#W.I.T.C.H. critical

[sallykie]

Really late realisation about a REALLY long-ago childhood fandom, but wasn't it kinda fucked up that in the W.I.T.C.H. comics, one of the story arcs had the "happy ending" of... curing autism?

[crysdrawsthings]

Miranda

[vandomheart]

imma be a hater during this reboot era…but at the same time it’s w.i.t.c.h so I can’t really hate it

and also one day some kid is going to look back on this reboot the same way I look back on the original so I rly can’t judge

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

A note on "Miraculous treads on very much explored territory and still fails epically".

Thomas Astruc used to work (as a crew member, not a leader, but still) on W. I. T. C. H.

Which is:

A magical girl show with team dynamics

A show that mixes episodic and serialized format

A show where two the male romantic interests have a massive role (Caleb is a main character on par with the six girls, and Matt has an epic character arc)

A show with a strong mystery element

A show with manipulative villains (sometimes with schemes reaolved within an episode! And sometimes longer), villains that turn out to be family members, sympathetic villains, loathsome villains... Great, complex villains, almost all of them

A mean girl quasi-redemption arc

A show that does all of the aforementioned elements very well. Also, better diversity despite being 10 years older.

Yet when I watch ML, I see no inspiration (despite many common motifs), no lessons learned, no indication that the lead writer ever got anything from the experience working on that show. Unless the lesson was "W. I. T. C. H. got cancelled after two seasons, so everything about the show was wrong and we should do ML differently".

(Mind you, WITCH got more plot in two seasons than ML did in five, and still wrapped up the story fairly well)

Sorry for the rant. I kinda know that the explanation for "why is ML not like that" is "ML is forced to be an episodic show against its will", but also.

ML is trying very hard to pretend that it's More Than an Episodic Show and Not Only for Kids, and really doesn't measure up with shows with seemingly similar premises.

(Post that inspired this ask)

Before we get into it, if anyone likes fun theme songs and missed the American opening to W.I.T.C.H.'s first season then I have a treat for you!!!

Top tier opening song! Other countries were robbed!

Anyway, I agree with everything you said and this ask got me curious about the writing staff. I started doing some digging and a lot of them appear to have worked on other shows that would fall with the same genres as Miraculous. Many of those shows were even episodic formula shows that reserved the serialized elements for season finals and specials (looking at you Code Lyoko!) That doesn't shock me, but it does just add to my curiosity as to what the heck is going on with Miraculous.

These aren't new comers to the industry in over their heads, they're established professionals! Why are they struggling so hard to tell a good story while working with an incredibly simple premise? Why are aren't they embracing the show's limits and making it the best it can be in its chosen category? I'd love to know the full story, but alas, I likely never will. My best guess is that commercial success has got to their heads and so they're convinced that any criticism they see can't possibly be valid. At least, that's what the head writer's twitter feed seems to suggest every time I see screen caps from it...

[princess-of-the-corner]

When it comes to Disney, Elsa is considered the Big Empowering Female character... But I, who read the comics, find that the only new thing was when she told Anna she couldn't marry a guy she just met, as the comics had been doing it for decades:

Magica De Spell is best known as a witch... Who from the start could afford direct flights from Naples to Duckburg and back, as she's a successful businesswoman.

Goldie O'Gilt is another successful businesswoman, one that kept an almost honest place (as in, SHE was the only crook there, and stopped after the famous incident with Scrooge) in Dawson during the Klondike Gold Race, when it was the most crime infested place on Earth. And when the city started getting tourism years after it was abandoned, guess who was the elderly woman owning the first hotel?

Brigitta McBridge started out as basically Scrooge's stalker... Then one day he pissed her off, and he's still traumatized by the methods she used to prove she's a better businesswoman than him (and considering Scrooge on a dare once managed to literally sell sand in the Sahara, ice at the South Pole, and chocolate on Mars...).

Grandma Duck had already adult children at the start of the 20th century, and when all her children and grandchildren moved out she still runs a large farm with the help of a single LAZY farmhand (pretty sure the only reasons she keeps Gus around is that the guy is literally stronger than a bear and at times she needs his raw strength). And then some guys tried to extort her and she fired her shotgun over their heads warning the next would be at chest height...

Daisy Duck, corporate spy, superheroine, someone Scrooge actually considers naming as the heir of his financial empire after seeing her take business decision...

Reginella, ELECTED queen of the planet Pacificus. And such a good ruler than when someone tried a coup it took everyone a few moments to process the fact someone didn't like her as a queen.

Minnie, daughter of a farmer that has somehow gotten in the high society of Mouseton on her own merits.

Trudy Van Tubb, that debuted running Mouseton's entire criminal underground for a temporarily imprisoned Pete. And they're married in everything but the eyes of the law because Pete knows how lucky he is to have such a formidable woman...

And they're all old school characters predating Frozen by decades. If we get to more recent years... Well, for starters W.I.T.C.H. started out as a Disney comic.

W.I.T.C.H. MENTION!!!!

