W.I.T.C.H. (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids W.I.T.C.H. |
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Clockwise from center: Will, Hay Lin, Irma, Cornelia, and Taranee.
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| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
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| Running time | 22 minutes |
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| Distributor | Buena Vista International Television |
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| Picture format | 576p (4:3) |
| Original release | December 18, 2004 – December 23, 2006 |
W.I.T.C.H. is an animated TV series from France and America. It's based on a popular Italian comic book series with the same name. The show was made by SIP Animation with help from Jetix Europe, The Walt Disney Company, and France Télévisions.
W.I.T.C.H. first aired in the U.S. on December 18, 2004, and finished on December 23, 2006. You could watch it on ABC Kids and the Jetix blocks on ABC Family and Toon Disney.
The story follows five ordinary girls: Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin. They discover they have amazing magical powers! Each girl controls a different classical element: Will has quintessence, Irma has water, Taranee has fire, Cornelia has earth, and Hay Lin has air. They use these powers to protect the Veil, a magical barrier between worlds.
The letters in their names – Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin – spell out W.I.T.C.H., even though they aren't actually witches. The show takes place in the fictional city of Heatherfield on Earth, and in various magical worlds, especially one called Meridian.
Contents
Discover the Story of W.I.T.C.H.
The Guardians have a big mission: save Meridian from the evil Prince Phobos and his helper, Cedric. Phobos is looking for his long-lost sister, who is the true princess of Meridian. The girls find her and work to protect her from Phobos.
Once Meridian is free and the real princess takes her place, a new mysterious sorceress named Nerissa appears. She frees Phobos's top bad guys and turns them into the Knights of Vengeance. The Guardians learn about Nerissa's evil plan to bring together former Guardians. They defeat the Knights of Vengeance, but then even stronger villains, the Knights of Destruction, attack them.
The girls get a lot of help from Hay Lin's grandma, Yan Lin. She was the original Guardian of Air and teaches the girls about their powers. They also team up with Caleb, a brave soldier from Meridian who leads a rebellion against Phobos. Blunk, a frog-like goblin called a Passling, helps them travel between worlds. He often gets human objects mixed up, which is pretty funny!
Will's boyfriend, Matt, accidentally finds out about Meridian and becomes a warrior to help. The Oracle, who leads the universe in Kandrakar, is the one who chose these five girls to be Guardians.
Guardian Powers and Abilities
The Guardians' powers get stronger from a mystic temple called Kandrakar. This power is sent to the Heart of Kandrakar through special items called Aurameres, which represent each Guardian's power. The Aurameres give the same elemental powers to each Guardian. Luba, a cat-like creature, guards the Aurameres.
When the Guardians transform, they grow wings and can fly! They can also combine their powers to create a powerful beam. After the magical Veil between worlds is removed, the Guardians can travel between worlds by "folding" with the Heart of Kandrakar. Elyon and Blunk can also fold.
To travel short distances in the same world, each Guardian can teleport. This is a tricky skill to learn, and if you're not careful, you might end up inside a solid object! If a Guardian teleports without being connected to an Auramere or the Heart, it can drain their life force. Using their elemental powers without an Auramere also makes them weaker.
A Guardian can become a Quinto-Guardian, meaning they gain powers over all five elements. This allows them to do things like create solid ice from thin air. Only Cornelia (for a short time) and Nerissa have been Quinto-Guardians.
Guardians can also become one with their element, like a dragon or a powerful nymph. This makes their elemental abilities super strong, but it's risky because they could lose their human side and be controlled by others.
Astral Drops and Altermeres
Using the Heart of Kandrakar, a Guardian can create an Astral Drop. This is a copy of themselves, made by saying "Spord Lartsa" (Astral Drops spelled backward). Astral Drops are perfect physical copies, but they don't have memories or their own personality. They are used when Guardians need doubles so their absence isn't noticed.
An Altermere is an Astral Drop that comes to life with the power of Quintessence. Unlike Astral Drops, Altermeres don't disappear. They are real living beings with feelings, emotions, and memories. Nerissa once turned Will's Astral Drop into an Altermere. She also created an Altermere of Yan Lin, who didn't realize she wasn't the real Yan Lin until Nerissa told her.
Meet the Characters
The W.I.T.C.H. Girls
- Will Vandom (Kelly Stables): The 13-year-old leader of the Guardians. She owns the Heart of Kandrakar and later becomes the Guardian of Quintessence. Will moves to Heatherfield at the start of the series. Her powers include activating transformations and sealing portals. In season two, she gains powers over electricity and life itself. She can even talk to electrical appliances! Her boyfriend is Matt Olsen.
