Magina

Magina is a 2003 American 2D Animated Musical Fantasy Romantic Drama Comedy Film produced by Universal Animation Studios and Distributed by Universal Pictures. It portrays a fictionalized story of Salem Witch Trials that took place in Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 93. Film was directed by Ash Brannon in his solo directorial debut and written by Irene Mecchi and Gary Hall from an Original Story by Wildshill, Brannon, Hall, Jim Anderson, and Amy Mcneill. Featuring voices of Jodi Benson, Elijah Wood, Sean Connery, Edie McClurg, David Ogden Stiers, with Mandy Patinkin, and Tony Jay, it tells story of a mysterious, magical girl named Magina with navy blue hair who falls in love with a Young Pilgrim named Olin, who is unaware that she is cursed under a Witchcraft and being hunted down by other Pilgrims for execution follow death of her Mother.

Development of Magina began in 1996 when Wildshill conceived film original concept during production of Ama And Mysterious Crystal, but production did not begin until 2000, set for release. Film production was fraught with severe difficulties, particularly for it disastrous test screen which proved to be fright to children. In 2001, when Wildshill step down as director to focus on other projects, Brannon was approached to direct film and revise story while also footage from initial cut, and as a result it was delayed to 2003. Some of film production team also visit Essex County for inspiration. Film was animated using traditional animation, with extensive use of computer generated imagery. It songs were written by Stephen Schwartz, with Randy Edelman composing film score.

Magina premiere at Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on September 3, 2003, and was released in US on September 19. Film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised it animation, musical score, voice performances, and songs, but criticized it story, writing, and dark nature. It is also considered to be 1 of dark films from Wildshill and Universal Animation as it deals with mature themes such as hysteria, animation, homicide, depression, sin, mental health, and indoctrination. Grossing only $78.1 million on an $80 million budget, Magina performed poorly at box office. Universal suffered a $130 million loss for film, which nearly made it animation division file for bankruptcy and led it Universal City animation facility to abandon traditional animation for computer animation. Despite reception, evaluation in later years has given Magina new legions of fans and has established it own reputation as a cult film.

Plot
In 1773 Salem Village, Massachusetts, an elderly man tells his grandson story of a beautiful young woman name Magina who magical powers led to tragedy. In 1692, 5 year old Magina and her mother who is accused of witchcraft are pursued through woods by a group of pilgrims on a witch hunt. Mother managed to hide Magina in an abandoned cottage, but is later found and sentenced to be executed by pilgrims. In cottage, lone child is then encountered by woodland animals, including hedgehog Flint, who raise and befriend her. Adopted into animal society, child choose herself to be call Magina, a name she made up meaning magic as she has magical powers ever since she was born.

Years later, back in 1710, Magina is reluctant to leave her isolated cottage to see outside world, fearing she would get humiliated by outside society. At farm in Salem Village, a kind, yet awkward young man name Olin fulfills his childhood dream of becoming a pilgrim in order to hunt down witch so that it could wipe out witchcraft for good. However, his parents Telea and Eben find their son too scrawny and weak to become a witch hunter, only to be humiliated by other villagers. 1 night, Olin decides to explore in forest, he could find a witch to hunt despite his parents warnings, but later end up entering Magina cottage where he encounters Magina. They quickly bond and end up fall in love, while Olin discovers Magina magical powers.

Olin returns back home next morning to explain to Telea and Eben about Magina but Judge Warren, minister Reverend Williams, and some other pilgrims enter farm, explaining to family that Magina is a witch who will put a curse to entire village, unless they could stop witchcraft and sentence her to execution. They cryptically warn Olin about Magina and of imminent danger, but Olin refuses to believe statement and return to forest to visit Magina again, where 2 spend another time together. Olin convinces Magina to leave cottage, but is compelled to explain witchcraft to her when he mentions alleged witchcraft in village.

