Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Aussie comedy series avoids scares in fun fantasy plot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Bureau of Magical Things
What's the Story?
In THE BUREAU OF MAGICAL THINGS, an evening jog through the woods proves fateful when Kyra (Kimie Tsukakoshi) sees a mysterious book hovering in the air and reaches out to touch it. Suddenly she's seeing things she couldn't before, including an elf named Imogen (Elizabeth Cullen) and a fairy named Lily (Mia Milnes), who arrive to explain that Kyra is a tri-ling (equal parts elf, fairy, and human) and has magical powers. As she slowly comes into her abilities and learns to live a double life, Kyra joins a class taught by Professor Maxwell (Christopher Sommers) to learn about magic and its complicated relationship to the human world. When an unexpected threat arises and puts the magical community as a whole at risk, Kyra must join her new friends in thwarting it.
Is It Any Good?
This mild fantasy series is an easy watch for kids who aren't ready for actual scares and suspense yet. The Bureau of Magical Things raises the premise of magical forces beyond human awareness and has fun with the idea that there are beings and happenings that we can't see but that affect us anyway. It's imaginative and humorous with a likable central character in the well-meaning and sweet-natured Kyra, who is influenced in positive ways by her relationships with family and friends.
Some viewers may not love the contrary character of Imogen, whose grumpiness wears on the senses after a while. Presumably to offset her dourness, Lily is a hopeful, glass-is-half-full type who helps Kyra gain confidence in her new identity and with her surprising new powers. But as the stakes get higher for Kyra and her friends in both the magical and the human worlds, their differences matter less than what unites them, and they find inspiration in their shared objective.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the existence of role models in The Bureau of Magical Things. Which characters stand out to you as demonstrating strong character strengths like teamwork? As the series unfolds, does anyone's behavior change your opinion of him/her? Are villains more effective when they start out as sympathetic characters?
Why is it fun to imagine the world differently from how it is in reality? If magic did exist, how would you want it to change daily life for you? How do Kyra's powers complicate her life? On the other hand, how does her magical identity enhance it?
What impression does this series give of teens, and girls in particular? How are the relationships between girls different from those between both genders? Is there any negative behavior like cattiness or bullying on display? Do any of the teens contradict stereotypes of this age group?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 8, 2018
- Cast : Kimie Tsukakoshi , Elizabeth Cullen , Mia Milnes
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
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.
See how we rate