No but I think it's a combination of making this more 'mainstream'

Like on one hand they're bringing this sort of thing not to a comic side character, but a Disney Princess in an Animated Musical Movie. One of the most marketable things they have going for them. This is the face of Disney for the foreseeable future and she's something Different™

But at the same time they need her to be marketable and not too controversial so she's like. Baby's first feminism-ing. Criticizing the romancefantasy movies 'marry a man you just met' bit, letting the Princesses save each other while the male cast are either villains or sidekicks, True Love is platonic, Elsa doesn't get a husband by the end, etc.

[mostly-magical-polls]

Hey there! Question, would you mind linking the full list for the Magical Girl Video Game tourney or something? I’ve honestly been wanting to look into games within the genre but not had much success personally, so I’d love to use it as a vague rec sheet and I don’t want to try Tumblr’s pretense of a search function to look for a post that might not exist.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica - The Battle Pentagram, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, Grief Syndrome, Futari Wa Pretty Cure Max Heart: Maji? Maji!? Fight de IN Janai, Pretty Cure All Stars Everyone Gather ☆ Let's Dance!, Twinkle Tale, Unwieldy Wand, Witch’s Wish, Potionomics, Syrup and The Ultimate Sweet, Wand of Fortune R, Kokoro Clover, Hello Kitty and the Apron of Magic: Rhythm Cooking, Love Spell: Written in The Stars, Magical Girl Dash, Omega Quintet, Little Witch Parfait, Majestic Majolical, A Hat In Time, Hero Hours Contract, Nanatsuiro Drops: Touch de Hajimaru Hatsukoi Monogatari, Pop n’ Magic, Phantom Rose, Kirara Fantasia, Genso Manege, Blue Reflection, Lock & Key: A Magical Girl Mystery, Magical Battle Arena, Magical Pop’n, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story, This Magical Girl is a B★tch, MAGIC CHAOS, GrimGrimorie, Star Melody: Yumemi Dreamer, Makeruna Makendo, The Songbird Guild, Super Lesbian Animal RPG, Magical Heroines Plus, Style Book: Fushigiboshi no Futagohime Gyu!, Hamster Monogatari GB + Magi Ham Mahou no Shoujo, Dear My Magical Boys, Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princesse, W.I.T.C.H., Vroom in the Night Sky, MaguSphere - Magical Cannon Girls, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s Portable: The Gears of Destiny, A Magical High School Girl, Magical Chaser: Stardust of Dreams, Witch's Talisman, Moco Moco Friends, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1, Winx Club (gba), Panel de Pon, C.A.T: Cyber Attack Team, Magical Warrior Diamond Heart, Crystar, Witch You Want, Infinity Nikki, Tokyo Mew Mew – Tojo Shin Mew Mew! – Minna Issho ni Gohoshi Suru Nyan, Pripara (Arcade Game), Long Live the Queen, Calico, Princess Peach: Showtime!, Little Goody Two Shoes, Rune Factory, Madoka Magica Mobage, Madoka Magica Online, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable, Pretty Cure Connection Puzzlun, Yes! Pretty Cure 5, Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo! - Zenin ShūGo! Dream Festival, Sailor Moon Drops, Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue, Berry Berry Mew Mew, Blue Reflection: Second Light, Megadimension Neptunia VII, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha INNOCENT, Winx Club: Rockstars, I Am Magicami, a letter of challenge, Magical Girl Critical, Trouble Witches Origin - Episode1 Daughters of Amalgam, Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero: Bouquet of Brilliance, CopyKat, Life After Magic, Lovely Fracture, Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream, Otocadoll, Tobari and the Night of the Curious Moon Misa no Mahou Monogatari Astrune Academy, Community Pom, Cotton 100%, Fantastic Fortune, Fray in Magical Adventuredwellers empty path, Kira Kira Magical Stars, Kurumi Miracle, Little Witch Nobeta, Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance!Magic Kyun! Renaissance, Magical Battle Festa, Magical Missy Launch, Mahou no Shoujo Silky Lip, Mahou Senshi Cosplay Club, Majokko Mari-chan no Kisekae, Money Puzzle Exchanger, Nova Hearts, Panic in Sweets Land, Paradigm ParadoxPrincess Farmer, SaGa: Emerald Beyond, Star Girl Proxima, StarCrossed, The Five Steps to Ensuring Momo Graduates Successfully!!!, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier, War of Prayers, Witch-Bot Meglilio, WitchSpring R, Wonder Momo, Deathsmiles, Idol Mahou Shoujo Chiruchiru☆Michiru, Magical Girls: Save the school, Pretty Sweet! Healing Guardian, Punchline, Purikura Daisuken, Shantae, White Cat Project

[ultraericthered]

It's truly a hard call between comics and TV show when you have to consider that one would be only slightly overall better than the other.

