Sofia the First: Royal Magic Review & Parents’ Guide (Christian Perspective)

Is Sofia the First: Royal Magic any good, and how does it compare to the original Sofia the First?

Sofia the First: Royal Magic is a sequel series to Sofia the First, following Princess Sofia as she attends a magic school called Charmswell. The show is rated TV-G and features returning characters from the original Sofia the First, but it differs in animation style, episode structure, and its increased focus on spellcasting and magical education. Parents and Christian viewers may want to preview the series because it places a heavier emphasis on learning magic and spellcasting than the original show.

I watched the first eight episodes of Sofia the First: Royal Magic, which were decent and nostalgic, so that parents, Christians, and Sofia fans know what they’re getting into before watching the series.

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Synopsis: What is Sofia the First: Royal Magic About?

Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Princess Sofia of Enchancia, who has enrolled at Charmswell, which is “a school for royal magic.”

At Charmswell, Sofia will learn various magic skills. She’s “the most magical princess,” and must master her magic to protect everyone she loves.

However, magic school isn’t easy, and she has a lot to learn.

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Can Christians Watch Sofia the First: Royal Magic?

Sofia the First: Royal Magic requires discernment due to magical themes. The story takes place mainly at a magic school, so magic is a key theme.

Is Sofia the First: Royal Magic Scary?

Sofia the First: Royal Magic isn’t overly intense or scary, as it’s rated TV-G, but since each child has different sensitivities, we recommend using Biblical discernment and prescreening before showing it to your children.

Is Sofia the First: Royal Magic Good?

It’s very difficult to create a show as good as the original Sofia the First, but Sofia the First: Royal Magic is both nostalgic and very new.

The show is decent so far, but there are still plenty of unreleased episodes, so a full answer is impossible at this point.

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Sofia the First: Royal Magic Review & Parents’ Guide

I love Sofia the First, but I didn’t grow up with the series; in fact, I first watched it in college. Although it’s aimed at young children, I found the characters and storyline very enjoyable. There are some surprisingly strong villains and stakes, and Sofia is a very likable character.

Craig Gerber, the creator of Sofia the First, desires for the new series “to feel both familiar and fresh.” They certainly achieved this, although I’m not sure that I like the “freshness.”

The first eight episodes of Sofia the First: Royal Magic have me questioning whether it will live up to the original. There’s a new animation style, new music, new characters, and a new focus to the series.

So far, the main villain (who has been announced) has not made an appearance, and no one has tried to steal Sofia’s amulet despite Rapunzel’s warning about villains in the first episode.

There’s still plenty of time to introduce stakes, but the original Sofia had Cedric trying to steal her amulet in episode 4 at the latest.

Sofia the First: Royal Magic Christian Review & Perspective

Magic in Sofia the First: Royal Magic

Magic is central to the entire franchise, but in the original Sofia the First, there are some episodes where magic focuses on fantasy abilities (like turning into a mermaid), and some where witches or sorcery are central to the plot.

Although Sofia the First: Royal Magic comes with these same concerns, they are more central due to the magic school setting. Sofia now has a magic wand, and she casts spells frequently (though they sound made-up, like “lumendo” to mend things), which changes the dynamic of magic in the show.

Cedric the Sorcerer has always cast magic (and occasionally teaches Sofia as well) since the original series, but now Sofia casts spells on a regular basis.

Messaging in Sofia the First: Royal Magic

Another place Christian parents should be cautious of is the messaging in Royal Magic.

Although there are some positive messages that align with a Biblical worldview—teamwork, kindness, etc.—there are plenty of secular messages. For example, following your heart (Episode 2) and relying on your own abilities.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) calls us to:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

It’s certainly exciting to revisit Sofia the First in her new series, Sofia the First: Royal Magic, but there are some key differences between the original series and the sequel.

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Key Differences Between Sofia the First and Sofia the First: Royal Magic

Sofia the First Versus Royal Magic Episode Length

The episodes in the original Sofia the First followed a single storyline lasting 22 minutes, but Royal Magic contains two stories per episode (the first episode is an exception).

The creator of Sofia the First, Craig Gerber, has stated:

[T]here has been a rise in shorter form content in the time since Sofia the First has been off the air, and that the switch to 11-minute stories is a “very tangible way” in which the new show is “playing to a modern audience.” (source)

Two short stories within a single 22-minute episode is not alien to children’s TV; children’s show creators have been following this format for decades, but personally, I prefer the single 22-minute Sofia the First stories as opposed to this new format.

The longer format gives more opportunity for prolonged stories with higher stakes, which may appeal to a broader audience.

The Animation

Another key difference is the animation style. Although the recurring characters are recognizable between Sofia and Royal Magic, it’s clearly an entirely different, and updated, animation style.