- Irma Lair (Candi Milo): The 12-year-old Guardian of Water. She controls water and, in season two, gains mind control powers. Irma is the funny one, always making witty remarks, which sometimes annoys Cornelia. She runs the radio station at her school. Irma doesn't have a steady boyfriend, though she likes Andrew Hornby.
- Taranee Cook (Kali Troy): The 12-year-old Guardian of Fire. She can create and control fire, and in season two, she can talk to the other Guardians using her mind. Taranee is very smart and uses her brain to defeat enemies. Her boyfriend is Nigel Ashcroft.
- Cornelia Hale (Christel Khalil): The 13-year-old Guardian of Earth. She controls earth and plants, and in season two, gains telekinesis (moving things with her mind). Cornelia can be a bit proud, but she eventually becomes good friends with Will. Her best friend is Elyon Brown, who turns out to be the lost Princess of Meridian. Cornelia falls for Caleb, but his duties in Meridian cause problems for their relationship.
- Hay Lin (Liza del Mundo): The 12-year-old Guardian of Air. She controls air and can become invisible in season two. Her grandma, Yan Lin, was the previous Guardian of Air and taught the girls about their roles. Hay Lin is Chinese-American and works part-time at her family's Chinese restaurant, The Silver Dragon. She loves art and is a free spirit. She eventually starts dating Eric Lyndon.
Friends and Allies
- Caleb (Greg Cipes): A brave 15-year-old human who leads the Meridian resistance movement. He's often with Blunk. Caleb is reckless but a strong leader and fighter. He's skilled in hand-to-hand combat and uses a sword. Even without special powers, he holds his own against powerful enemies.
- Blunk (Steve Blum): A small, smelly creature from Meridian. He's a Passling, a goblin-like creature who travels between dimensions to find and sell goods. Blunk can sniff out portals and often helps the Guardians. He's very loyal to Caleb.
- Elyon Brown (Serena Berman): Born in Meridian, she is the true princess and heir to the throne. To protect her from her evil brother Phobos, she was brought to Earth as a baby and raised by the Browns. Cedric tricks her into going to Meridian, but she eventually realizes Phobos is evil and helps W.I.T.C.H. defeat him. Elyon then becomes the Queen of Meridian.
- Matt Olsen (Jason Marsden): Will's classmate and boyfriend. He's the lead guitarist and singer of his band, Wreck 55. Matt accidentally learns about the Guardians and Meridian. He decides to help and trains to become a warrior with Caleb.
- Yan Lin (Lauren Tom): Hay Lin's paternal grandmother and the former Guardian of Air. She is a wise advisor to the new Guardians.
Main Villains
- Prince Phobos (Mitchell Whitfield): The main bad guy in the first season. He rules Meridian, even though his missing sister is the rightful heir. He wants to stay in power and absorb his sister's magic.
- Lord Cedric (Dee Bradley Baker): Phobos's General, who can change into a human-snake hybrid. He commands Phobos's army and tries to find the missing princess for Phobos. On Earth, he pretends to be a bookstore owner named Cedric Hoffman.
- Nerissa (Kath Soucie): The main villain of the second season. She was the original Guardian of Quintessence and the first Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, before Will. Nerissa wants to control Kandrakar and other magical realms. She creates groups like the Knights of Vengeance and the Knights of Destruction to fight the Guardians. She also forms C.H.Y.K.N., the original five Guardians, with herself as the leader.
The Knights of Vengeance
These villains were freed by Nerissa and formed a group to get revenge.
- Raythor (Steve Blum): A former knight of Phobos. He becomes the leader of the Knights of Vengeance. He eventually joins the Guardians after seeing Phobos's true nature.
- Frost (Dee Bradley Baker) and Crimson (Michael Bell): Frost is a strong but not very smart member of Phobos's army, who rides a three-horned rhino named Crimson.
- Miranda (Grey DeLisle): A shape-shifter who can turn into a spider-like creature. She spies on the Guardians on Earth.
- Sandpit (Kath Soucie): Originally a living pit that trapped victims. Nerissa brings him back to life as a humanoid form.
- Gargoyle (Dee Bradley Baker): A giant rock monster who guarded Phobos's castle. Nerissa gives him a new hand that turns into a weapon.
- Tracker (Jeff Bennett) and Sniffer (Dee Bradley Baker): Phobos's best scout and hunter, who can track anyone. Sniffer is his strong, fast dog.
The Knights of Destruction
These powerful villains were created by Nerissa in the second season.