I agree with most of his points here, except saying that if he had to choose he prefers the show. I'm sorry, but with all that much wrong he acknowledged in it, that sounds highly disingenuous. Also, I can't say I'm as fond of Season 2 as he is. There was some brilliant stuff here and there (Shagon!), but just as much lame things either carried over from Season 1 or newly invented that dragged it down, and it became a complete trainwreck in its last 5 episodes where Prince Phobos and the Meridian stuff got brought back for no good reason.

Related: We've got a darker and edgier reboot out now!

[blackdigitalrose]

Wed - Smile Pretty Cure! - Ep 29 - 31 (These summer episodes are getting a little tedious now -.- too many at once.)

EP 29

It is another for the bingo card, it's the, I haven't completed all the summer homework and school is tomorrow ep and yes, it plays out like all the others so far, mostly.

Not one of Reika's brightest moments, she does often feel very out of place but 6:30 XD how specific, yet in other ways relatable, wonder why 6:30 though?

Sunny would be right on this one, that is pretty crazy but that is definitely a unique use of the attack. (Peace Thunder may be my fave attack from this series)

I had nothing to say, the changes are small but I really like that look on Beauty,

Oof, that's just an awkward finisher after all that talk. However, I guess the message it was trying to get across is there and it does get a bonus point for at least being willing to show, ironically, the bad end.

It is odd though, the ep was pointless and yet it flew by.

EP 30

Now, were these aired in the wrong order? They started school again at the end of the last one, then it is summer again in this one?

Who could they even show any of these photo's to? It isn't like they could explain how they magically got to a,b,c? Gotta appreciate that proper digi-cam screen quality though.

And trying all that food is one thing but whose paying? Magical currency conversion as they go to?

Or how they even had a book case for some of these locations? If anything, this ep is bringing up a lot of questions.

They say for the sake of a plot but seriously, this is the second time now but if they can do this, why not get the energy they need like this and not get the Precure's attention? It isn't like it suggests its barely enough or anything?

Wait... if Candy could have done this by herself this whole time, why did she keep getting the others to use the pact to use a charm?

Part of me expected more, make them more personal, on the other hand, it'd definitely be alot easier to animate like this. I am disappointed we didn't get to see all of them do their attack like this, March would have been quite fun to see. (I've only just noticed how glittery their attack backgrounds are...)

Triple KO, allies and enemy alike XD

Sounds menacing but falls empty because we have no idea what he's actually been up to or trying, just something, he never elaborated at any point. How are we suppose to know if it really is bad or not? They could have given it some build up if you were going to use him so scarcely.

(Free toy merch advertising!) Not that I'm trying to be overly critical here but with a light show like that, why didn't they do this in the secret hideout? Just miraculously never getting anyone else's attention.

EP 31

Didn't this start off dark again, dang Smile, you jump from one extreme to the other so easily.

Just what is his story? How much does he know? Can he see it or is he able to sense it? 30eps in and he's still such a mystery? How is he always steps ahead of everyone else?

The unintended contrast but that feels like foreshadowing some how.

You've got to give him points for thinking ahead and taking precautions.

XD Candy is having her equivalent of a super saiyan moment, the struggle, the anger, the yellow glow, the little speech about not hurting anyone... (This is very much Goku's first SSJ transformation, magical girl style)

Egads -.- we are doing this for a third time, why are we doing this for a third time? (this was in subbers notes)

And it ends with Joker having actually stuck around and kidnapping the other four because naturally, we can't have it the other way round? Pink saves the rest (here's looking at W.I.T.C.H, who actually had that role reversal in their S1.)

I can't tell if the show has derailed or not, it started of strong but it seems like it has lost its way abit but it can still have these amazing moments, none of these eps were really bad, bad. Nor can I tell if Joker is good or not, they've got the intrigue still there at least but he still feels too much of a background character.

Maybe next weeks set will clear things up a bit more?

[best-female-villain-tournament]

Final character placement!

Two brackets this time! links will be embedded once they are posted!

(brackets under the cut)

BRACKET A

Queen Asheviere(Battle For Wesnoth(heir to the throne campaign)) VS Thiala(Not Another D&D Podcast (Campaign 1/Bahumia))

Amora the Enchantress(Marvel Comics) VS The Shapeshifter(Odd Squad)

Alvida(One Piece) VS Darcy(Winx Club)

Icy(Winx Club) VS Ursula(The Little Mermaid)

The Collector(Aurora) VS Drolta(Castlevania: Nocturne)

Morana(Castlevania) VS Erzsebet Báthory(Castlevania)

Junko Enoshima(Danganronpa) VS Tron bonne(Mega Man Legends)

Captain Syrup(Wario Land) VS Sado(The Hex)

Aurra Sing(Star Wars) VS Vermouth/Sharon Vineyard/Chris Vineyard(Detective Conan/Case Closed)

Queen Sectonia(Kirby Triple Deluxe) VS Her Imperious Condescension/the Condesce/Betty Crocker(Homestuck)

Madame Rouge(Teen Titans) VS Ikra(Samurai Jack)

Linaris the Obsidian(Ishura) VS Twizzly Gummy Cookie(Cookie Run Kingdom)