Personally, I prefer the old animation. There’s something special, nostalgic, and beautiful about the old animation style, and although the new style isn’t completely off-key, it’s different enough that some viewers may find the change rather jarring.

The video comparisons below will show the difference in animation style.

The Music

The new songs are also different. Popped News notes:

One of the biggest changes in Royal Magic comes through its updated music and theme song, something Winter immediately noticed when hearing it for the first time. (source)

For comparison, here’s the original theme song for Sofia the First:

And here’s the theme song for Sofia the First: Royal Magic:

I appreciate that the songs are very similar in lyrics; the new one has the nostalgia of the original while still being “modernized,” but for Sofia purists, this change might be a bit difficult to swallow. Most likely, it will appeal to young kids, which is technically the goal.

The new songs are very modern and less “princessy” than the old songs.

Here’s one of my favorite songs from Sofia the First, “The Great Unknown”:

In contrast, here is a song from Royal Magic:

Sure, the new songs aren’t necessarily bad, but they are a stark contrast from the original series, and are they really capturing the beauty of Sofia the First?

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Similarity: The Returning Cast

Other than the similarities between the original and new theme songs, there are other things I appreciate about Sofia the First: Royal Magic.

Plenty of original cast members returned to reprise their roles:

• Ariel Winter as Sofia
• Darcy Rose Byrnes as Amber
• Travis Willingham as King Roland II
• Sara Ramirez as Miranda
• Eric Stonestreet as Minimus
• Wayne Brady as Clover
• Tim Gunn as Bailywick
• Jess Harnell as Cedric
• Isabella Acres as Jade
• Diamond White as Ruby

Consistent casting is one of the best ways to bring consistency between series, but there are some casting differences.

Shifts in Sofia’s Voice Cast

Miss Nettle, originally voiced by Megan Mullally in Sofia the First, is voiced by Julie Nathanson in Royal Magic. Nathanson’s voice matching is solid, and as the current voice of Belle for Disney media, she voiced Belle in the original Sofia series, so she’s not new to the Sofia franchise.

Grey DeLisle (also known as Grey Griffin) appears in both series, although she plays different roles in both. In Royal Magic, she voices Miss Gigglesby, one of Sofia’s teachers at Charmswell. DeLisle is one of the most prolific voice actors of all time, appearing in everything from Elena of Avalor, Avatar: The Last Airbender, When Marnie was There, and Clifford: The Big Red Dog.

However, the voice actor of one key character was replaced.

Difference: James’ New Voice Actor

Another change involves James’ Royal Magic voice actor, Yonas Kibreab.

Replacing James’ voice actor is not a new phenomenon; the original Sofia the First replaced James’ voice actor a total of three times.

However, Yonas Kibreab’s performance is a noticeable shift from previous portrayals.

For continuity, it is often helpful when new voice actors closely match the tone and delivery of established characters, especially when most of the original cast remains the same.

In this case, the change in voice direction for James may stand out to longtime viewers.

An Anime Voice Actor in Royal Magic

As an anime review website, we have to highlight familiar anime voice actors, and Sofia the First: Royal Magic contains an anime voice actor! Max Mittelman, the voice of the lilygnome in Royal Magic, voiced Kousei Arima in the renowned anime Your Lie in April. He also voiced Bobo the monkey in Elena of Avalor, Sofia’s sister series.

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So Far, There are Some Continuity Issues

Since only eight episodes have been released, some of these questions may be answered in the future. However, longtime fans may still notice several apparent continuity gaps:

• What happened to Sofia’s status as Protector of the Ever Realm? Why doesn’t she wear her enchantlet? At the end of Sofia the First, Sofia was a protector, so it doesn’t make sense that this would be absent.
• Why is it that none of her friends from Royal Prep decided to go to this new school? Sofia changed her mind about which school she was going to attend, so why not any of her other friends?

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FAQs for Sofia the First: Royal Magic

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Sofia the First: Royal Magic Parents’ Guide & Episode by Episode Breakdown

Episode 1

Episode 1 is a full-length episode with one continuous story. The entire episode is available for free on Disney Jr.’s YouTube Channel:

It’s no surprise that the episode centers closely on magic and Sofia’s first day at Charmswell. She meets her new friends, Zane, Layla, Camilla, and Pepper the Puppercorn, participates in a race, and has to use teamwork and her friends’ special skills to win.

Content Notes:

• Sofia sings, “I’ve got my wand and my amulet to guide me.”
• “Potions, charms, and sorcery” are mentioned.
• A character says “transposia” in order to teleport.
• Zane catches Sofia, and she seems a bit uneasy about it.
• Sofia banters with another character, Prince Devin, both insisting that they will win their race.
• Sofia encourages people to try.
• Characters use teamwork to get past challenges.

