"From Guillermo del Toro" comes
Wizards: Tales of Arcadia. This computer-animated fantasy limited series created by Guillermo del Toro, based on the characters created by del Toro and Daniel Kraus, and produced by DreamWorks Animation Television. It is the third and final installment of the
Tales of Arcadia trilogy, following
Trollhunters (2016–2018) and
3Below (2018–2019). Merlin’s apprentice joins Arcadia’s heroes on a time-bending adventure in Camelot, where conflict is brewing between the human, troll and magical worlds.
Following the release of
Trollhunters and
3Below, it was announced the series would be the third and final series in the
Tales of Arcadia trilogy. The series was initially set for a 2019 release date, but was postponed for an August 7, 2020 release date.
The series stars the voice talents of Colin O'Donoghue, David Bradley, Lena Headey, James Faulkner, Steven Yeun, Alfred Molina, John Rhys-Davies, Rupert Penry-Jones, Emile Hirsch, Kelsey Grammer, Mark Hamill, Stephanie Beatriz, Clancy Brown, Diego Luna, Tom Kenny and Brian Blessed. The cleverest thing about the show might be that the fate of the world is in the finicky hands of characters, whose voice talents have terrific performances.
The show probably won't be added to the surprising pantheon of kid's shows with dedicated adult followings, but it's a cute adventure epic with some wonderful lessons and truly gorgeous animation. The show is everything you might expect and then some -- overrun with weird creatures and sprinkled with offbeat humor and trippy action sequences. Though it relies heavily on slapstick and silliness without digging into the tough thematic material it introduces, it's still a fun fish-out-of-water adventure even if it's not quite out-of-this-world. The show is not terribly complicated, and perhaps that is what makes it endearing; it possesses the childlike wonder, and humor, of del Toro, and wears its heart on its sleeve. It's quite wonderful. That expert blend of humor and more serious themes, excitement and adventure, characters you love to spend time with. It stands as testament that even at twenty-six episodes long, the show never feels like it's overstaying its welcome. Del Toro is renowned for his striking visual style and wild imagination that's often on display in his live-action films, but in Netflix's animated series, del Toro's vivid storytelling comes to life in the most colorful way yet. They have made their series with brio and wit, as much majesty as the budget will allow, and enough suspense and mystery to make one invest in subsequent episodes as they arrive. This thoroughly enjoyable unlikely-hero tale is visually spectacular and delivers some familiar -- but always refreshing -- messages about heroism. However, the series never fully shakes off the rigid, by-the-numbers storytelling, or its underdeveloped characters, but the frequent moments of heart and humor elevate what would otherwise be a cold, slick thing of stone. Also, the show seeks to mine a new audience for del Toro's aesthetic, edging into the market of children and so compromises have been made that may not please those who prefer their del Toro productions messier and more obsessive.
Simon says Wizards: Tales of Arcadia receives:
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