For almost three years now, I’ve been hearing about “W.I.T.C.H.” The comic magazine that Disney published overseas which is produced by the same Milanese artists who crank “Topolino,” the Italian version of Mickey Mouse.
This “W.I.T.C.H.” magazine — which chronicles the adventures of five pre-teen girls who have suddenly acquire magic powers, which they use to keep the world safe from evil — has been (to put it mildly) an enormous success. More than a million copies of this comic are sold every month. And “W.I.T.C.H.” magazine is currently being published monthly in 64 countries and in 27 different languages.
Well, after all that success in Europe and Asia, Disney’s finally ready to bring the “W.I.T.C.H.” characters to America. With the hope that U.S. tweens will soon embrace Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Han Lin with equal enthusiasm.
By the way … about those names: If you take the first initials of each of the girl’s names — Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Han Lin — you get W.I.T.C.H. Though — oddly enough — none of these young ladies are really witches. They’re actually the Guardians of the Veil, the barrier that separates good from evil. And … as for the rest of the story … well, it’s kind of complicated.
How complicated? So complicated that Disney’s Hyperion Books for Children has just begun releasing a series of “W.I.T.C.H.” chapter books. Which will hopefully bring America tweens quickly up to speed about who exactly these unusual characters are. Which (again, Disney is hoping here) will make kids in the U.S. tune in when the inevitable “W.I.T.C.H.” TV series turns up on the Disney Channel later this fall and/or in early 2005.
So how are these “W.I.T.C.H.” books? I just finished reading the first three chapter books — “The Power of Five,” “The Disappearance” and “Finding Meridian” — in the series. There are three other “W.I.T.C.H.” books currently out in stores (“The Fire of Friendship,” “The Last Tear” and “Illusions and Lies”). With Disney’s Hyperion Books for Children due to release three additional “W.I.T.C.H.” chapter books (“The Light of Meridian,” “Out of the Dark” and “The Four Dragons”) between now and August.
And — to be honest — the best part of the “W.I.T.C.H.” books were the four-color comics that serve as the “bookends” of each of these chapter books. Looking at these delightful drawings, it’s easy to understand why “W.I.T.C.H.” comic magazine became such a phenomenon in Europe and Asia.
As for the books themselves … well, I’m no pre-teen girl. So I’m probably not the best person to be passing judgment on material like this. But I found each of these “W.I.T.C.H.” chapter books a pleasant enough read. Adapted from the original comics by Elizabeth Lenhard (Best known for her work on the “Spy Kids Adventure” series as well as the “Charlie’s Angels” novelization), these junior novels move along at a fast enough clip. With every tale being able to be spun out and then wrapped up in just 144 pages.
Tell you what: In order to get a genuine opinion of what the real target audience for these “W.I.T.C.H.” chapter books would think of them, I’m going to be handing the six books that I currently have in hand over to Mary and Rebecca M. Nancy’s 13-year-old twin nieces who are huge fans of chapter books involving magic. Once I get word back from those two about what they thought of “W.I.T.C.H.,” I’ll post that news here.
But — in the meantime — I think that the rest of us should get ready for the “W.I.T.C.H.” invasion. In addition to the “W.I.T.C.H.” animated series (which is supposedly being developed in France), Disney supposedly has plans to launch a “W.I.T.C.H.”-themed line of clothing. A “W.I.T.C.H.” based series of action figures is allegedly already in production. And — somewhere further on down the line — Disney’s also supposed talking about doing a big budget, live action “W.I.T.C.H.” film.
So you’d better get used to Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Han Lin, folks. For you’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of them in the next few months. Disney’s planning a saturation promotional program that sort of redefines synergy.
How so? Well, you’re going to see the “W.I.T.C.H.” characters talked up in cross-promotional efforts that Hyperion has set up with Disney’s other business units, including:
“W.I.T.C.H.” promotional flyers being stuffed into the jewel cases for many upcoming Walt Disney Records CD releases.
“W.I.T.C.H.” book samplers being given away at promotional screenings of Disney films like “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”.
“W.I.T.C.H.” trailers tacked on upcoming “Lizzie McGuire” and “Kim Possible” DVDs.
Special “W.I.T.C.H.” display units being set up in Disney Stores.
In fact, if you’d like to learn more about the “W.I.T.C.H.” characters right now, you can head on over to the website that the Walt Disney Company has set up: www.clubwitch.com.
So — as you can see — there’s going to be just no escaping Disney’s “W.I.T.C.H.” So maybe it would be best to sit for a spell. For Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Han Lin are certainly going to be around for a spell.
If you’re planning on picking up any of Disney’s Hyperion Books for Children “W.I.T.C.H.” series chapter books, you can help support JimHillMedia.com by ordering them from Amazon.com by clicking the links below.
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