W.I.T.C.H.: The Underrated Gem of Early 2000s

• Sarah Suleman 25020155
• Jun 14, 2024
• 3 min read

The first time I saw anything related to the W.I.T.C.H series was at my school’s book fair, intrigued by the cover and the comics within the book I decided to start the series. It was only when I was obsessed with the books that I found out about the show. I felt that both worked well together so I don’t really prefer one over the other, but I do believe that the series deserved much more attention than it got. 

It combined elements of fantasy, adventure and coming of age. The storyline was compelling with a focus on rich character development and great animation, it was everything I wanted and needed it to be.  

The story follows a group of five high school girls: Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin. They all had their own stories, personalities, strengths and struggles. They weren’t just magical beings but also just girls going through everyday issues such as school, family, and friendships. This aspect of duality added depth into their characters while also making them relatable. 

The relationship between the girls was refreshing to see, it wasn’t the always perfect girl group but depicted the realistic fights and misunderstanding between friends and not creating an idealized look, which was prevalent in other shows.  

The plot and storyline were intricate and engaging, with the way it masterfully intertwined its main plot of the guardians protecting the Veil that separates Earth from the magical world of Metamoor with subplots involving the girls’ personal lives. Its mythology was also very detailed and well developed the magical world of Metamoor, its history, and its various inhabitants are richly detailed, creating an immersive fantasy setting. Each guardian’s powers and responsibilities explained artfully, making the whole story more coherent. 

It was also very empowering to watch because within this group all the girls had differing levels of femininity while also being powerful and strong characters. Perpetuating the idea that I didn’t have to fit a mold to be strong and that there existed no ideal. It showed that girls could fight and be the saviors without needing a man to save them. They were the main hero’s nit just sidekicks for men which was refreshing and much needed. They were also shown as just humans who made mistakes, that though were aggravating to watch, were realistic and relatable. 

The show being named W.I.T.C.H was also so important to me because in most shows being a witch is seen as a bad thing and usually is a term given to the villain. It is also something women were termed when they did something that men didn’t think they could, or just as an excuse to kill women. This show in a way reclaimed that title, bringing it into a much more positive light, which I liked. Along with the storyline and characters, the animation and visual action sequences. They were well choreographed and visually fun to watch. 

There was also the intersection of culture and gender specifically with Hay Lin and how her experiences particularly included culture and its effect. The family dynamics were interesting to see with focus on complex family ties that exist in real life but were not as prevalent in animated shows.  

I think overall it was a good show to watch that was underrated but played a big role in how I perceive myself now.  With what I can and cannot do with my life by being one of the first shows that I watched that went against the grain of women not being powerful leads.