One thing I didn't touch on much last episode. The animation quality isn't that great. Even for 2004, it's pretty mediocre. The animation can feel a little stiff at times, and some of the magic or fighting doesn't come across as it probably should have at times. That and the female characters tend to look a lot alike. They suffer a lot from Only Six Faces. Thankfully their clothes and hair keep them easy to identify, but it's rather noticeable if you look close.
On to episode 2, "Welcome to Magix!". This is a decent name that doesn't sound completely bland and is accurate. 4Kids calls it "More Than High School". It sounds pretty meh to me, plus Alfea is more of a college than a high school anyway. Score: RAI 1. 4Kids 1. Yes, I'm going to keep score of who has the better episode title in my opinion.
The episode starts with a shot of Alfea playing the Alfea Leitmotif. It's nice and upbeat, giving the impression that Alfea is a warm and positive place. Winx Club music usually isn't stellar, but it is usually decent. There are always some good tracks spread around of course. Anyway, fairies are entering Alfea.
Mike and Vanessa are naturally impressed by everything they see. Now, most of what they see wouldn't be that out of place on Earth, but Alfea is an impressive sight the first time you see it. Mike wants to see the school up close, but an invisible barrier keeps the two muggle parents out. Bloom doesn't even notice a barrier, and Kiko can also go right through it. This does indicate that there might be something special about Kiko, but what could it be?
Stella explains that it's a protective barrier that keeps non-magical beings out of Alfea. Not Magix obviously, since they're on Magix, just Alfea. Realizing they have to separate, Bloom says her goodbyes to her parents. They assure her that they'll be there for her. Mike asks Kiko to take care of Bloom. Smart move, that rabbit is clearly the strongest creature on the show. Stella sends them back to Earth with her scepter. Though it looks like aliens are abducting them to me.
Bloom and Stella enter Alfea. Stella points out a woman checking in the students, Griselda, head of discipline. Griselda checks in Elanor of Delona, who's nervous about coming to Alfea. Or maybe she's just terrified of Griselda. After making sure she's on the list, Griselda sends her on through. A certain purple haired girl is also seen checking about to check in next.
Bloom realizes a slight problem; she's not on the list. Stella says she has that covered though. In a display of perfect brilliance/stupidity, she says Bloom can pretend to be the princess of Callisto. She was going to come this year, but changed her mind at the last minute and gave Stella a letter to give to the headmistress. Stella then summons up the letter and rips it up. Bloom doesn't like being dishonest, but Stella thinks it's perfectly fine. Besides, no one knows who she is anyway. I guess there are plenty of princesses to go around. Well, Stella's certainly not a perfect angel is she.
The two go up to Griselda, who recognizes Stella. Griselda is not happy to see her again since apparently something happened with her last year. Also, she calls her princess of Solaria, which is the first we hear of this. Bloom has absolutely no reaction in hearing that Stella is a princess. Stella introduces Bloom as the princess of Callisto, and Griselda finds her on the list as Veranda. Bloom gives a half-hearted lie that it's her. Man, if Griselda hadn't been distracted with Stella, Bloom might have been found out right there. I mean, Bloom is clearly not a princess or princess material. Then again, Stella is a princess, and she certainly isn't the best person ever. Griselda clears them to go in.
Inside Alfea three of the teachers are looking at the new students. One of them thinks that they looks so nice. Another remembers that she was like one of them centuries ago. And here we get the first probably inaccurate usage of the word centuries. Granted I don't think it's ever stated how long she is, but I don't think she's that old. The third one, who's short and has a nice hat, can't see past them. He transforms into a bunny/mice thing and hops up onto the woman, who promptly faints. The other teacher says the shapeshifter, now named Professor Wizgiz, should be more careful with his transformations.
Back outside, Griselda is giving a speech to all of the students. She says Alfea will be their home for the next five years. Sure it will. Unless she expected everyone to fail I don't think they'll stay that long. Or maybe the main characters are all prodigies. Griselda then mentions that they can be expelled if they disobey the rules. The girls aren't allowed to use their powers in the hallways or common areas. Magic is only allowed in the classroom under teacher supervision. She then calls out Stella, who apparently destroyed the potion laboratory, which will be out of commission for a month. Bloom is surprised at the damage, but Stella counters that her dad paid for all the damages. I get the feeling that generous donations from Solaria are the only reason Stella is allowed to attend Alfea.
