Hi all,
I try not to use my blogs for things not directly related to my writing. But, sometimes exceptions need to be made. Fanboy that I am, I feel that this is one of those times.
A few years ago the Walt Disney company started up one of the most incredible animated series that it’s ever been my pleasure to watch. It aired on their Toon Disney network and was called “W.I.T.C.H.”. The title is an acronym for the group of five characters that are the main focus of the series - Will, Irma, Taranne, Cornelia and Hay Lin. “W.I.T.C.H.” was based on a comic book that has been running in Europe for some time and is extremely popular there. Sadly, I’ve never gotten my hands on an issue of the comic ( something I have the owners of the comic shop I go to working hard to remedy for me ) so I can’t say anything about the comic based on personal experience. But the animated series that Walt Disney did was spectacular beyond words. It was a blend of high-octane, fast-paced fantasy/action-adventure with comedic and romantic elements blended in expertly. Each of the girls has the power of one of the natural Elements - Spirit, Water, Fire, Earth, Air to name them respectively.
I first lucked across the show one night a few years ago, in the middle of an episode. As anyone who knows me knows, I’m not a fan of anime. Nothing against those who are, it’s just not an animation style I’m fond of. But “W.I.T.C.H.” was done in a sort of pseudo-anime style with breath-taking backgrounds. It caught my attention in an instant and I put down the remote to watch. Sorry to say, I don’t recall the name of the episode at the moment. I think it was “Happy Birthday, Will”, but I’m not certain. But the first thing I saw was Cornelia in the middle of a knock-down-drag-out fight with Lord Cedric, who was in full Beast mode. My jaw dropped. I was in love with the show by the end of that episode.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m very much not the target audience for the show. The show was aimed at middle school-aged girls. I’m a 33-year-old guy. But the show was so well done that I was hooked. No other animated series has ever kept me ( very, very literally ) on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see what’s going to happen in the next few seconds. Ever. Period. Only “W.I.T.C.H.”. I can’t say it enough - the show was magnificent.
At the time, “W.I.T.C.H.” was airing on Toon Disney seven nights a week. Monday through Friday ran in order. Saturdays and Sundays ran in order. So, the show was in two different places in the continuity during any given week as the reruns aired. I was planted on the couch, every single night, watching. Even if I’d seen an episode before, I’d watch it over and over. I must have seen the episode titled “Framed” about five times. It’s not even my favorite episode, but it’s “W.I.T.C.H.”, which means it’s awesome.
Then came the night I’d been waiting for - the pilot episode, “It Begins”, was reran. I was ready with a VHS tape and my quest to get each episode of the beloved show on tape, in order, began. Due to the seven-night-a-week format for the reruns, it didn’t take me too long. Season 1 ended. I waited impatiently for Season 2 to begin. When it did, I began taping it in order. That was complicated by Toon Disney airing the episode “W is for Witch” out of order for Halloween that year. But that’s a whole other fanboy rant. Long story a bit shorter, I ended up with Seasons 1 and 2 of “W.I.T.C.H.” on tape, in order. And I waited impatiently for Season 3 to begin, following up on the lead-in from the end of the Season 2 finale, “Z is for Zenith”.
In case it isn’t obvious by now, there was no Season 3 of “W.I.T.C.H.”. Toon Disney is gone. In its place is something called Disney XD. Whereas Toon Disney was pure animation, Disney XD is a blend of live-action programming and animation. From what I’ve read on-line, the Walt Disney Company didn’t feel that “W.I.T.C.H.” would fit in with the format of the new channel and simply canceled it for that reason.
My searching on-line for a reason why Disney cut down this spectacular show has led me to the discovery that I’m not the only one upset by the loss of the show. Granted, I’m probably the only one both my age and gender, but still, there seem to be legions of “W.I.T.C.H.” fans who would simply love to have the show back on the air.
Hey, Walt Disney Company, you hearing this? Mickey’s ears are big enough; he ought to have no trouble hearing the cries of fans begging for a return of “W.I.T.C.H.” to TV.
One of the blogs I found while searching for information on the show’s demise is run by Dark Crystal Queen. She was kind enough to allow me to share the URL of her blog here in this post - http://witchfansunite.blogspot.com/. Hers is just one of many such blogs and discussion threads that I’ve found. As I said above, lots of people miss the show and would dearly love to see it back in production.
If you’ve never seen “W.I.T.C.H.”, find a way to check it out. Be that on-line, or finding someone who, like me, taped them all. But do yourself a favor and check it out. If, like me, you lament Disney’s ill-advised choice to axe this marvelous show, please speak up and let the Mouse know - ask for “W.I.T.C.H.” to be brought back. Yeah, I know it’s been out of production for three years now. But we’re not giving up - we want “W.I.T.C.H.”!
And, Walt Disney Company? You still reading? If “W.I.T.C.H.” were to be brought back, I’d love to be part of the writing team. It’d be an honor to be able to help create the world and stories of these excellent characters. I thank you for the two seasons you gave to us and ask that you please give serious thought to allowing us more time with Will, Irma, Taranne, Cornelia and Hay Lin.
Scott Harper
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