Awesome Magical Tales
| Company type | Animated television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 31 December 2012 |
| Founder | Adolfo Martinez Vara, José C. Garcia de Letona |
| Headquarters | Mexico |
Area served | Australia, Mexico, United States, Asia, India |
Key people | José C. Garcia de Letona (Executive Vice President, Ánima Estudios) |
| Products | Animated television series |
| Parent | Ánima Estudios, SLR Productions, Home Plate Entertainment, Telegael |
Awesome Magical Tales, also recognized as Teenage Fairytale Dropouts, is an animated series developed by Adolfo Martinez Vara and José C. Garcia de Letona. Drawing inspiration from the characters featured in the 2003 Mexican animated film Magos y Gigantes, the show was produced through a collaboration between Ánima Estudios, SLR Productions, Home Plate Entertainment, and Telegael. Its initial broadcast occurred on Australia's Seven Network on 31 December 2012. Meanwhile, in Mexico, it was released under the title Generación Fairytale across digital and streaming platforms.
The U.S. premiere took place on the Hub Network on 31 May 2014. Subsequently, Ánima Estudios established official YouTube channels for the Spanish-language edition on 7 May 2015, followed by an English-language channel launched one week later.
Recently, Bejuba! Entertainment secured new distribution rights and rebranded the series as Awesome Magical Tales. After achieving strong viewership in Australia, ABC Me commissioned a second season of the show.
Synopsis
Set within an enchanting, storybook realm, the narrative follows three adolescents—Jeremiah, the offspring of the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk; Trafalgar, Merlin the Wizard’s nephew; and Fury, a fairy without wings and daughter of the Tooth Fairy—as they strive to establish their own identities independent of their mythical heritage.
Main cast
- Simon Kennedy portrays Jeremiah, who humorously does not possess giant stature despite his ancestry.
- John Hasler voices Trafalgar, an inexperienced magic user and Merlin’s nephew.
- Katherine Cohn Beck plays Fury, the wingless daughter of the Tooth Fairy.
- Nigel Pilkington takes on multiple roles including Jimmy Rella, Evil Earl, and Chuck Charming.
- Dan Russell provides voices for Magic Mirror, Merlin, and Pinocchio Jr.
- Emma Tate embodies characters such as Mother Goose, Fairy Godmother, and Melody.
Guest stars
- Melissa Rauch features as Miss Fiendish.
Production
On 28 September 2011, Ánima Estudios revealed a collaborative international production involving SLR Productions, Home Plate Entertainment, and Telegael Teoranta to launch the series. Executive Vice President Jose Carlos Garcia de Letona from Ánima Estudios emphasized the mutual enthusiasm for the quirky characters shared by all partners. Suzanne Ryan, CEO of SLR Productions, highlighted its innovative reinterpretation of classic figures appealing to Australian viewers. Bill Schultz, CEO of Home Plate Entertainment, pointed out strong broadcaster demand fueled by familiar themes combined with high production standards. Producer Fernando de Fuentes confirmed that while production took place in Mexico, the primary audience targeted English-speaking regions.
The series is inspired by character concepts introduced in Ánima Estudios’ initial film Wizards and Giants, albeit with notable modifications. Around 70% of the production process occurs in Mexico, with the remainder completed internationally.
On 7 April 2013, Canadian firm CCI Entertainment secured distribution rights and expanded sales by December that year.
In October 2017, Bejuba! Entertainment acquired fresh distribution rights and rebranded the series as Awesome Magical Tales. ABC Me renewed it for a subsequent season; however, progress on the second season has since stalled.
U.S. broadcasting
The Hub Network obtained U.S. broadcast rights on 28 April 2014, premiering the show on 31 May 2014. This marked a significant achievement for Mexican animation as it became the first Latin American-produced animated series primarily created in Mexico to air on a major U.S. cable network. Ánima Estudios executives noted that entering the U.S. market took nearly two years and represented their initial major breakthrough there. Following Hub’s transition to Discovery Family, the series was removed from its programming schedule.
Reception
Critical response was positive overall. Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media rated it four out of five stars, praising its uplifting themes portrayed through teenage characters facing typical growth challenges. She remarked on the effective blend of humor—such as Fury’s anticipation for wings and Jeremiah’s unexpectedly small size despite his giant heritage—with messages promoting self-confidence and valuable lessons derived from rebellious scenarios.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 26 | 31 December 2012 | 23 December 2013 | |
Season 1 (2012-2013)
- Last Place for Nice Giants / Fury Takes Flight
- Trouble Times Three / Mascot Mayhem
- Fairy of the Year Award / Rat Spelling Mishap
- Gossiping Grimms / Stompapalootza Once More
- Fully Booked / Abraca-Dad-Bra Magic
- Lederhosen Rebel / Substitutes Bring Wickedness
- Best Actress Debate / Wand Disappears Today
- Pie or Highway / Tooth Fairy Substitute
- No Lies Here / Dragon Restraint Tips
- Misfit Fairytales’ Lunch Table / Missing Hocus Pocus
- Giant Ego Expansion / Only Slime Reveals
- Golden Goose Pursuit / Camp Stomp-a-Lot Adventures
- Cousin Myron’s Tale / Not Quite Adorabella
- Ye Olde Face Scroll Blues / Promises on a String
- Splank’d Incident / Rotten Job Assignment
- Magician Ordered by Court / A Wish That’s Very Big
- Arthurians Keep Up / Forest Disenchanted
- Ogre’s False Alarm / Jousting Through Time
- Conrad’s Troubles / Talent at Fairytale Estates
- Ever After Day Celebrations / Unhappy Birthday Moments
- Giant Contest / Multiple Beanstalks
- Ca-Stache-Trophy Prize / Say It Isn’t So
- Nose for Trouble Sniffed Out / New Happy Ending Created
- Report Card That Tells All / Party Time Begins
- Project with Pets / Getting Straight to the Point
- Just Three Together / A Grimm Tale
Broadcast
Teenage Fairytale Dropouts is broadcast on Seven Network, ABC1, and ABC Me within Australia, as well as on HBO Asia and HBO Family Asia in Singapore. In India, it airs on Sun TV Network, and in the United States, it is available on Discovery Family (previously Hub Network). For audiences in Mexico, distribution is exclusively through digital services like Amazon Prime Video.
External links
- 2010s Australian animated television series
- 2010s high school television series
- 2012 animated television series debuts
- 2012 Australian television series debuts
- 2013 Australian television series endings
- 2012 Mexican television series debuts
- 2013 Mexican television series endings
- Australian children's animated comedy television series
- Australian children's animated fantasy television series
- Australian flash animated television series
- Australian high school television series
- Mexican children's animated comedy television series
- Mexican children's animated fantasy television series
- Mexican flash animated television series
- Australian English-language television shows
- Ánima Estudios television series
- 7two original programming
- Teen animated television series
- Animated television shows based on fairy tales