The headmistress and the three other teachers seen earlier come out to join them. Griselda tries to get the students to straighten up, but the headmistress says tells them to lighten up and that she hopes Griselda didn't scare them too much. She introduces them to Alfea, the best school for fairies in Magix. She then jokes that it's also the only one. I assume there are others in the Magic Dimension, but Alfea is the only one on this planet. The headmistress invites them inside. Also, I noticed that there are maybe 30 students here, maybe less. Alfea must really be a top school that only the best and the brightest can get into.
The headmistress gives a speech about how becoming a fairy is difficult. Important purple-haired fairy looks either bored or stoned. This is what I meant by bad animation. She wraps up her speech quickly, ending with telling them to stay away from the witches of Cloudtower, which Stella already knows. They now have free time and should be ready for class tomorrow at 8:00.
Stella says that Bloom will like headmistress Faragonda since she's really nice. Bloom asks about the witches of Cloudtower. Stella explains that Magix has three schools, Alfea for fairies, Red Fountain for Specialists, and Cloudtower for witches. Stella recommends staying away from witches. They come across their apartment and are happy that they have the same one. The listing indicates the room has a Stella, Flora, Veranda, Musa, and Tecna. All of those names rhyme. Coincidence? I think not.
Stella gets the same room as she did the year before. It's pretty sizable actually. I bet a lot of students would kill for rooms of that size. Bloom says that Stella is lucky to have a room all to herself, while she has a roommate. Bloom enters her room and steps on a vine, and the plant it's attached to promptly screams in pain. Bloom starts to apologize, but her roommate says not to worry and apologizes for having plants all over the floor. She says the talking plant was one of her creations. So, is she going to end up as a mad scientist? She introduces herself as Flora and promptly knocks over her talking plant. Clumsy girl. The plant looks like its dying a painful death.
Bloom introduces herself as Bloom, then switches to Veranda when Stella reminds her of her supposed identity. Bloom has to look outside to see her name. Interestingly, the sign says Varanda di Callisto for the princess, but only says Flora for Flora. A short, purple haired girl comes up behind her and spouts off some facts about Callisto before noting it's a long ways away. She introduces herself as Tecna. Real creative name, that one. At least the others are actual names. Also, while the other voices have been fine so far, Tecna's is pretty bad. No idea how I should describe it though.
Stella introduces herself, and both Flora and Tecna say they've heard about her. A fifth girl with short pigtails comes in, telling Stella to warn them before she blows up her room. Stella insists that it was just an accident. Tecna wonders how she managed to get readmitted after being expelled. Stella says they really couldn't do without someone as gorgeous as her. Yeah, it was definitely the money that got her back in.
In Flora's room, the talking plant is attacking Kiko. Flora gets it to put him down, and Bloom figures Kiko was trying to eat it. Flora grows some carrots for the bunny in seconds. I think I know who Kiko is going to like. Stella wants to go out to eat to celebrate the new school year and get to know each other. Bloom suggests pizza, and Flora and pigtails don't know what it is. Bloom recovers by saying it's the national dish of Callisto. And so they head out.
You know, pigtails never introduced herself. Based on the sign and the opening, it can be surmised that she's Musa. At least that's an actual name. Also, Flora and Musa not knowing what pizza is seems odd since pizza does show up in Magix in season 3. Maybe it doesn't exist on Linphea and Melody? That's probably it.
The girls head out of Alfea, but Griselda is watching them closely. She's probably hoping Stella will do something stupid so she can expel her. That or Bloom's Veranda cover is already blown. Hasn't even been an hour yet. Great plan Stella.
A floating bus takes them to a city. They get off at Magix station in the city of Magix. Bloom's eyes are covered. I guess Bloom is expecting Magix to be something really big and exciting. She opens her eyes to what looks like a regular Earth city, but with slightly different looking buildings and flying cars. She's disappointed that Magix, the capital of the realm of Magix and most enchanted city in the universe doesn't seem to have dragons, wizards, gnomes, or shops full of magic wands. Not sure where she got the idea that Magix was super special from (probably Stella), but I assume that she's correct when she states that Magix is the capital of planet Magix.
Stella says that this is the real world, not a fairy tale. Everything lives off its own magical energy, and magic is everywhere. They watch a guy use magic to push two other parked cars out of the way to park his own car. Bloom does seem impressed by that. Personally, if I saw Magix without any other context, I'd have thought that it was a sci-fi city instead of a magical one. It's really both though. They go off to find a place to eat.