Kiara Sessyoin(Fate) VS Mion(Monkey Typhoon)

Elendira the Crimsonnail(Trigun) VS The Wicked Witch of the West(The Wizard of Oz)

Xivu Arath(Destiny Two) VS President Coin(The Hunger Games)

Pamela Vorhees(Friday the 13th) VS Jiao Liqiao(Mysterious Lotus Casebook)

————

Marilyn Thornhill(Wednesday) VS Jennifer Blake(Teen Wolf)

Queen Vanessa(A Hat In Time) VS Tiamat(Dungeons and Dragons)

The Preeminent(Lego Ninjago) VS Lolth(Critical Role)

Lorelei(Marvel Comics) VS Yubaba(Spirited Away)

Aranea Serket(Homestuck) VS Spinel(Steven Universe: The Movie)

Queen Mirage(Happiness Charge Precure) VS Aspheera(Lego Ninjago)

Lady Cassandra(Doctor Who) VS Stormy(Winx Club)

Lenore(Castlevania) VS Blackarachnia(Beast Wars)

Jadis the White Witch(The Chronicles of Narnia) VS Laverna(Barbie: Fairytopia)

Striga(Castlevania) VS Kuvira(The Legend of Korra)

Queen La(the Tarzan Disney TV Series) VS Mirage(the Aladdin Disney TV Series)

Helen/The Administrator(Team Fortress 2) VS Citizen Dawn(Sentinels of the Multiverse (Sentinel Comics))

Regina Mills/Evil Queen(Once Upon A Time) VS Taylor “Skitter” Hebert(Worm/Parahumans)

Pomegranate Cookie(Cookie Run Kingdom) VS Mrs Tweedy(Chicken Run)

Lady Macbeth(Macbeth(Shakespeare)) VS Sora Siruha(Choujin X)

The Director(Nimona) VS Chacha(Nano List)

BRACKET B

Shadow Weaver(She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom(One Piece) VS Maia(Jak & Daxter)

Carmilla(Castlevania) VS Granny Goodness(DC Comics)

Penelope Specta(Danny Phantom) VS Spider Queen(Lego Monkie Kid)

Cassidy(Pokemon)

Otohan Thull(Critical Role) VS Sofina(Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves)

Kalina(Fantasy High Sophomore Year) VS Blackfire(Teen Titans)

Kim'dael(The Dragon Prince)

Salem(RWBY)

Raven Darkholme/Mystique(Marvel Comics) VS Pray Mayer(Knight Run)

Nerissa(W.I.T.C.H.) VS Saleen(the Aladdin Disney TV Series)

Grace Chasity(Nerdy Prudes Must Die(Team Starkid)) VS Dark Enchantress Cookie(Cookie Run Kingdom)

Raishan(Critical Role/The Legend of Vox Machina)

The Shadow Queen(Paper Mario) VS Kanako Yasaka(Touhou Project)

Winifred Sanderson(Hocus Pocus) VS Beatrice/Team Classic Pyro(Team Fortress Classic and Team Fortress 2)

Airachnid(Transformers)

————

Lady Bone Demon(Lego Monkie Kid)

Athena(Final Fantasy XIV(14)) VS Hela(Marvel Comics)

Sara Berry(The Ballad Of Sara Berry) VS Kaguya Otsutsuki(Naruto Shippuden)

Dyspear(Go! Princess Precure) VS Fiona Fox(Sonic the Hedgehog(Archie Comics))

Audrey II(Little Shop of Horrors)

Shizuka Hio(Vampire Knight ) VS Wuya(Xiaolin Showdown)

Glory(Buffy The Vampire Slayer ) VS Lilith(Supernatural)

Evil stepmother from various fairytales(trope)

Seska(Star Trek: Voyager)

Princess Opechius(Star Twinkle Precure) VS Wojira(Lego Ninjago)

Queen Tyr'ahnee(Looney Tunes) VS Selina(Winx Club)

Akito Souma(Fruits Basket) VS Lord Dominator(Wander Over Yonder)

Camille L'espanaye(The Fall of The House of Usher(Netflix))

Infected Charlotte(The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals(Team Starkid)) VS Vexus(My Life As a Teenage Robot)

Lee from Yu-Gi-Oh!(World Legacy Storyline) VS Anonymity Requested(Cipher Academy)

Orin(Baldur's Gate 3)

[xx-stellalunaart-xx]

