Awesome Magical Tales (also known as Teenage Fairytale Dropouts in the first season) is an animated series created by Adolfo Martinez Vara and José C. Garcia de Letona.[2][3] Inspired by the characters from the 2003 Mexican animated film, Magos y Gigantes,[4] the series was created and produced by Ánima Estudios and co-produced with SLR Productions, Home Plate Entertainment, Telegael Teoranta and Agogo Media. It made its first introduction on Seven Network in Australia on 31 December 2012. In Mexico, the show premiered on digital and streaming platforms, dubbed as Generación Fairytale.[5][6]

Awesome Magical Tales
Promotional poster for first season
Also known asTeenage Fairytale Dropouts
Genre
Created byÁnima Estudios
Based onMagos y Gigantes
by Ánima Estudios
Developed by
Creative directorJo Boag
Voices of
Theme music composer
  • Jaco Caraco
  • Bill Schultz
  • Todd Schultz
ComposerJohn McPhillips
Country of origin
  • Mexico
  • Australia
  • Ireland
  • United States
Original languagesEnglish
Spanish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26 (52 segments)
Production
Executive producers
  • Fernando de Fuentes
  • José C. García de Letona
  • Paul Cummins
  • Suzanne Ryan
  • Bill Schultz
  • Rita Street
  • Steven Ching
Producers
  • Fernando de Fuentes
  • José C. García de Letona
  • Suzanne Ryan
  • Siobhán Ní Ghadhra
  • Yasmin Jones
  • Louisa Ma
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release31 December 2012 (2012-12-31)[1] –
23 December 2013 (2013-12-23)

The show later premiered in the U.S. on the Hub Network on 31 May 2014.[7][8][9]

Ánima Estudios has launched an official YouTube channel for the Spanish-language version of the show on 7 May 2015,[10] with an English-language version being launched a week later on 14 May 2015.[11]

The show has been recently acquired by Bejuba! Entertainment for new distribution rights and was renamed Awesome Magical Tales. The show has also been renewed for a second season by Australia's ABC Me after successful ratings during its domestic broadcast.[12]

Synopsis

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Set in a fairy tale-like setting, three friends, Jeremiah, the son of the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, Trafalgar, the nephew of Merlin the Wizard, a wingless fairy named Fury, the daughter of Tooth Fairy, live through a tough life as teenagers and are determined to be themselves, despite their parents' whim and their fairy tale origins.

Cast

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Main cast

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Guest stars

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Production

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On 28 September 2011, Ánima Estudios has announced an international partnership with SLR Productions, Home Plate Entertainment, Telegael Teoranta and Agogo Media and have green-lighted the show.[3][14] "We’re thrilled to have such extraordinary partners on board for this series. I think what has really brought us together is a love for our quirky main characters," said Jose Carlos Garcia de Letona, Ánima Estudios’ executive VP.[3] "Aussie kids will connect with the series – it is fun and quirky. It is a fresh spin on timeless classic characters.", said Suzanne Ryan, CEO of SLR Productions.[15] According to Fernando de Fuentes, the series' producer, he stated that while the series originated in Mexico, it is designed for an English-language audience.[16]

This show is based on the character profiles from Ánima Estudios' first film, Wizards and Giants, according to series' creator José C. García de Letona.[17] "History comes, somehow, [from] our first movie, Wizards and Giants, but already very distantly," he said. "It follows some of the references and character profiles, but some things change radically."[17] He also said that 70% of the show's production is taken place in Mexico, while the rest is taken place in other countries.[17]

On 7 April 2013, Canadian entertainment company CCI Entertainment has acquired distribution rights to the series[18] and has landed new sales on 9 December 2013.[19]

On 16 October 2017, Bejuba! Entertainment has acquired new distribution rights to the series, being renamed as Awesome Magical Tales. The show has also been renewed by ABC Me for a new season. However the second season is currently in Development hell[12]

U.S. broadcasting

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On 28 April 2014, the Hub Network acquired the U.S. rights to the show and was broadcast on 31 May 2014.[7][8][9] This marked a milestone for the Mexican animation industry, as the first time a major U.S. cable network transmitted a Latin American-produced animated television production for its line-up, as the series was primarily produced in Mexico.[8] According to the Ánima Estudios executives, it nearly took nearly two years for the show to enter the U.S. market.[16] This also marked history for the studio, as this was the first time they entered a major U.S. market.[16] After Hub's relaunching as Discovery Family, the show has been pulled from its air lineup.