They pass by a glasses store, where Knut is trying on some glasses. Why can't he get contacts? Are contact stores racist against ogres? Knut spots the girls and races out of the store, stealing the glasses in the process. Jerk. He calls his highnesses on his phone, hoping that they can take care of things themselves since they're in Magix. A girl sitting with two other girls answers the phone and immediately insults him. Knut tells her that the fairies are in town, and the girl decides this is a good opportunity to get Stella's scepter. She tells him to follow them, or she'll make sure he never takes off his glasses again. Clearly she is the epitome of evil.
The girls are eating, and Bloom doesn't understand why her cell phone isn't working. Here's an idea you moron, you're not on Earth! I don't think any company on Earth provides interplanetary coverage yet. Tecna looks at it and bursts out in a really awkward laugh. She calls it prehistoric technology. Bloom says it's the latest model, to which Stella reminds her that it only applies to Earth. Tecna apologizes for laughing.
Bloom uses a payphone to call Vanessa back home. I wonder what the charge is like on Vanessa's end? They talk a bit before Bloom sees Knut walking by. She ends the conversation quickly. She used a card, presumably Stella's to call home. Bloom chases after Knut. They both suck at stealth, but Knut manages to observe the other girls anyway. Bloom is worried, but she quickly loses track of him.
Knut arrives in a corridor to meet three girls. One in blue with long white hair, one in light purple with puffy hair, and one in dark purple with really long brown hair. He explains where the fairies are while Bloom hides and tries to hear in on them. Really long hair senses that they're being watched. She makes a copy of herself and teleports. Bloom can't see what's going on behind Knut.
She ends up behind Bloom and blasts her out into the open with what looks like hypnotic like circles of magic. The clone disappears, and blue girl asks if Bloom liked their joke. Bloom launches some magic at them, which does nothing. Blue girl, who's obviously the leader of the three, laughs and decides to show her magic. She surrounds her with some ice crystals. Illusion girl blasts her again. Puffy girl just looks pissed and sends her flying to the edge of a roof with a small tornado.
Back with the fairies. They start wondering where Veranda is.
Ice girl drags Bloom down with magic. She then encases Bloom in ice. Kind of disproportionate response to someone who was just spying on you. Maybe she's just a dick. She can tell that Bloom's a fairy and notes that it was a pity she met them. I should note that while it hasn't been stated yet, you can probably assume that these three girls are witches.
The other fairies arrive and tell the witches to take them on instead. Ice girl tells Knut to take care of them. Knut charges at them, and the fairies jump out of the way. Then, the transformation sequence begins without a word.
Flora's transformation doesn't have much to note. It's just her clothes appearing and then her briefly flying before landing down. Musa does a little dance on a disco floor, then her clothes appear as disco squares before fully forming, and it finally ends on her landing on a spinning disc. Tecna does some weird moves, then a grid shows up on her body before forming a bodysuit and a hat thing on her before she flies a bit and lands. It does show a peculiar thing about her wings. The others all have regular fairy wings, but hers are very different. I'll get into those in a later episode.
The transformation song is pretty catchy in my opinion, and the specialized parts for each of the girls makes for a little variety. The transformation also isn't just one girl does her full transformation followed by the next. It shows parts of each instead. Here the order goes Tecna-Flora-Stella-Musa-Flora-Tecna-Stella-Musa-Tecna-Flora-Stella. The show varies up how the transformation is done, which helps a little with the repetition.
The witches recognize Stella. Tecna uses magic called Static Sphere to trap Knut in a levitating sphere. Musa hits him with Sonic Blast, which doesn't seem to do anything except be annoying to Knut. Flora uses Golden Pollen to summon up a large vine to throw him away. The witches are embarrassed by his failure, and Illusion girl even face palms.
Ice girl shoots ice shards at them. Tecna defends everyone with a Firewall shield. Puffy girl uses lightning to attack next, which break's through Tecna's shield and blasts them all down. Ice girl prepares to finish the fairies off. Stella summons her scepter and teleports everyone, Bloom in the ice included, away. Icy launches her attack, only to be dismayed that they're already gone.
Stella warms Bloom up, assuring her that she's safe. Stella says that for an Earth girl, she was really brave. The other girls hear this and demand an explanation about "Bloom of Callisto". Stella admits she was fibbing a bit and promises to explain everything.
