Spellbinder (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spellbinder
Spellbinder intertitle
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy, Science fiction
Created by	Mark Shirrefs John Thomson
Written by	Mark Shirrefs John Thomson
Directed by	Noel Price
Starring	Zbych Trofimiuk Gosia Piotrowska Brian Rooney Michela Noonan Heather Mitchell Andrew McFarlane Krzysztof Kumor Rafał Zwierz
Composer(s)	Ian Davidson
Country of origin	Australia Poland
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Ron Saunders Kris Noble Andrzej Stempowski
Producer(s)	Noel Price
Cinematography	Mieczyslaw Anweiler
Running time	24–25 minutes
Production company(s)	Telewizja Polska, Film Australia
Release
Original network	Nine Network
Original release	9 January (1995-01-09) – 4 July 1995 (1995-07-04)
Chronology
Followed by	Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord (1997)

Spellbinder (which means "Two Worlds" in Polish) is an exciting fantasy and science fiction TV show for kids. It was made in 1995 by Australia and Poland. The story is about a high school student from Sydney named Paul Reynolds. He accidentally ends up in a parallel world.

In this other world, the Industrial Revolution never happened. This means there are no modern factories or machines. Only a few people, called "Spellbinders," have advanced technology. They pretend their tech is magic to control everyone else. They use people's fear and lack of knowledge to rule. Paul, with help from a local girl named Riana, uses his smarts and science knowledge to survive. Meanwhile, his friends back home try to rescue him.

The series has 26 episodes, each about 30 minutes long. It was made by Film Australia and Telewizja Polska. The Australian Children's Television Foundation also helped. They even made learning materials for the show.

Spellbinder was filmed in cool places in Australia, like Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Most of the parallel world scenes were shot in Poland. Famous spots like Czocha Castle and the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle were used.

In 1996, Spellbinder won an Australian Film Institute award for Best Children's Television Drama. The show's creators also wrote two books about the story. Later, a second series called Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord was made. Some of the original actors came back for it.

What is Spellbinder About?

A group of teenagers goes on a school trip. They are camping in the Blue Mountains in Australia. During the trip, Paul Reynolds accidentally enters a parallel universe. This other world has a different society. It is ruled by people called Spellbinders. Paul meets a girl named Riana there, and they become good friends.

The Spellbinders' Powers

The Spellbinders have learned how to create and control static electricity. They fly in huge copper-colored machines. These machines use large, spinning orange crystals. It seems they use a type of magnetic levitation to fly. Spellbinders often use their power for good. But some of them, like Ashka, use it for bad things. Ashka is very good at hiding her true intentions.

People who do wrong are often "banished" to a dangerous wasteland. Sometimes, even Spellbinders are banished if they are proven to be bad.

Paul's Journey Home

The story is full of excitement. Paul tries to get back to his own world. He also talks to his friends across the barrier between the two universes. Paul and Riana often have to escape from danger. The conflicts between the Spellbinders also add to the tension.

Eventually, Paul finds a way to go home. He has to bring Riana with him to keep her safe. Later, Paul tries to take Riana back to her world. But the Spellbinder Ashka follows him to his world. Ashka tricks Paul's father into helping her build a new, super-powerful "flying suit." She wants to become stronger than all the other Spellbinders.

However, Paul uncovers Ashka's plan and defeats her. Ashka is sent back to her world as an outcast. Riana becomes the new apprentice to a good Spellbinder named Correon. To protect the Spellbinder world from modern people, the gateway between the two universes is closed forever.