Episode 2

The first part follows Sofia as she learns to stop worrying about what others are doing and focus on her own tasks.

The second part follows Layla. She learns to regulate her anxiety and fly accurately.

Content Notes:

• A character says “astro lumino” to cause some light/sparkle magic to happen.
• Some phrases/concepts mentioned include: “Follow your heart,” “Be awesome,” “It’s that magic that will guide you,” “Don’t worry, be awesome.”
• Mr. Cedric’s sorcery class occurs.
• A character says “floatisimo.”
• Sofia encourages Layla, who is anxious, to take a deep breath and think of something happy. This calms her down/regulates her emotions.
• Layla has magical butterfly wings through her magical bracelet.
• “Poseidon’s pumpkins!” is used as an exclamation.

Episode 3

Part One follows Sofia and Layla, who co-lead a group of their friends. They each think their way is better than the other’s way.

The second part follows Zane. He uses a magic spell to master a dance that he’s struggling with, but it goes awry.

Content Notes:

• “Lumendo” is said in order to fix things.
• Sofia and Layla use magic to create pictures in the air.
• Zane uses magic to master a dance.

Episode 4

In Part One, Camila desires to be a sorceress queen (the first, in fact) and desires to impress Mr. Cedric with her magic. She learns to listen to adults and not jump ahead to things (spells) she’s not ready for. She apologizes for her mistakes, but Sofia, who was technically an accomplice, is not blamed and does not admit her mistakes to Mr. Cedric.

In Part Two, Sofia is paired with Zane’s brother Zaria for an assignment. Zaria is goth; Sofia is not. They struggle to find common ground and falsely claim that things are going well. But eventually, they work together to save Zane and realize that you can be friends, even if you have different interests.

Content Notes:

• Camila wants to be a sorceress queen.
• Cedric has Sofia and Camila use magic to clean for him.
• “Merlin’s mushrooms!” and “Poseidon’s pumpkins!” said.

Episode 5

Part One follows the royal family as they have a picnic. Sofia utilizes her magic to set the table, and her family gets excited. Amber feels jealous and unimportant in comparison to Sofia, so she tries to use magic as well, and it’s disastrous. She has to utilize her own skills to help save the day.

Part Two follows Sofia and her friends at a playdate. Layla becomes obsessed with becoming friends with Amber to the point where she tries to change herself. She has to learn that she doesn’t have to go to crazy lengths to impress Amber.

Content Notes:

• Magic.

Episode 6

Part One follows Sofia’s attempts to join the Charmswell Flying Derby team. She is told that she cannot fly on her usual horse, Minimus, so she is paired with Wildfyre. Wildfyre is very wild and does things very differently from Sofia, so Sofia has to learn how to adapt to another horse’s way of doing things.

Part Two follows Zane, who gets jealous of his sister Zaria. She’s really good at potion making, and Zane wants to do even better than her. He alters a potion recipe and creates a monster. He has to use his special skill—magical music that lifts people’s moods when he plays happy music—to help fix his mistakes.

Content Notes:

• Magical music lifts people’s moods.
• Potion making/brewing.
• Magic book for potions shown.
• “Merlin’s mushrooms!” said twice.
• “Menace,” said.
• “Thank goodness,” said.

Episode 7

Part One follows a sleepover between Sofia, Camila, and Layla. Layla is nervous, so she uses magic to sleep, but she accidentally brings her stuffed animals to life. Sofia encourages her to share what’s going on, and she does. Then, the girls all round up the stuffed animals, turning them back to normal. Even though this wakes up Sofia’s parents, they react kindly.

Part Two has the students of Charmswell share their heroic deeds with one another. Zane and Sofia decide to get a dragon off their playground. He and Sofia must use kindness to save the day.

Content Notes:

• Magic makes stuffed animals come to life.
• A dragon appears.

Episode 8

Part One follows Amber, who learns the benefit of good deeds. She tries to use shortcuts to finish her good deed quickly, and this shortcut involves magic and vegetables that come to life.

Part Two follows Sofia, who is supposed to grow a lilygnome. The instructions for successfully growing one are long, detailed, and inconvenient, so she doesn’t follow every instruction. This leads to chaos.

Content Notes:

• Pinky promise.
• Magic spell to make veggies come out of the ground.
• “Oddy Bodkins,” said.

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Conclusion for Sofia the First: Royal Magic Christian Review

Sofia the First: Royal Magic is entertaining and captures some of Sofia the First’s nostalgia, but its updated animation style, music, new characters, new setting, and increased focus on casting spells distinguishes Royal Magic from the original series.

From a Christian perspective, both Sofia shows require caution, but Royal Magic requires increased caution due to the spellcasting and magic school settings.

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