So yeah! I'm now getting into the Super Mario fandom! I started getting into it after watching the Super Mario Bros. Movie, and I absolutely adored it too! (Mainly cuz of Bowser X3) To celebrate, here's my Mario OC, Princess Ophelia, the princess of the Arcane Isles! In my headcanon, the Arcane Isles is a kingdom full of magic and powerful witches, and Ophelia is the ruler of this kingdom! I have a bunch of concepts for the kingdom and how it works, such as magic staffs and wands, and familiars, which are creatures given to witches to serve and protect them and assist them with their magic. I plan to get into the concepts of the kingdom later, and I even have ideas for a fan game/story. And yes, I ship her with Bowser X3 I hope you guys like how she turned out, cuz I poured my heart and soul into her design and her information! Enjoy! (Written bio under the cut)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Name: Princess Ophelia Nicknames/Aliases: Princess of the Arcane Isles, Princess of Magic, Lady Ophelia, Ophelia the Majestic, Princess Half-a-Witch, Your Highness, Your Majesty, Madame, The most powerful witch in the Arcane Isles (by Flora and Fauna), Witchlet (by King Alistair and Queen Calliope), Ophy (by Iris), Mama (by Bowser Jr.), Mom (by Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings), My dear (By Atticus and Bowser), Darling (by Queen Calliope and Bowser), Flower (by Bowser), Starlight (by Bowser), Dearest (by Bowser), Jewel (by Bowser), Sweetheart (by Bowser) Age: 26 years old Gender: Female (She/Her) Species: Witch Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Personality: Gentle, Cool-headed, Affectionate, Intelligent, Clumsy, Self-critical, Emotional, Passionate, Hopeful, Creative, Patient Likes: Her friends, Sweets, The color purple, pampering Harmony, Spending time with Bowser and his kids, Reading, Romantic music, Learning new magic, Astronomy, Singing, Dancing, Musicals, Honoring her parents' memory Dislikes: Dark magic, The Wraith King and his minions, Her clumsiness, Messing up, Imperfection, Messing up her spells, Vices, Bitter foods, Being ridiculed, Hypocrisy, Violence/Resorting to violence, Her friends and family being in danger Family: King Alistair (deceased father), Queen Calliope (deceased mother) Friends/Allies: Atticus (childhood best friend/royal advisor), Iris (royal guard captain), Flora (royal attendant/gardener), Fauna (royal attendant/familiar keeper), Millicent (nursemaid/caretaker), Harmony (familiar), Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Princess Daisy, Rosalina, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser Jr., Koopalings, Kamek, Kammy Koopa, Shiver, Sugar & Spice, Tulip, Pepper Enemies: The Wraith King, The Hollow Specter, Count Maelstrom, Shock Wave, The Siren Sisters Love Interest: Bowser (consort/boyfriend) Residence: Arcane Isles Occupation: Princess of the Arcane Isles Powers and Abilities: Witchcraft, Spell Casting, Telekinesis, Conjuration, Teleportation, Familiar Summoning, Magic Staff Mastery, Power-Up usage, Musical Talent, Dancing Voice Headcanon: Erica Luttrell (Sapphire from Steven Universe) Theme Song: W.I.T.C.H. (Devon Cole) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's the link to her written bio below on my DeviantArt:

[burnouts3s3]

In W.I.T.C.H. Will Vandom confronts her Astral Drop which has become an Auramere in H is for Hunted. Will's Auramere is critically injured by Nerissa and Will, instead of absorbing her back into the Heart chooses to have her Auramere fuse with her, absorbing her memories.

[keepofkandrakar]

W.I.T.C.H. Character Headcanons (bc I say so)

So for those of you who don't know, I'm creating a rewrite of W.I.T.C.H. on Wattpad. It will essentially be if it were given a live action adaptation with a standing total of 60 episodes (5 seasons; 12 episodes per season). These headcanons all apply to said rewrite -- I have my Wattpad linked on my blog so go check it out!

Irma is canonically a Latina lesbian, that's zero debate, however I specifically headcanon her as Guatemalan.

Taranee and Peter Cook are canonically blasian! The Cooks are out here representing the blended families! I will be taking no arguments or criticisms!

I read a post a while ago about how every other fantasy world is based on Medieval Europe, Metamoor/Meridian being one of them and I was like "you know what would be cool? if instead Metamoor was based on Ancient Indian culture." so that's what I did and now Elyon and Phobos are ethnically Indian (Elyon's new name is Elyon Bhandari and I can't think of it as anything else now) (plus Metamoor is actually ten times more interesting with the amount of lore I'm creating for it).

sidenote: I need it to be known that Elyon will also be serving as the vice president of the Sheffield Student Government/Student Council to foreshadow her queenliness and she's also a book girly and she has initiative and Phobos is actually clever enough in his manipulation tactics for Elyon to not question everything until the last couple days leading up to her coronation. I wanted the queen to serve.

Everyone imagine real quick (cartoon) Matt Olsen as a black man. I don't know how I started picturing him black but now I cannot stop because it just works! We need a black lead guitar/lead singer of a rock band everyone will be making thirst edits over who is also humble kind sweet loyal loving-- And can I just say he would look sexy hot with the Shagon dreads! You cannot change my mind on this!

Kio Cyr is literally Eric Lyndon! I found an image with him in a NASA t-shirt and I was like "that's him folks!" Though, I do specifically headcanon Eric as Filipino.

Alchemy is now Alchemy Torres and she's a chem/bio nerd with an affinity for puzzles. I'm still figuring her out but she will gain more importance in S2.

