Unicorn Academy is an animated series produced by Spin Master Entertainment and Disney Branded Television. A loose adaptation of Julie Sykes' eponymous fantasy novels, it was released on Netflix in 2023.
Sophia Mendoza loves three things; adventure, horses, and her family. So when she receives an invitation to Unicorn Academy, where students bond with magical unicorns, she jumps at the chance to enroll. If she becomes a full-fledged Unicorn Rider, she'll live a life of heroism and friendship- and feel closer to her father, a Rider whose mysterious disappearance still haunts her.
But shadows are blooming in the corners of Unicorn Academy. The evil sorceress Ravenzella, enemy of all unicorns, has a plan to break free of her confinement. When she does, she'll do her utmost to destroy the academy and the island its Unicorn Riders guard.
It's a good thing this year's freshman class is strong enough to stop her.
This show includes the following tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: The pilot movie runs for more minutes than there are pages in the first novel, so a lot of things were changed. Most book characters (including the original villain) aren't present, Sophia has a very different personality and backstory, the history of Unicorn Academy is delved into, and combat occurs much more often.
- Bond Creatures: Bonding with a unicorn unlocks his/her magic. A bond is formed in a single, distinct moment, but is preceded by the participants getting to know each other and committing to their destiny as Riders. If a student doesn't bond by the end of their first week at the Academy, they are sent home.
- Both Sides Have a Point: When Sophia and Ava have a falling out over Ava inadvertently pulling Sophia out of a vision with her father, their friend group is divided over whose side they should take or if they should take a side at all.
- On one hand, they understand Sophia being upset and refusing to instantly be okay with Ava even after she apologised, given that the magic waterfall only grants one vision per person, she was interrupted when the vision was about to tell her something important and she believed she was communicating with her dead father (as far as she knows, this will never happen again). Sophia also states that regardless of Ava's intentions, she just made things worse and that from her point-of-view, Ava's refusal to give her space makes it seem she doesn't realise or care how hurt she is.
- On the other hand, Ava is genuinely remorseful and had good intentions, believing she was saving Sophia from drowning; some of them agree with Ava that this wouldn't have happened if Sophia had just told Ava what she was doing instead of lying to her. Ava also points out that Sophia assumed she would've tried to stop her, but she actually would've helped her; Ava further states that Sophia never stops to consider how it makes her feel when Sophia constantly goes rushing off into danger.
- Darker and Edgier: In the books, purifying Starglow Lake is done by carrying a special type of slug to its waters. In the series, it's done by Storm whipping up a giant tornado and almost drowning in the process.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: Fernakus, a tiny "dwerpin" servant resembling a pig, is The Mole for Ravenzella. The Stern Teacher and (seeming) Alpha Bitch, despite their narrative roles, are completely innocent.
- Evil Will Fail: Ravenzella's power is not the main obstacle preventing the heroes from defeating her. Instead, it's Sophia's refusal to respect her teammates that divides the Sapphire Dorm and puts her in danger.
- Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Most Unicorn Riders don't wear the protective clothing- helmets, boots, etc- that equestrians do in real life. It's semi-justified in that unicorns are sapient creatures much more aware of their bulk than your average horse.
- The Swarm: When grim magic isn't absorbed into a single person, it scatters into many sapient clouds that fly at enemies, can corrupt items and water, and move very fast.
- Toon Physics: The characters are insanely tough; humans, for example, are barely fazed by falling into a chasm, and unicorns can survive landing on their backs.
- Urban Fantasy: Unicorn Academy conceals itself with magic, but its inhabitants are conversant in modern technology and fashions. Bonus Material is framed as the protagonists asking sprites to hold cameras for them.
