict and preferred her own children.
The famous "Talking Mirror" from the story might be based on a real mirror. You can still see this mirror today at the Spessart Museum in Lohr Castle, where Maria Sophia was born. This mirror was probably a gift to the stepmother. It was made in Lohr, a town known for making fancy mirrors. These mirrors were so well-made that people said they "always spoke the truth." They were popular gifts for kings and queens across Europe.
Modern Stories and Shows
The Magic Mirror appears in many modern movies, TV shows, and games.
Disney
Disney's Snow White Stories
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The Magic Mirror is in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A spirit lives inside the mirror. The Evil Queen often asks it who is the fairest. The mirror always says the Queen is the fairest, until Snow White grows up. Then, the mirror tells the Queen that Snow White is now the fairest. This makes the Queen very angry.
The Magic Mirror also appears in the Disney theme park ride Snow White's Enchanted Wish.
In Disney's House of Mouse, the Magic Mirror is in the club's lobby. It answers questions and gives advice to the characters.
The Magic Mirror also appears in the Disney show Fantasmic!.
In the video game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, the Magic Mirror tells the Queen that Snow White's heart is pure light. The Queen tries to use the mirror to fight the hero, Terra, but the mirror is defeated.
In the Disney Channel movie Descendants, the Evil Queen still has her mirror. It's now a small hand-mirror that her daughter Evie uses. It still answers questions when asked in rhymes.
A different Magic Mirror appears in The 7D. This mirror is a female character who helps Queen Delightful.
Once Upon a Time
In the TV show Once Upon a Time, the Magic Mirror used to be a Genie. A king found the Genie and wished for him to be free. The Genie then fell in love with the King's wife, Queen Regina. He gave her a hand mirror.
Later, the Genie used snakes to kill the King. But the Queen didn't love him back. So, he used his last wish to always be with her and never leave her sight. This trapped him inside the hand mirror. As a spirit in the mirror, he could see through all other mirrors. Queen Regina used him to spy on people.
Other appearances
The 10th Kingdom
In the TV show The 10th Kingdom, a magic mirror helps people travel between New York and a fairy-tale world. The heroes, Tony and Virginia, use one of these mirrors. They later search for other magic mirrors to get home.
Faerie Tale Theatre
In Faerie Tale Theatre, the mirror's face was played by actor Vincent Price. The mirror would turn black when the Queen found out Snow White was alive.
Sesame Street
The Magic Mirror appeared in an episode of Sesame Street. Kermit the Frog interviewed the mirror. The witch asked the mirror who was the fairest, and the mirror said Kermit was!
Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics
In the "Snow White" episode of Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics, the Magic Mirror is kept in a cabinet. When the mirror tells the Evil Queen that Snow White is safe with the Seven Dwarfs, the Queen breaks the mirror in anger.
Happily Ever After
In the film Happily Ever After, the Magic Mirror is called the Looking Glass. It tells Lord Maliss that the Evil Queen has died. It also gives clues to Snow White and her friends.
Snow White (1990)
In the 1990 Snow White film, the Magic Mirror is a talking hand mirror. It tries to stop the Evil Queen from asking who is the fairest. At the end, the Magic Mirror attends Snow White's wedding.
Snow White: A Tale of Terror
In Snow White: A Tale of Terror, the mirror is a wooden closet with a statue door. It's a family treasure. A younger version of the Queen appears in the mirror and gives advice. The mirror also holds the Queen's life force. When Snow White harms the mirror, the Queen quickly ages and is destroyed.
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
In this version of Snow White, which has a Native American theme, the Magic Mirror is a shiny flat rock. It helps the villain, Sly Fox, change shape to trick White Snow.
Shrek
The Magic Mirror appears in the Shrek movies. It's a mirror with a talking spirit inside.
- In Shrek, Lord Farquaad uses it to choose a princess to marry.
- In Shrek 2, Shrek's friends use it like a TV.
- In Shrek Forever After, Rumpelstiltskin uses it for broadcasting.
The Suite Life
A funny version of the Magic Mirror appears in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. It's a high-tech mirror that often compliments London Tipton's clothes. A direct version also appears in The Suite Life on Deck when characters dream of fairy tales.
The Hunters
In the 2013 film The Hunters, the Magic Mirror is a powerful object that can grant wishes. It was broken into pieces to keep its power safe. The story follows a family of "hunters" who try to find the mirror pieces before evil forces do.
The Huntsman film series
In Snow White and the Huntsman, the Magic Mirror is a golden, gong-like mirror. A hooded being appears from it to talk to Queen Ravenna. This being tells her that Snow White will become more beautiful than her.
In the next film, The Huntsman: Winter's War, the Magic Mirror has dark magic. It tells Ravenna that her sister Freya's child will be more beautiful than Ravenna. This leads Ravenna to do something terrible to the child, which gives Freya ice powers. Later, Ravenna's spirit is shown to be trapped inside the mirror.
Mirror Mirror
In the film Mirror Mirror, the Magic Mirror is a large mirror that acts as a portal to a "Mirror House." Queen Clementianna talks to the Mirror Queen inside. The Mirror Queen warns Clementianna about using dark magic. When Snow White defeats Clementianna, the Mirror House shatters.
Princesses
In Jim C. Hines' Princesses books, Snow White is a sorceress who uses her mother's mirror for spells. The mirror holds a trapped demon. The demon tries to cause trouble so it can escape. In one book, the mirror shatters, and the demon possesses Snow White. Her friends then try to save her.
Simon the Sorcerer
In the video game Simon the Sorcerer, players can use the Magic Mirror to see things from other reflecting surfaces, like a camera.
Sinister Squad
In the film Sinister Squad, the Magic Mirror is mentioned. When it was destroyed, it sent fairy-tale characters into our world.
Sisters Grimm
In Sisters Grimm books, the Magic Mirror is a character. It starts as a helpful friend but later becomes the main villain.
Snow White: The Fairest of Them All
In this film, the wicked queen has many magic mirrors. Her hand mirror can even get rid of enemies or change people into animals.
The Wolf Among Us
In the game The Wolf Among Us, the Magic Mirror is in an office. It can show brief visions of things when asked in rhymes. The mirror breaking and finding its missing pieces are important parts of the game's story.
Ever After High
In the Ever After High series, the Evil Queen is trapped inside the Magic Mirror as punishment.
Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs
The Magic Mirror appears in the movie Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs.
Magic Mirror Inspired Technology
In 2017, Amazon created a device called Echo Look. It's like a "style assistant" camera that helps you choose outfits. It uses smart computer programs to rate your look, similar to how the Magic Mirror gives feedback.