1 of Salem villagers eventually discovers Olin relationship with Magina and warns judges including Warren and Williams, and they rally entire village into sentencing Magina to execution. Later, Olin offers Magina to come with him to stop curse, but Magina inadvertently unleashes her witchcraft powers to Olin, seriously injuring him and revealing her dark truth. Realizing that Magina is witch all along, Olin angrily drives her away in a fit of despair for lying to him. Shock and horrified at what she has done, Magina runs away in a fit of fear before she is captured and convicted by town council who overheard loud sounds coming from Magina powers when she was injuring Olin. As she soon gets sentenced to execution, Magina confronts Warren who recognizes her as daughter of 1 of executed people who were accused of witchcraft and eventually reveals he kill her mother during witch hunt years ago when Magina was young. This in turn completely Magina magical powers in a fit of rage and grief to attack Warren and other judges and avenge her mother death, transforming into a cataclysmic vengeful spirit.

Olin, along with Telea, Eben, Flint and other forest animals, manage to arrive at chaos in time to calm Magina down while clarifying situation to judge and sparing Magina life. However, Magina overpowered strengths cause her to get weak, while village turn on Judge and detain him for hurt their comrade. With curse broken, this causes Magina to fade away. Confessing his love to her, Olin kiss Magina just before she disappears and transforms into a spirit. This also releases spirit of her mother, who silently thanks Olin for freeing her daughter before she and Magina head to afterlife, while Olin takes Flint in care.

Back to present day in 1773, elderly man finish tell his grandson story, revealing that he is Olin and say how much he miss Magina. Film end with Olin watch Magina spirit out window right before she disappears, leading Olin to believe that she is still alive and immortal albeit in her spirit form, even so does her mother.

Voice Cast

 * Jodi Benson as Magina, a young navy blue hair woman with magical powers who is accused of witchcraft and is isolated away in a cottage. William Jennings served as supervising animator for Magina.
 * Taylor Momsen as young Magina.
 * Elijah Wood as Olin, a young pilgrim who helps Magina find a safe shelter to prevent from execution. Aaron Lohr provides Olin singing voice. Alexander Bates and Bob Cokinn served as supervising animators for Olin.
 * Tony Jay as elderly Olin, narrator.
 * Sean Connery as Judge Warren, a ruthless and arrogant judge who accused and punished Magina for witchcraft and is on hunt to execute her. Pete Candeland served as supervising animator for Warren.
 * Edie McClurg as Telea, Olin's mother. Chris Abazzi served as supervising animator for Telea.
 * David Ogden Stiers as Eben, Olin's father. Nester Ormond served as supervising animator for Eben.
 * Mandy Patinkin as Reverend Williams, a minister who is known for his knowledge of witchcraft. Bill Aalen served as supervising animator for Williams.
 * John Kassir as Flint, Magina's pet hedgehog who latter accompanies. Todd Wilderman served as supervising animator for Flint.
 * Amy McNeill as Magina's Mother, unnamed mother of Magina who was kill during witch hunt when Magina was a child.
 * Spencer Breslin as Olin's Grandson, unnamed grandson of Olin at end of film.
 * Ash Brannon as Thomas
 * Phil Morris as John

Additional Voices

 * Jack Angel
 * Michael Bell
 * Bob Bergen
 * Rodger Bumpass
 * Jennifer Darling
 * Debi Derryberry
 * Paul Eiding
 * Cynthia Marion
 * Laraine Newman
 * Alfre Woodard
 * Mickie McGowan
 * Sherry Lynn
 * Phil Proctor
 * Jan Rabson
 * Evan Sabara
 * Jim Ward

Development
Michael Wildshill conceived concept for Magina in 1996, envisioning a romantic supernatural story set in a Massachusetts town during Salem Witch Trials inspired by Arthur Miller Crucible. Ama And Mysterious Crystal was near end of production in 1997, Wildshill developed his concept into a 40 page film treatment and sent it to then Universal Feature Animation president John Cohen, who wrote back with Wow. In 1997, project began development under work title Legend Of Magina and was originally slated for release in 2000 with Wildshill directing and Cohen producing. Irene Mecchi, who had co written screenplay for Paint World, came on board to write an early draft of script. Wildshill created original design, sets, characters, and core storyline, but was never formally name director as he was focus directing Mistress Masham Repose after Ama. In 1998, release date back to 2001 to accommodate Mistress Masham Repose.