They try to sneak back into Alfea, but they're caught by Griselda and Faragonda. Faragonda tells them to go to bed now. Griselda stops Bloom however, basically accusing her of not being Veranda. Bloom admits that that her real name is Bloom and that she's from Earth. Faragonda notes that she must have magic to get into the barrier. Faragonda asks why she didn't tell them the truth. Stella tells her that it was all her idea.
Bloom explains for herself that she comes from a small town(Gardenia is not a small town) on Earth. Griselda notes that it's outside the Magix dimension. I assume she meant the Magic Dimension, since Magix is just the planet while the Magic Dimension encompasses all the magical planets, but early weirdness so whatever. Bloom begs to stay in Alfea so that she can live up to her dream of being a real fairy. Was that always her dream, or did it become her dream yesterday after finding out she was a fairy?
Griselda wants to expel her, but Faragonda says Bloom has a great dream and tenacity, which is needed for a good fairy. She tells them to go to sleep. She then mentions to Griselda that she didn't think there were any fairies left on Earth. Griselda says she thought they all disappeared centuries ago. So who is Bloom then?
Hold on, there were fairies on Earth a long time ago? Interesting. Sounds like that could be a possible future plot point doesn't it? While I'm sure the foreshadowing was unintentional, it's still interesting considering the plot of season 4. Also, another instance of centuries used. This one is definitely false, so it's the start of my theory that old people don't know what centuries means.
In their dorm, Bloom says that they should have a name. She suggests the Winx. Tecna thinks it's a good idea for a quick reference. My thoughts exactly. Makes my job so much easier. Stella says the three witches are the Trix. Wait, where did she get that name from? Does she already know who they are? Stella suggests they be called the Super 5, the Stella 5, or the Airy Fairies. Stella is horrible with names. Musa seems to think so.
Everyone else votes for Winx. Bloom is happy because she already came up with a logo. She was probably going to press the name on them whether they liked it or not. Tecna asks what Winx means. Bloom says nothing, just Winx.
That's the RAI origin of Winx. 4Kids I believe has Winx be another name for fairy magic. That would make the name of the club be stupid, because it's like calling a group of students the student club. The comics have the best origin, with Bloom coming up with it as a play on wings. Did I mention there's a comic version? Well now I did.
That's the second episode. Pretty good overall. We met the rest of the main characters, the teachers, and the main villains. The plot is moving at a good pace. A bit fast actually, considering how easily Faragonda let Bloom stay at Alfea. We technically don't learn the names of the villains this episode either aside from their group name.
Flora is obviously a plant lover. She comes across as nice, but a bit clumsy at times. She can also get dangerous if her new friend is attacked. She's cool. Nature magic seems to be her specialty. Her voice is also decent.
Tecna comes across as someone who doesn't always know how to act with others, given how she laughed at Bloom's phone. Still, she apologized for that. She seems very knowledgeable on things, and she has some defensive magic as well. It seems electricity based, and technology seems to be her specialty. Her voice is horrible, easily the worst of the RAI dub. She can't even give a decent laugh.
I don't think Musa's name is ever stated in the episode. She seems to poke fun at others, like mocking Stella for the lab explosion. Otherwise not much from her is gotten. Her specialty seems to be sound and music. Her voice is okay.
Stella comes off as an idiot who doesn't think before she acts. Still, she's really sweet towards Bloom, and she was prepared to take the blame for Bloom when she was found out.
Bloom's voice is way too bland. It took awhile before her voice actress could properly emote, I think. She comes off as both excited and worried to see Alfea and Magix. She cares about her new friends, but she throws caution to the wind when she follows Knut. She can barely use magic, so she has a long way to go.
Faragonda is the kind old mentor who supports her students. Maybe too much, since Bloom wasn't even punished at all. Griselda is more strict and by the rules, but she defers to Faragonda.
The Trix are jerks. They have neat ice, weather, and illusion magic, but not much is seen of them this episode aside from enjoying tormenting fairies.
The setting of Magix is set to be similar to Earth, but with magic and advanced technology. The fact that it's a planet isn't really made clear yet though. Alfea, Red Fountain, and Cloudtower are established to be the three schools in Magix.
Well that's it for thins episode. Time to see how the characters will grow, what the setting is like, how the plot pans out, what the villains are planning, and what magic does in general.
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