Meet the Characters

Main Characters

• Paul Reynolds (played by Zbych Trofimiuk): A teenage boy from Sydney. His life changed when a prank sent him to the Spellbinder world. Paul quickly adapted and discovered Ashka's evil plan. He uses his basic survival skills and scientific knowledge to defeat her.
• Riana (played by Gosia Piotrowska): A girl from the Spellbinder world. She first thought Paul was a "Marauder." But after he saved her, they became friends. Riana is great at survival and uses bolas and a spear. She cares deeply for her family. In Paul's world, she uses her skills to help a new friend. She is known as Paul's "cousin from Iceland." She becomes Correon's apprentice for helping defeat Ashka.
• Alex Katsonis (played by Brian Rooney): Paul's best friend. He knows Paul is in another world and works hard to bring him back. He also starts a relationship with his classmate Katrina.
• Katrina Muggleton (played by Michela Noonan): A very smart student with strict parents. She is the only one who sees Paul disappear and believes he is in another world. She figures out how to use radios to talk to Paul. Katrina helps bring Paul home. She becomes friends with Riana. But Ashka easily tricks her into helping her plans.
• Ashka (played by Heather Mitchell): A powerful Spellbinder. She first attacks Paul, but his rubber shoes protect him. She learns about gunpowder from Paul. Ashka blackmails Paul to get the secret of gunpowder. She ends up in Paul's world. There, she tries to build a new power suit to take over her world. Ashka is mean and tricky. She uses her power for herself, which leads to her downfall.
• Brian Reynolds (played by Andrew McFarlane): Paul's father and a scientist. He is often focused on his work. He doesn't believe Paul's story at first. He even helps Ashka build her new suit. But he realizes the truth when he meets Riana and sees Ashka's real nature. His knowledge then helps defeat Ashka.
• Correon (played by Krzysztof Kumor): A wise Spellbinder and a senior leader. He studies how to fix flying ships and power suits. He doesn't believe Paul at first. But Riana shows him Paul's camcorder, and he realizes Paul is telling the truth. Correon teams up with Paul and Riana. He exposes Ashka's lies and is later reinstated as a leader. He helps bring down Ashka.
• Gryvon (played by Rafał Zwierz): Ashka's apprentice. He is selfish and always follows Ashka's orders. He is punished after Ashka escapes. He still helps Ashka but is eventually exiled like her.

Other Important Characters

• Zander (played by Piotr Adamczyk): A boy from the Spellbinder world. He is banished for making a flying toy. He later joins the Marauders. He helps Correon and Paul.
• Arla (played by Julia Biczysko): Riana's younger sister.
• Clayhill Summoner (played by Stanislaw Brejdygant): Gryvon's father and the leader of Riana's village. He first mistakes Paul for a Marauder.
• Jal (played by Erland Buchan): Riana's younger brother.
• Christine Reynolds (played by Georgina Fisher): Paul's younger sister. She helps keep Riana a secret.
• Bron (played by Andrzej Grabarczyk): Riana's father. He lies to protect Paul.
• Maran (played by Sława Michalewska): Riana's mother. She doesn't trust Paul at first. But after he saves Jal, she changes her mind and helps Paul escape.
• Mrs. Muggleton (played by Judy Morris): Katrina's strict mother. She later realizes Katrina and Alex were telling the truth.
• Kurn (played by Piotr Makowski): The leader of the Marauders.

The Spellbinder World: A Closer Look

We don't learn much about the history of the Spellbinder world. Long ago, a terrible disaster called "the Darkness" happened. It left their land surrounded by a wasteland where nothing can live. People blamed the Marauders for this event. But it is later discovered that the Ancient Spellbinders caused it. They were too proud and wanted more powerful weapons. Paul thinks "the Darkness" might have been like a nuclear winter from his world. Correon finds an old book describing a failed experiment by the Ancient Spellbinders. But Ashka destroys it before more can be learned.

Ancient Technology and Lost Knowledge

The Ancient Spellbinders were very advanced in technology. They lived in stone castles and grew their own food. But they also had electromagnetic power suits, long-distance radios, and metal ships that could fly using strong magnetic fields. Most of this knowledge was lost after the disaster. Today's Spellbinders only partly understand their own technology. Their flying ships and power suits are breaking down. They are trying hard to rediscover the lost knowledge.

How the World is Ruled

The Spellbinder world is run by a council of three Regents. They live in the Spellbinder castle. The Regents don't care much about the common people outside the castle. They have strict laws to keep their power. They don't believe Paul's story about where he comes from. They imprison anyone who discovers or uses science, like Zander, who made a flying toy. Their power comes from their technology. They will do anything to stop others from understanding it. People sent to the wasteland sometimes join the Marauders.