Reception

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The show has received favorable reviews.[20][21] Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the show 4 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Teenage Fairytale Dropouts delivers some really admirable messages through three teen characters who are floundering their way through growing up. Sure, it has fun with the fact that Fury's still waiting to "develop" her wings and Jeremiah's small stature is almost comical given his genetic giantism, but the ultimately none of these issues puts a dent in the teens' solid self-esteem. What's more, while each story puts the characters in a rebellious situation of some kind (borrowing the family's golden goose without permission or misusing magic, for instance), there's always an obvious consequence and some positive lesson to be learned from the experience."[21]

Episodes

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Season Episodes Original air date
First aired Last aired
1[1] 26[22] 31 December 2012 (2012-12-31) 23 December 2013 (2013-12-23)

Season 1 (2012-2013)

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  1. Nice Giants Finish Last / Winged Fury
  2. Triple Double Trouble / Mascot Madness
  3. Good Fairy of the Year / Mis-Spelled Rat
  4. Grimm Gossips / Once Upon a Stompapalootza
  5. All Booked Up / Abraca-Dad-Bra
  6. Rebel Without a Lederhosen / Something Wicked This Way Substitutes
  7. Who's the Best Actress of Them All? / Here Today, Wand Tomorrow
  8. Pie Way or the Highway / Substitute Tooth Fairy
  9. It's No Lie / How to Restrain Your Dragon
  10. Lunch Table of the Misfit Fairytales / Lack of Hocus Pocus
  11. A Giant Sized Ego / Only Slime Will Tell
  12. Golden Goose Chase / Camp Stomp-a-Lot
  13. My Cousin Myron / Not So Adorabella
  14. Ye Olde Face Scroll Blues / A String of Promises
  15. Splank’d / A Rotten Job
  16. Court Ordered Magician / A Very Big Wish
  17. Keeping Up With the Arthurians / Disenchanted Forest
  18. The Boy Who Cried Ogre / Joust in Time
  19. Bad Conrad / Fairytale Estates’ Got Talent
  20. Happily Ever After Day / Unhappy Birthdays
  21. Giant Competition / Jack and the Beanstalks
  22. Ca-Stache-Trophy / Sayer It Ain’t So
  23. A Nose For Trouble / A Brand New Happy Ending
  24. The Tell Tale Report Card / Party On
  25. Pet Project / Get to the Point
  26. Just the Three of Us / A Grimm Story

Broadcast

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Teenage Fairytale Dropouts is broadcast on Seven Network, ABC1, and ABC Me in Australia,[12][23] HBO Asia and HBO Family Asia in Singapore, Sun Network in India, and Discovery Family (formerly Hub Network)[7] in the U.S.[19][24]

In Mexico, it was released exclusively on digital platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Twitter image of Teenage Fairytale Dropouts (in Spanish; see the description)". Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. ^ Young, James (1 December 2012). "Mexican animator adds English – Entertainment News, Animation, Media – Variety". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c ""Teenage Fairytale Dropouts" Greenlit for Animated Series | Cartoon Brew". 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ^ Huerta, Cesar (22 August 2012). "Animacion internacional – El Universal". El Universal. El Universal. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ^ Anima Estudios on Twitter: ¡La primera temporada completa de "Generación Fairytale" está en las plataformas digitales"! ¿Cuál es tu favorito?" Twitter (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Anima Estudios on Twitter: "¿Qué episodio les falta por ver de "Generación Fairytale"? Pueden encontrarlos en las plataformas digitales." Archived 7 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine Twitter (in Spanish)
  7. ^ a b c Brown, Courtney (28 April 2014). "The Hub Network Acquires "Teenage Fairytale Dropouts" Premiering For The First Time In The U.S., May 31". Hub Netwotk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Ánima: Teenage Fairytale Dropouts llega a EE.UU". Presnario Internacional. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Creadores de El Chavo animado debutan en EU". Pulso. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  10. ^ "GeneracionFairytale – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  11. ^ "TeenageFairytaleDropouts – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Milligan, Mercedes (16 October 2017). "MIPCOM News Bytes: Atlantyca, Bejuba!, Planeta Junior, WDR". Animation Magazine. Animation Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Ánima Estudios – Mobile Uploads". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  14. ^ Zahed, Ramin (28 September 2011). "'Teenage Fairytale Dropouts' Gets Happy Ending | Animation Magazine". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  15. ^ "Teenage Fairytale Dropouts for Seven | TV Tonight". 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "Ánima Estudios debuta en mercado estadounidense". El Informador. El Informador. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "Serie de dibujos animados Teenage Fairytale Dropouts (in Spanish)". EspectaculosMX. EspectaculosMX. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  18. ^ Vlessing, Etan (7 April 2013). "MIPTV: Canada's 9 Story Takes CCI Entertainment's Family Catalog". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  19. ^ a b Zahed, Ramin (9 December 2013). "'Teenage Fairytale Dropouts' Finds More Buyers". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  20. ^ "TV Review: Teenage Fairytale Dropouts". Geek Alabama. WordPress.com. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  21. ^ a b Ashby, Emily. "Teenage Fairytale Dropouts TV Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Teenage Fairytale Dropouts – HBO Family Asia". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  23. ^ Australia: ABC TV picks up Teenage Fairytale Dropouts Archived 13 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 13 December 2013.
  24. ^ Rusak, Gary (9 December 2013). "9 Story sells Teenage Fairytale Dropouts". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
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