I made a crackship out of Nashter (one of the Runics from the 100% WITCH arc) and Taranee and now it's very very serious. Not only does he have a British accent (do not ask) but he and Taranee are basically a detective duo/partners-in-crime turned besties in S3, which corresponds with the Crisis on Both Worlds arc which means angsty Taranee which means incredible banter between a smartass and a flirt.

And when I tell you that Nashter is the only white Runic I mean it: Darmon is lighter skin black, Shalin is Asian of some sort (specific region TBD), Cromo is dark skin black, and Ran-Rah is indigenous af.

Caleb lowkey is giving indigenous energy? I've barely touched him but the farthest I've gotten is that I saw one fanart of Caleb if he were on Phobos' side originally and now he has a whole defection arc in S1 from head of Phobos' guard to rebel leader in addition with angsty C&C so there's that going for us.

[iridescentmidnights]

Hey I just saw both your Winx and w.i.t.c.h art and they are fantastic and fabulous

I wanna know everything about your hypothetical Winx reboot

Is Aisha half mermaid ? (since part of her family are mermaids)

How come you decided to make Icy and Stella siblings ?

Will Roxy have her own journey to being a fairy or will she be part of the Winx ?

You ever thought of making Tecna part cyborg at one point ?(since she comes technologically advanced planet ?)

What are the worlds like in your rewrite?

I need this cuteness ☺️😊👍

Aw thank you so much!! 🥰🥰🥰 I'll be glad to answer most questions as long it's not something I consider super spoiler-y. If that's the case I'll let you know. Buckle up this is gonna be a long one!

Aisha is not half mermaid but she is related to them. I plan on giving all the Winx their own final fairy forms and Aisha will gain Sirenix which will give her access to a mermaid tail due to her heritage.

It's actually Stella and Darcy that are siblings!

Though I'm assuming "because ✨drama✨ and I thought it would be funny" isn't the answer you were looking for even though it's true. But the more detailed answer is I have move more expansive backstories for all of the Trix and different world building for the differences in witches and fairies. I even made Queen Luna a witch too! Sorry to be vague but adding to Stella's family felt right to diving deep into my version of her, she loves her family so much flaws and all while Darcy is more openly critical of it. Darcy isn't her only sibling either, there's her OC little brother (which happens a little after the start of the story) and I also made Sky their brother. I'm still on the fence if Sky and Stella should be twins.

Plus in transparent honesty I love Darcy and wanted a much bigger role for her. And yes!! Roxy has her own story, she is a Winx and tied to them but that doesn't change the fact has her own arc plot centered around her. Bloom may be the main character on a technical level but plot wise Roxy, Stella, and Aisha are equally crucial.

I actually did consider making Tecna a cyborg or a full magic AI, it's such a neat idea imo but I felt it would be more interesting (for me personally) to write about them not being the fairy of technology/technomagic. Tecna is a knowledge fairy with expertise/special interest in technology. Tecna actually lives in/is from Solaria.

In fact that leads me nicely into the last bit about the worlds. They're not from a bunch of different separate worlds, it's all Magix which is governed by several courts which are further divided into domains/realms. Each court has a royal family; land (Tir Na Nog though this one might change), sea (Andros), and sky (Solaria) all have a court then their overlap is the "life" court descendants of the Dragon Flame. Actually a majority of the Winx are from Solaria due to being refugees as the courts that would be governed by Bloom is inhospitable and Roxy's is being ruled by Solaria in the beginning of the story.

[theneptuneviolin]

Twenty Books Challenge

Hypothetically, you are only able to keep 20 of your books. Only one book per author/series. So what books are you keeping? Credit due to @the-forest-library. I was tagged by @drasnianfrank (a while ago… ooops)

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon - If I had to narrow down a single favourite book (not list off about five) I would probably choose this one.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - I spent a while deciding which of the Locked Tomb books I wanted to keep and it could be any of them really but I think that Gideon is the most fun of the three of them so far.

Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend - The Nevermoor series really itches the part of my brain that still wants to go on a whimsical adventure like i did when reading fantasy adventures at age twelve. While lots of them still work for me, many of them don’t and the ones that do, I’m coming at from a different perspective now. This series is a rare new-to-me series from the 8-12 shelves that does work for me and Hollowpox in particular unlocked the not-often seen part of me that got properly obsessive and immediately wanted to read the book again from the start as soon as I finished it the first time.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - My copy is one of the books I’ve had the longest and honestly looks its age. I’ve lent it to so many people and now the spine is held together with tape, the cover is crumpled and curled and it smells of cigarettes. It’s definitely not the strongest of Riordan’s books and it’s not my favourite (that might be The Hammer of Thor) but the physical object is special to me - it was also one of the rare spur-of-the-moment gifts from my mum.

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso - Caruso is really good at fast-paced, compelling novels with interesting characters and I love her stuff.

