If you enjoyed Winx Club’s first three seasons, you owe it to yourself to find and see this movie. I went in looking forward to Secret of the Lost Kingdom (SotLK). One of the reasons was that the main story arc of the series, that is lead character Bloom finding her biological parents, had yet to be resolved. SotLK resolves that and delivers much more in the process.
With that said, I still tried to keep my expectations moderated. After all an arc three seasons in the making can easily be disappointing when finally resolved.
When a computer generated character looks into a computer generated mirror, what does she see?
Also, SotLK moved Winx into the world of computer generated imagery (CGI) from traditional animation. When a show is as stylized as Winx Club, the transition from cels to 3D models can be daunting at best, and awful at worst.
No, this is not your high school math book.
Tecna gets uprezzed. Fitting.
Gladly, I can report that SotLK succeeded on all the mentioned fronts. Especially in the tricky area of CGI where they managed to capture the spirit of the art direction in 3D. However they went beyond just capturing, they enhanced it in some places and added whole new elements in others. New locations, new outfits and new vehicles were all on display as SotLK went above and beyond the “necessary”.
Even the credits were artsy.
A good word to describe SotLK is artsy. Dramatic lighting, sparkles and translucent clothing/wings were all realized more easily and more often in this high quality feature. Iginio Straffi kept a close eye on his popular creation and kept it from drifting away from its core.
Like the series the movie was at times serious and others fun. There was even a pleasant musical scene flying through the clouds.
Alfea looked good rendered with CGI. (For some reason, in our "non-magical" dimension pinks and purples have never caught on as building colors.)
One of my interests in Winx Club lore has been the famed Company of Light. We finally get to meet the remaining three members. The old gruff weapon smith Hagen, and Bloom’s parents who have not aged since being trapped when Bloom was a baby. It was interesting seeing them not much older than Bloom and much younger than the remaining un-trapped members.
The dark background in this lake scene highlighted Bloom in Enchantix mode. (Enchantix lasted longer than "Charmix". The latter was a flash in the season 2 pan. I guess girls were more interested in buying whole new dolls than they were in small pocketbook-like accessories.)
Special props go to the costume designers. They did a great job translating the known outfits into 3D as well as designing some elegant-in-their-simplicity jumpsuits.
The famed Company of Light.
The men were treated pretty well this time around. They got some good screen time for supporting characters. Both Hagen and Oritel were treated with respect.
Another supporting character, Faragonda was shown fittingly powerful. Of the other two members of the company of light, Griffen is barely seen and Saladin not at all.
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In order to save water in the magical dimensions they have started to shower with light.
There is a great reveal in the beginning where the girls go enchantix and have a tough battle with a horde of robots. This battle and the others in the film were well planned out and exciting. The fight scenes moved along and the action was quick and snappy.
Bloom & Flora: This library made for a rich scene and the jumpsuits on the girls were a lovely contrast. But are they readers?
If you do not think Flora is cute get back under your bridge, troll.
Of course SotLK is not without its faults. Occasionally the movie was a little slow. Then again one man’s “slow” is another man’s peaceful pacing in a pretty scene. The three bad witches from all three seasons of the series (the Trix) only made the briefest cameo appearance. Additionally the Ancestral Witches who fought against the Company of Light did not get enough comeuppance.
SotLK leaves open the door for more action in the Winx Club universe. With word of a fourth season and the possibility of another movie, we have not seen the last of Bloom, Stella, Flora, Tecna, Musa and Layla (Aisha).
"I'll be waiting for them."
The story is about a young girl who comes of age to learn she has magic powers and (after a time) is a princess. Her biological parents are believed dead, but her search for them will form the longest arc. She goes off into another realm to learn about her powers and heritage and makes 4 friends who will be her allies throughout the series. Classic elements seen in many old stories and modern fiction.
Three main schools exist for the teaching of youngsters in this dimension. Alfea is where the girl leads go (fairies) and is for “lawful good” magical girls if you will pardon the D&D alignment. The not-so-good magical girls (witches) go to Cloud Tower. They are anything from lawful evil to chaotic good. The mostly non-magical guys go to Red Fountain where they use special weapons and vehicles training to be “heroes”.
F o r t r e s s T a k e s 