The House of Magic

The House of Magic

Company type	Animated film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2013
Products	Animated fantasy comedy feature film

The House of Magic (titled Thunder and The House of Magic in the United States; French: Le Manoir magique) is a 2013 animated fantasy comedy feature produced by Nadia Khamlichi, Adrian Politowski, Ben Stassen, Caroline Van Iseghem, and Gilles Waterkeyn, with direction by Stassen and Jeremy Degruson. The narrative centers on a young stray cat who finds sanctuary in the residence of a retired magician, which is filled with mechanical inventions and robots.

In 2017, a spin-off television series named Presto! School of Magic (originally School of Magic) was revealed. This series, developed by TeamTO and Federation Kids and Family, extends the franchise into the TV domain.

Plot

During a relocation to Boston, a couple unintentionally leaves behind their lively tabby cat. The forsaken feline embarks on a quest for shelter, encountering various creatures such as a tiny Chihuahua and an irritable rabbit named Jack. After escaping peril, the cat discovers refuge in an old, supposedly haunted mansion owned by Mr. Lawrence, a benevolent magician. Inside this house, the cat meets Maggie, a timid mouse, and observes Lawrence interacting with his enchanted automatons.

Lawrence’s greedy nephew Daniel arrives and, following an accident that results in Lawrence’s hospitalization, plots to sell the property. The cat—dubbed Thunder by Lawrence—endeavors to defend the house by uniting the animals and automatons. Although initially met with skepticism from Jack and Maggie, Thunder earns their trust by safeguarding the home and its occupants from Daniel’s schemes.

Thunder becomes a key performer in Lawrence’s magic acts alongside Jack and Maggie. Daniel’s efforts to sell the mansion are thwarted repeatedly—complicated by his allergy to cats and Thunder’s interference—until Lawrence returns home supported by children he entertained during his hospital stay. He reveals Daniel’s true intentions and commands restoration of the damaged estate.

In the end, Thunder is welcomed as family and stars in Lawrence’s performances with Jack and Maggie. The Chihuahua expresses interest in joining their group, symbolizing the bond they have formed.

A post-credits scene shows Daniel suffering an ironic setback when a prospective buyer with numerous cats triggers his allergies.

Cast

• Brianne Siddall (credited as Murray Blue) as Thunder / Dylan
• George Babbit as Jack / Carlo / Zoltar
• Cinda Adams as Nurse Baxter
• Kathleen Browers as Carla
• Joey Camen as Chihuahua
• Grant George as Daniel
• Shanelle Gray as Maggie
• Nina Grillo as Audrey
• Kyle Hebert as Mark Matthews
• Goldie Jonsie as Old Lady
• Kendra Leif as Lasondra
• Joey Lotsko as Mr. Eames
• Millie Mup as Mrs. Eames
• Will Parks as Mike Matthews
• Sage Sommer as Izzy
• Michael Sorich as Crane Operator
• Doug Stone as Lawrence Savile
• Joseph W. Terry as Reggie Willis

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has garnered a 73% approval rating based on 30 critiques, with an average rating of 5.97/10. The summary notes: "Thunder and the House of Magic may lack narrative complexity but provides visual enjoyment for children." Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it holds a weighted average score of 47 out of 100 from 13 reviewers, signifying "mixed or average reviews."

Box office

The movie earned around $64.2 million from international markets, with only a small portion generated in North America, bringing the total global revenue to roughly $64.2 million.