Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / MagicalGuardian

Go To

1%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries have been commented out. Please add context before commenting back in.
2
3This is a magical being who's in charge of a group of children, whether as a [[MagicalNanny nanny]], [[CoolTeacher teacher]], or some other form of custodian. Has some overlap with the MagicalNanny, but while a MagicalNanny is focused on improving family dynamics and behavior and may or may not be really magic, a Magical Guardian is really magic and may or may not do anything about behavior and family. They may instead use their powers for the more broad purpose of education, or even just for the pure sake of adventure. Having this character around allows children to get up to all kinds of impossible and wacky hijinks without audiences wondering [[ParentalAbandonment where the parents are]].
4
5Such a character may be InexplicablyAwesome.
6
7----
8!!Examples
9
10[[foldercontrol]]
11
12[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
13* ''Film/NannyMcPhee'', and its sequel ''Film/NannyMcPheeAndTheBigBang'', feature the magical Nanny [=McPhee=], and uses them to take care of naughty children, teaching them five lessons that they need to learn, and helping them behave. However, she is not just a MagicalNanny, since she also uses her magical powers to help the family, whether that be to teach the parents lessons that they also need to learn, or to help out if the family is in trouble.
14[[/folder]]
15
16[[folder:Literature]]
17* Creator/SusanCooper's ''Literature/OverSeaUnderStone'', the first book in ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising'' series. While the Drew children are on holiday in Cornwall they're taken care of by their great uncle Merriman Lyon. He's a powerful magical being whose duty is to protect them from the forces of the Dark.
18* In the AlternateHistory {{Magitek}} novel ''Literature/OperationChaos'' by Creator/PoulAnderson, Virginia is a witch with a cat familiar named Svartalf. When she and her husband go out to dinner and a show, Svartalf gets to babysit their child. Being that Svartalf is quite intelligent and responsible, as well as magical, it's not as neglectful as it seems. When [[spoiler:the child is stolen by a demon, you can't blame Svartalf, especially since Svartalf fought it until he was half dead]].
19* The Cat In The Hat from Dr. Seuss. All the tension in the story is will the children recover from the outlandish stuff before Mom and Dad find out what went on?
20* On the Literature/{{Discworld}}, Susan Sto-Helit works as a governess and later a schoolteacher. She's also the granddaughter of Death.
21* Literature/MaryPoppins is a nanny who happens to have magical powers at her disposal. She happens to be the UrExample for MagicalNanny, but she overlaps here too.
22%%* Bast from ''Literature/TheKaneChronicles''.
23%%* The gecko/dog from ''Literature/IAmNumberFour''.
24[[/folder]]
25
26[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
27* [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] is magically brought to life by young children whom he watches over. It certainly helps that he's a FriendToAllChildren.
28[[/folder]]
29
30[[folder:Western Animation]]
31* ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicSchoolBus'''s Miss Frizzle, the former TropeNamer for InexplicablyAwesome.
32* The title character in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' is primarily raised by three [[spoiler: aliens]] who have fantastical powers and train him to harness his own powers by taking him on missions. In the first season they often wave off their abilities as "magic", [[spoiler: though as the show goes on it becomes apparent that it's not magic but super advanced technology, leaning more into a sci-fi bent than pure fantasy]].
33* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
34** A villainous example: Mother Mae Eye forces herself on the heroes and even uses mind-controlling pie to ensure that they obey her.
35** Another episode involves Raven escorting three child superheroes to a safehouse as their protector.
36[[/folder]]

Top