- Shagon (Jason Marsden): A muscular man with black wings and a golden mask. He is created by Nerissa from Matt Olsen's hatred. Shagon spies on the Guardians and loves to torture Will. Matt eventually breaks free from Shagon's control.
- Khor (Dee Bradley Baker): A terrifying beast with gorilla-like arms. He is created by Nerissa from Mr. Huggles's anger. Mr. Huggles eventually breaks free from Khor's control.
- Tridart (Jim Cummings): A tall, winged man made of ice, created from Nerissa's despair. He controls ice and uses an axe.
- Ember (Cree Summer): A lady with a pointy hairdo made of lava, created from Nerissa's pain. She controls lava and uses a trident.
C.H.Y.K.N. (Original Guardians)
These are the first generation of Guardians of the Veil.
- Cassidy (Susan Chesler): The past Guardian of Water. She was given the Heart after Nerissa's betrayal but was killed by a jealous Nerissa. Her spirit is later brought back.
- Halinor (Betty Jean Ward): The past Guardian of Fire. She is kind but can be cowardly. Nerissa uses her fear to control her.
- Yan Lin (Lauren Tom): The former Guardian of Air, and Hay Lin's grandmother. She is captured by Nerissa and replaced with an Altermere clone.
- Kadma (CCH Pounder): The former Guardian of Earth. She ruled the world of Zamballa. Nerissa corrupts her and forces her to use her powers.
- Nerissa (Kath Soucie): The former Guardian of Quintessence and leader of C.H.Y.K.N. She becomes the main villain of season two.
Exploring the Worlds of W.I.T.C.H.
Many different worlds are important in the W.I.T.C.H. series. Earth is where the Guardians live. Meridian, Kandrakar, and Zamballa are magical dimensions that appear as the story unfolds. Nerissa also briefly visits Aridia, a desert world.
Each world has a "Heart," which is a huge source of magical energy. Hearts can be jewels, talismans, or even living beings. The most important is the Heart of Kandrakar, a pendant that helps W.I.T.C.H. transform. The Hearts of Earth, Meridian, and Aridia are living beings.
Earth
This is our planet, where humans live and don't know about other kingdoms or creatures. It's home to each group of five Guardians of the Veil.
Heatherfield City
Heatherfield is the main city where the second group of Guardians lives. Hay Lin's grandma, Yan Lin, also lives here. The main high school is Sheffield Institute, led by Principal Knickerbocker.
Lillian Hale, Cornelia's younger sister, is the mystical Heart of Earth itself. For many years, Elyon, the younger sister of Prince Phobos, was hidden here and raised by adopted parents.
The Silver Dragon Restaurant
The Silver Dragon is a Chinese restaurant where Hay Lin and her family live and work. It's where Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin first learned they were Guardians and received the Heart of Kandrakar.
The basement of the restaurant is their secret meeting place, or "Guardian HQ." The Guardians plan their missions here, and Yan Lin is always there to help them.
Meridian Kingdom
Meridian is the most important world in the series, where most of the action happens. It's a kingdom watched over by the Oracle and ruled by a Queen with powerful magic. As of season two, Elyon Brown is the Queen.
Meridian has streets full of merchants and amazing caves. People mostly farm, but some have other jobs. Many different creatures live here, like Larveks and Passlings. Some creatures, like Cedric and Miranda, can change between human and beast forms.
The Guardians travel to Meridian often in season one to help fight Phobos. A key place in Meridian is a large village next to the castle, where Phobos lives.
The Infinite City
The Infinite City is a secret place below Meridian. The Mage guards this underground city, which has many pillars and seems to go on forever. It's colored lime green, but can appear red, orange, and cream during the day.
No one knows who built the Infinite City or when. The Rebellion used it as their secret base to hide from Phobos. You can get into the city through a hidden passage that leads to stairs and a waterfall where the Mage stays.
Kandrakar Temple
Kandrakar first appeared in the episode "B is for Betrayal." The Guardians often go to Kandrakar for answers, especially when their powers grow stronger. The Council of Kandrakar watches over the entire universe and protects its worlds from evil. It has its own Guardians to help. The leader holds the pink orb necklace, the Heart of Kandrakar, which transforms the Guardians and boosts their powers. The Aurameres are kept in a room in Kandrakar, guarded by Luba.
Zamballa World
Zamballa was first shown in season two. It's a purple world covered in jungle. At its center is a pyramid, which is the palace where Kadma lives. The Zamballans themselves look like walking purple trees. In the end, Kadma steps down, and Ironwood becomes Queen, holding the Heart of Zamballa.
