Unicorn Academy
By Ashley Moulton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Magical, immersive world of adventures has some peril.
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Unicorn Academy
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What's the Story?
In UNICORN ACADEMY, rebellious horse-loving teen Sophia receives a mysterious invitation to "Nuncior Academy," what she thinks is an equestrian academy. When she arrives at the boarding school, she learns she actually has been invited into the secret world of magical unicorns. Sophia will be training to protect the magic of Unicorn Island, where all the world's magic comes from. Sophia and the other students navigate making new friends, bonding with their unicorns, and mastering their unicorns' magic. Soon, they realize that not everything is sparkles and rainbows. Sophia learns that her father did not die in an accident. He too was a unicorn rider and died protecting the world from the evil villain Ravenzella. Can Sophia and her friends become expert unicorn riders and thwart Ravenzella and her "grim magic" from destroying the unicorns' magic forever?
Is It Any Good?
Bigger kids into unicorns and fantasy will probably be obsessed with Unicorn Academy. The magical world is exquisitely imagined. The unicorns have fun powers, the settings are beautiful, and the non-unicorn creatures are equally fantastical. The world feels real enough that kids will have no trouble imagining themselves getting a special invitation to attend Unicorn Academy themselves. Grown-ups will appreciate that the characters are also good role models and that the series has positive larger themes. (They may not appreciate as much the oodles of sought-after products this series is destined to produce.)
One knock against this otherwise superb series is that it is fairly derivative. Fans of the Harry Potter series will notice close similarities between many of the characters, magical elements, and storylines. However, there is a reason why Potter took the world by storm. The idea of finding a secret magical world is an irresistible fantasy escape to kids, and they won't mind if they've heard this one before.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the themes of light vs. dark in Unicorn Academy. Ravenzella thinks dark, "grim" magic is the way to gain power, but everyone on Unicorn Island uses happiness and light. How do you notice "light" and "dark" magic throughout the show?
Sophia and her friends break a lot of Unicorn Academy's rules. What do you think about rule breaking -- how does someone decide what rules are okay to break and when?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 2, 2023
- Cast: Sadie Laflamme-Snow , Jennifer Hale , Sara Garcia
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , High School , Horses and Farm Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: November 9, 2023
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