Magic Tales
| Company type | Video game series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Educational software, Interactive storybooks |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Animation Magic |
| Products | Interactive storybook CD-ROMs |
| Parent | Davidson & Associates |
Magic Tales represents a collection of interactive storybooks designed for young audiences, created by Animation Magic and produced under the Davidson label, with distribution managed by Capitol Multimedia, Inc. These titles were available on CD-ROM compatible with both Mac OS and Microsoft Windows. The series debuted at the 1995 MacWorld trade show, launching with The Little Samurai, which is an adaptation of a traditional Japanese folk story. The narrative is delivered by Grandpa Mouse, a character who guides children through the interactive tales. Additionally, the series was localized into Spanish under the title "El Abuelo Ratón." Each installment contains twelve pages of content.
Games in the series
| Title | Country of origin | Based on | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Little Samurai | Japan | Issun-bōshi | September 26, 1995 | |
| Baba Yaga and the Magic Geese | Russia | Baba Yaga | October 3, 1995 | Also issued in Arabic. |
| Imo and the King | Africa | November 7, 1995 | ||
| The Princess and the Crab | Italy | September 17, 1996 | ||
| Liam Finds a Story | Ireland | October 1, 1996 | ||
| Sleeping Cub's Test of Courage | Native America | November 12, 1996 |
Gameplay
These titles incorporated three-dimensional graphics, featured approximately half an hour of animation, offered over 500 interactive "click-and-explore" elements, and included original musical compositions. Drawing inspiration from the cultural origins of their stories, the games were designed to impart ethical teachings and targeted children between the ages of three and nine.
Critical reception
The series received endorsements from The Exceptional Parent, which suggested it as a valuable resource for parents aiming to foster reading and vocabulary skills in their children. Additionally, Computer Shopper described Magic Tales: The Little Samurai as one of the most enchanting storybook experiences available.
Commercial performance
During the Christmas season, sales reached 100,000 units across the initial three titles of the Magic Tales collection. The series was also acknowledged by Parents magazine, which selected three new releases out of a pool of 3,000 children's products for distribution in the following Spring.
Availability
- The Magic Tales Collection CD