Behind the Scenes: How W.I.T.C.H. Was Made
Two seasons of W.I.T.C.H. were made, with 26 episodes each, totaling 52 episodes. The show used stories from the original comic books, like The Twelve Portals and Nerissa's Revenge.
There was a 15-minute pilot episode that was never fully animated. It was used to test the show with a group of kids in 2003. The first episode was originally planned to air on Halloween.
Changes from the Comics
Even though the show follows the comic books' main story, there are many differences. When the show started, the creators only had the first 6 comic issues to work with for the first season. For the second season, they had more issues (up to 27). More than 20 new creatures were created just for the TV show!
The showrunners faced challenges adapting the comics to TV. For example, they wondered why the W.I.T.C.H. girls didn't just move all the good people from Meridian to Earth if they could open portals anywhere.
One big change was the Guardians' powers in the first season. The network wanted the girls to use their powers more. So, some powers they had in the comics, like telepathy or talking to appliances, were not in season one. But in season two, the girls gained most of their missing powers.
The character of Caleb was changed a lot. In the comics, he had clear facial markings that made him look different from humans. In the show, he doesn't have them because test audiences found them unsettling, and they looked too much like a beard when animated. Also, Caleb spends more time on Earth in the show, so he needed to blend in.
Blunk is a character made just for the cartoon; he's not in the comics. He became more important as the show changed from comedy to action, helping to appeal to boys.
Will's pet dormouse, Mr. Huggles, appears much later in the cartoon (episode 24) than in the comics. This might have been because of another Disney show, Kim Possible, which had a similar pet.
Vathek, a prison keeper, starts as an enemy in the comics. But in the show, he's already on the Guardians' side to make the first few episodes flow better.
The name "Kandrakar" was almost changed due to real-world events, but it stayed mostly the same. Some character names were also changed for different reasons.
Animation Style
The animation for season one was done by Wang Film Productions and Hong Ying Universe. Dongwoo Animation animated season two. The 3D design of the Heart of Kandrakar was made by Maga Animation Studio.
The series has an anime-like look, even though it's a Western cartoon. The director of season one was inspired by anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion. The original comics also have a manga style, different from Disney's usual rounded look. The high-quality animation was meant to match the detailed artwork of the comics.
Opening Songs
W.I.T.C.H. has different theme songs and openings depending on where it was broadcast.
The original international opening shows the girls and their powers with unique footage and music by Alain Garcia and Noam Kaniel. The song is "W.I.T.C.H." by Sabrina. The season two intro was updated with new plot details and a remix of the theme.
The U.S. version, by Adam Watts and Andy Dodd, shows action clips from episodes. It used a demo version of "We Are W.I.T.C.H." until episode 14, when Marion Raven sang the final version. This intro stayed the same for both seasons in the U.S.
In Italy, a different opening was used, with clips from the show and the international intro. The song was by the group Lucky Star.
Where to Watch W.I.T.C.H.
Broadcast History
In the United States, a special preview of W.I.T.C.H. aired on December 18, 2004, on ABC Kids. It also aired on December 19 on ABC Family and Toon Disney as part of their Jetix blocks. The series officially started on January 15, 2005, on ABC Kids and ABC Family, and January 17 on Toon Disney. Later, on January 28, 2006, it began airing on Disney Channel.
Since W.I.T.C.H. is based on a Disney comic and made with Jetix Europe, it was shown worldwide on Disney-owned Jetix channels. This included Family Channel in Canada, BBC's CBBC in the UK, RTÉ Two in Ireland, Seven Network in Australia, and TV2 in New Zealand.
In France, where the show was mainly made, it aired on France 3. In Italy, where the comic came from, it was shown on Italia 1.
DVD Releases
W.I.T.C.H. DVDs have been released in Europe, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These DVDs contain episodes from the first season, split into several volumes. Each volume came with two art cards featuring one of the W.I.T.C.H. girls.
In the UK, the first three volumes were released in 2006. In October 2007, all six volumes of season one were re-released as DVD box sets. Season two DVDs have been released in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Russia, with English audio available on some sets.
Awards and Nominations
In 2006, Joey Paul Jensen was nominated for an Artios Award for Best Animated Voice-Over Television Casting. This award is given by the Casting Society of America.
Music from W.I.T.C.H.
A soundtrack for the series was released in January 2007, called Music From and Inspired By W.I.T.C.H. It includes the full versions of the international and U.S. theme songs, plus other tracks inspired by the show.
The song "The Power of Five" by Jillian Escobosa was used for promotions before the TV series launched. An official Italian music video was also made for the song "W.I.T.C.H. Is In the House."