In 2000, when production on Mistress Masham Repose was finish, Wildshill went back to Legend Of Magina as director and production went underway short. In 2000, Universal scheduled a new release date of November 22, 2002 for film, and announced Jim Anderson as a co director with Wildshill and having give exclusive control of story. Short before release of Mistress Masham Repose, Wildshill, Cohen and several other Universal animators including production design Yarrow Cheney and Cynthia Marion and art director John France took a trip to Essex County, Massachusetts, where they explore Salem and Danvers originally Salem Village and learn more about history of Salem witch trials to help take inspiration for film elements. Follow Cohen departure from Universal to join 20 Century Fox Animation in 2001, studio turned to former Walt Disney Animation Studios animator Chris Jenkins who was finish work on Atlantis Lost Empire to replace Cohen as film producer. In 2001, film title was shorten as just Magina, with Gary Hall rewriting original screenplay by Irene Mecchi.

Editing and Revisions
In 2001, a test screen for partially finish cut of Magina was held at a private theater in Universal Studios Hollywood backlot where feature animation studio was also located. Almost near film climax, it was proved to be too intense and frightening for majority of young children in audience most of who burst into tears and quick left theater with their parents before it was even finish. After test audience negative reaction, Universal Feature Animation head of production Melissa Hester insisted that 13 minutes of footage be cut to attain PG rating instead of PG 13 rating, and Wildshill was so dissatisfied with how film turn out with test audience that he left during production to work on an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen story The Snow Queen and later Woo La La.

Short after, Wildshill was replaced by Ash Brannon, story artist on Gingo Movies Going Francisco, to help revise film, while co director Jim Anderson left film to work on other projects for Universal. In 2001, Magina was pushed back from November 22, 2002, to July 2, 2003 so that film could be rework. Princess Arete, anime film which Universal acquired US distribution rights, was later give slot of November 22, 2002. In 2002, due to delay, Universal laid off 59 employees of it feature animation department. In 2002, film release date was move forward 2 months later from July 2, 2003, to September 19, 2003, in order to avoid competition with DreamWorks Animation SKG Sinbad Legend Of 7 Seas.

Film was ultimately cut by 13 minutes, with existing scenes rewritten and reanimated for continuity. Many of cut scenes involved extended character interactions, but other trims involve violent and disturbing content, including Magina ghostly witch form in final act of film.

Casting
Coming Soon!

Animation
Coming Soon!

Release
Magina world premiere was on September 3, 2003, at Los Angeles Kodak Theater. Film was theatrically released in US on September 19, 2003.

Marketing
Official teaser trailer for film was released on December 13, 2002 and was attached into Nessy Tale Of Sea Monster, and The Wild Thornberrys Movie. 1 theatrical trailer was released on March 12, 2003 and was attached into Agent Cody Banks, Puyo Puyo (2003), and Finding Nemo. Final trailer for film was released on June 13, 2003 and was attached into Rugrats Go Wild, and Hulk.

Video Game
Magina game were released in 2003 for Play Station 2, Game Boy Advance, and Microsoft Windows.

Home Media
Magina was released on VHS and DVD on January 27, 2004. During 1 month of it home release, film led in VHS sales and was 3 in combined DVD. Sales and rentals of VHS and DVD combined would eventually accumulate $144 million in revenue by end of 2004.

On September 13, 2011, film was released on Blu ray.

Film was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu ray and Digital HD on December 15, 2020.

Box Office
Magina grossed $12.9 million in North America and $65.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $78.1 million. On October 9, 2003, Universal announced that, due to film underperforming at box office, Universal Feature Animation would take a $130 million write down, which nearly made division file for bankruptcy.

Reasons for film financial failure included release date, an aggressive marketing campaign which cost over $100 million, competition with films such as Anything Else, Underworld, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, and Lost In Translation, and disinterest in traditional animation in comparison to computer animation.

Critical Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Magina holds a 100% rating based on 119 reviews, with an average score of 6.1 10. It consensus reads, Magina shines as a dark animated, beautifully sung love story based on Salem witch trials, but an uninspired script makes all that grandeur wear out it welcome. On Metacritic, film holds a rating of 100 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews. Audiences polled by Cinemascore gave film an average grade of A+ on an A+ to F scale.

Legacy
Coming Soon!

Main
To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

Trailers
To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here..