Regal Academy
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Regal Academy is a fairy tale mash-up that casts aged versions of characters from the Cinderella and Snow White era as teachers in a school that educates their grandchildren's generation. The teen characters' experiences range from the mundane (dealing with mean classmates) to the magical (learning to ride dragons!), but there's always a fun angle only Fairy Tale Land could inspire. Kids familiar with tales such as The Princess and the Frog and Tangled will like seeing this version of the characters' descendants, but parents might not love that the animated characters (especially the girls) are drawn to impossible body standards and dress to show off that fact. There are some decent messages about friendship and relating to people who are very different from you.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Regal Academy is like no other girls' show
Animation style is distracting
A MAD SISTA
What's the story?
Rose (voiced by Jessica Paquet) is excited about her first day of school, but she has no idea what adventures really await her until she finds a magic key that unlocks a door to Regal Academy. Set in Fairy Tale Land and run by Cinderella (Rathryn Cahill) and her fairy tale compatriots, Regal Academy is the training ground for the next generation of legendary characters. Now reunited with her long-lost grandmother, Rose Cinderella befriends Astoria Rapunzel (Erica Schroeder), Joy Le Frog (Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld), Travis Beast (Henry F. Benjamin), and Hawk Snow White (Billy Bob Thompson). Together these five will learn everything they need to know to carry on their families' legacies in a world where magic comes to life.
Is it any good?
This fairy tale reimagining lacks originality and has some iffy themes, but the youthfulness of the cast may draw young fans regardless. With the likes of Descendants and Ever After High already out there, REGAL ACADEMY feels like it's playing catch-up, and it's not a visual stunner like many of today's CGI shows. It also falls into the somewhat familiar trap of questionable body images with slim-waisted, short-skirted, doll-like girls accounting for much of the cast, and it's troubling that Cinderella specifically asks Rose to keep her whereabouts secret from her mother.
On the upside, Rose's enthusiasm for adventure and new experiences is admirable, and every time she makes a mistake (which happens a lot), she's inspired to try harder to get it right. Despite being a newcomer to Fairy Tale Land, she adapts quickly and wins over doubters with her bubbly personality, which also helps her shrug off peers who don’t want to give her a chance.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how it feels to be a newcomer to a group or situation. How do you strike up conversations with people you don't know? What rewards can come from taking on new challenges?
Why must Rose keep her fairy tale secret from her mom? Conversely, why is open communication with your parents important?
Once she arrives at Regal Academy, Rose feels certain she understands her destiny. What do your kids see for their own futures? What kind of special training will it require?
TV details
- Premiere date: August 9, 2016
- Cast: Jessica Paquet, Erica Schroeder, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Fairy Tales
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.