W.i.t.c.h. vol 6 (Yen Press versions) (this is arc 2 vol 3 containing issues 21-24) - I have several versions of the W.i.t.c.h. comics so it was a matter of deciding which versions counted (I am keeping all of my magazines & single issues in this hypothetical) and which one I wanted to keep. I decided not to go for something after my magazines end (shortly after which the comics get bad) but for an alternate translation of my favourite issue (21; I love this version of Cassidy).

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - I listened to the audiobook of this recently from the library (I would not recommend the audiobook because the worldbuilding is so intricate that a spent a long time being confused about things that i don't think would have confused me in print) and it’s the first new (to me) thing in a long time that has made me want to read fanfiction. I asked for the physical book for my birthday so I could reread it.

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott - I originally read this in secondary school and it was the first thing I read that dealt with depression so it did things to me. I read it again a few years ago and it doesn’t hold up (but is still okay if your expectations aren’t too high) and there have been criticisms of one of Marriott’s later books that also apply to this one but I have some emotional attachments to this one and don’t think I could let it go entirely.

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire - While I think most of the Wayward Children series is enjoyable but not amazing, this one got me in the gender feels, which is something that I don’t get very often (I know i need to read more indie/self published books) and I had a very good time with it.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I have not read this book and probably never will. My copy was a gift from my grandma from her collection because she thought it might be useful for my English lit A-level. It was not. But it’s still a really nice copy and the copyright date for the introduction and illustrations make it the oldest book (as an item, not oldest from first publication date) in my collection (possibly excepting the matching edition of Jane Eyre, which she gave me at the same time but contains no copyright dates).

Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas - Knowing her current reputation for smut and what a lot of my friends know about me (not into romance or shipping) this might seem an odd choice but let me take you back to 2012 when the first Throne of Glass book came out: It was in the teen section of the discount book catalogue my mum got in the post, which I read and asked my mum to get me the book with the cool-sounding assassin plot, which she did. When I read it, I loved it (I have long been easily pleased by fast paced plots) and yeah it had a love triangle - but what girly teen books at the time didn’t? (also I still had some stuff to figure out) - but I was still desperate for the next one. I did read the rest of the series as soon as I could but Heir of Fire was my favourite for a long time. Some of it was it was the last book where (on first read) it was still what I wanted it to be (I think there was a definite shift post ACoTaR’s success but some of it was absolutely there in earlier books) and some it the book’s own strengths and some of it was that I went to see her give a talk and a signing session. Also I spent years in the fandom; I still have a sideblog even if I don’t use it and am slightly embarrassed by my old interest.

A Pocketful of Crows by Joanne M Harris - We have definitely reached a zone where all these books are somewhat tenuous. 20 books is somehow too many for me under these rules to fill with books I feel strongly about. I read this one on my first trip home from uni when I was sat at the train station for an hour because I missed my connection. I really liked it then (it was not as good on reread but still enjoyable).

Killing the dead by Marcus Sedgewick - I remember this being excellent when I read it as a teenager. I keep meaning to reread it and I don’t know why I haven’t because it’s one of those tiny world book day short stories.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot - Another book I read as a teenager and had strong feelings about. I reread it a few years ago and it still holds up (unlike the movie lol).

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gale Carson Levine - I read this book as a kid and still have strong feelings about it. I reread it a few years ago and it still mostly holds up (although the rest of the Disney Fairies books that I (re)read mostly do not).

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - I also read this series as a teenager and had strong feelings about it. I also keep meaning to rereading it.

Ketchup clouds by Annabel Pitcher - “I read this as a teenager and had strong feelings about it” camp again.

Candor by Pam Bachorz - “I read this as a teenager and had strong feelings about it” camp again.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack - “I read this as a teenager and had strong feelings about it” camp again.

Acid by Emma Pass - “I read this as a teenager and had strong feelings about it” camp again. It’s also one of the few teen dystopian books I read in the post-Hunger Games boom that wasn’t set in North America.

I'm tagging @keeperofthetongatooth, @stormykindofgrey, @tiskycat, @satohqbanana and anyone who fancies this.

[onyichii]

W.I.T.C.H Reboot Character Design Changes are Kind of BIASED...

So I discovered the reboot of W.I.T.C.H two years ago (or last year) and the MOMENT I saw Taranee, I MARKED IT AS NFM (Not for me). Taranee went from this shy quirky cute artsy vibrant sporty nerd to what looks like an emo adjacent dull sporty nerd.

2005 Taranee 👇

2023 Taranee 👇

I HATED THIS CHANGE.

I hated this because the artist made her buff. And TO ME, it felt like pushing this narrative of the unfeminine black women. I thought, they could have given muscles to ANY of the other girls- Will, Cornelia, or Hay Lin..but why Taranee? The TOUGH STRONG athletic black girl is already a sterotype, why lean into it? THIS was the reason why I stopped looking into it the reboot of W.I.T.C.H back in 2023.

HOWEVER, It has been popping on my Twitter feed because of the new WINX reboot. And seeing these other changes...I'm glad I dropped it before I even picked it up.