The common people think the Spellbinders' technology is magic. The Spellbinders use this belief to control them and make them work. Some people become servants in the castle. Very smart people can become apprentices to the Spellbinders. However, sometimes people like Gryvon become apprentices just because their fathers are important.

Conflicts and Changes

The Spellbinders have problems because their technology is failing. There are only a few working power suits and flying ships left. So, only a few people can be Spellbinders. They even have old-fashioned duels where Spellbinders shoot power bolts at each other to settle big arguments. The loser loses their power suit and is sent to the wasteland.

Paul's visit might change the Spellbinder world. Correon asks Riana to be his new apprentice. Ashka and Gryvon are punished for misusing their power. Correon now seems to care about the common people. He even plans to share the Spellbinders' knowledge with everyone. This might weaken the strict social order. But Paul decides that his world and Riana's world should not have future contact. This is to prevent his world from taking advantage of Riana's.

Spellbinder Technology Explained

Power Suits

The power suit is the most important Spellbinder invention. It runs on special power stones that can be recharged. By rubbing the suit's cuffs, a Spellbinder can create and shoot a power bolt. In a fight, the suit can be used with a small shield to block power bolts. The suit seems to increase the energy from the power stones and release it as static electricity. Paul survived a bolt because his rubber-soled shoes stopped the electricity from reaching the ground.

The suit's copper parts are on the outside. This means water can easily short-circuit it. The new 'Prototype KX4' suit Paul's father builds can fly by pushing against Earth's magnetic field. Its parts are sealed against water. Power bolts are fired with a button. This new suit can also control other machines, like TVs or elevators. But like the old suits, it is weak against strong magnetic fields.

Power Stones

Power stones are the main energy source for Spellbinder technology. They are found in the Spellbinders' lands. They power the bolts from suits and create magnetic fields for flying ships. They are usually small, yellow, and rectangular. The ones in flying ships are much bigger. Power stones can be recharged with electricity in the castle's lower levels.

Summoning Towers

Summoning towers are tall metal structures. They look like electrical transformers and radio towers. Their main job is to contact Spellbinders when needed. A special eyestone is placed in a holder at the tower's base to boost its signal. These towers also create a magnetic field that helps flying ships lift off. They can also be used as landing pads. If the main power stone in the castle is shorted, all flying ships crash.

Eyestones

Spellbinders use a small handheld eyestone to talk to each other. It has a metal design and opens to show a circuit board. An eyestone creates a weak radio signal, like a walkie-talkie. To talk over long distances, an eyestone must connect to a summoning tower. Only village summoners and Spellbinders are allowed to use eyestones.

Flying Ships

Spellbinders use metal flying ships to travel long distances. Unlike airplanes, which use air to fly, these ships use strong magnetic fields. Each ship has two large power stones that slowly spin. This creates a magnetic field that pushes against the field from the summoning towers, allowing the ship to float. Flying ships are used for transport and even to spray crops. They are impressive but move quite slowly. By the time Paul visits, only six are still working.

Compass

Spellbinders use a small magnetic compass to find their way when walking or riding horses. The compass has a spinning device that is started with a string. The arrow then points north.

Episodes

The series has 26 episodes. Here are the first few to give you an idea of the adventure:

Where Was Spellbinder Shown?

The original Spellbinder series first aired in Australia on the Nine Network from January to July 1995. In the United States, it was shown on The Disney Channel starting in February 1996. The sequel, Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord, appeared on Fox Family Channel in 1998. The Disney Channel version had different opening and closing scenes.

The show was also broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and in Ireland on Network 2 in 1996. Only the first 13 episodes aired on ITV. It was also shown in Pakistan by Pakistan Television and in Sri Lanka by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. In Sri Lanka, it was called "මායබන්ධන" (Season 1) and "මකර රජදහන" (Season 2). It was very popular there and was shown many times. The most recent showing was in April 2020.

DVD Releases

You can find Spellbinder on DVD!

See also

In Spanish: Spellbinder para niños