The moment I saw Taranee I did not want to know anymore about this reboot. I also felt like they gave her this design to make her a lesbian. She’d be the butch while someone else (probably white) will be the femme. I hope the girlfriend is Black and girly if they do go that route. But, if there were multiple black girls I would not be as critical because it gives an opportunity to show variety in interests and personality. However there is only one and she’s surrounded by feminine white girls. Do you understand my issue? And there is always, ALWAYS, one black girl in a group. And if the supporting cast isn’t diverse as well. It kind of creates a trope or stereotype.

I've seen others discuss this, but Black women are rarely depicted as soft and feminine in media. Even more so if they have dark skin (compared to light skin Black girls).

I wish I reached out to the company/editor/auithor or whoever back then to voice my cooncerns. But it didn't matter, because it was already out. Plus, I AM AN AUTHOIR-ILLUSTRATOR. I can draw the representation I want to see. I don't have to rely on people who are ignorant (and benefit off) of sterotypes to create a Black/POC character thats puts into a BOX.

Speaking of BOXES...lets talk about the MUSCULAR ATHLETIC BLACK WOMAN....This black woman below is actually a girl. Maybe about 11 or 12 years old....😑

This is Taylor from Win or Lose the new Pixar show.

It is concept art from WIN or LOSE by Pixar. You see how the black girl compared to the other students looks MUSCULAR, ATHLETIC, and more grown. Her design did change to be thick but she is still more physically developed than her peers in the show.

This is not the media I want to see pushed to people about Black women. This is why we need Black/POC people in the room when creating Black/POC characters.

ON ANOTHER NOTE...YOU KNOW...

Now that I think about it, I don't think many heroes have brown eyes. Most of them have eyes of unnartural colors (yellow, purple) or they natural bright colored eyes - green or blue eyes.

THESE PEOPLE changed Will's (MC) eye color from BROWN to BLUE(or whatever)...

W.I.T.C.H. 2005👇

W.I.T.C.H. 2025 👇

I NEVER noticed that before. Maybe because I was so focused on Taranee. Honestly, as a kid I liked that she had brown eyes. I t was DEFINETELY noticable for me as a kid because I don't think there were any magical girls who did.

Brown eys are BEAUTIOFUL TOO.

I may have to give more of my OCs brown eyes. I think two of mine have them, but I'll make more.

They even changed her mom from a brown eyed-brunette (2005) to a blue-eyed blonde (2025).

White people have their own standards of beauty with blue eyed blondes being on top, but I'm not gonna get into that. We all know that it's triffling.

LASTLY - Another TROPE in Animation/Comics...

...the Asian girl/boy with colorful hair.

In the early 2000s. MANY animated shows that had an Asian character, who almost ALWAYS had colorful hair. People have pointed it out, and are tired of the trope.

Now I am wondering who on the team has these BIASES?" Who decided these changes were good? The art director/editor? The artist? The author? The colorist? Who is to blame for these UNESSECARY changes? Or maybe they are VERY unaware of these tropes and sterotypes and that we as a young society are tired of them.

I don't know if the artist did all of these changes or if the author wanted all of these changes or the art direcor/editor. However, I will say that all the changes definetely NOT FOR ME. Some people like it, some don't. To each their own.

Looking at the authors IG...It looks like they're NOT involved in this reboot. NONE OF THEM have posted about this reboot. 👀😬

It makes me wonder if they like these changes or not...

Looking at the covers of 2004 and 2024...their differences in colors schemes and vibrancy is telling of the times.

What was lost and what was gained in the span of 20 years for this series?

Maybe I'm just nostalgic...IDK...

The work of Alessandro Barbucci, the artrist for the 2005 W.I.T.C.H., will forever live in my heart.

As for...Giulia Adragna (the reboot artist) good luck with this series.

CREDITS to Weirdhumanbeing on Twitter for popping up on my feed about this.

[ripjaws]

G N W X for the ship ask game :0

hi hi hello!!!!!

G - Do you remember your first OTP, if so who was in it

ok I think it had to be Cornelia & Caleb from w.i.t.c.h. i remember loving them in the comics and being devastated when they don't stay together. I genuinely don't remember if I ever watched the show but I feel like I did bc some of the designs look so familiar. but anyway they have a happier time in the show and Caleb is voiced by Greg Cipes there which is a fun coincidence :')

N - Your favorite fanfiction or fanauthor

easily rn it's an author called countessofbiscuit on ao3 who writes incredible riyo/fox fics, if I could eat fics it would be theirs 100%. they are amazing.

W - 5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms

ouhfghg impossible

miss gwen from benji tenji

Padmé from star wars

sansa stark from asoiaf

eddie nygma from SPECIFICALLY matt reeves 2022 the batman

yasha nydoorin from critical role season 2

X - 3 OTPs from 3 different fandoms

gwen x kevin number one the blueprint of course

katara x zuko from atla

kaz x inej from shadow and bone i miss them so much where's my season 3

thank uuuuu !!