Marie's Magic Life is a Canadian animated comedy-family drama series created by Miss Bailee Stewart, produced under her studio, The Bail-Stew Company, and premiered on YouTube in 2022. It is known by fans of indie animation for the creative organization of episodes, currently containing 3 seasons, with a set of multiple episodes being seperated into various arcs, named after the title character's favourite song at the time.
The series is about Marie, a young girl in a large part of town from somewhere in a fictional world named Planet Melodiheart (since season 3), living her everyday life where she works as multiple part-time jobs, make new friends, solve imaginary mysteries and problems, and defend from her older sister named Lily, using magical powers from Marie's body and her powerful items.
Summary
Adapted from the show's official guidebook.
In the colorful world of Planet Melodiheart, there lived a young girl named Marie. With her bright blond hair and energetic personality, she embarked on an extraordinary journey filled with kaleidoscopic magic and heart-stopping adventures.
Marie's life is a whirlwind of activity: middle school student by day, artist by afternoons and evenings, multiple part-time jobs, each an encounter with the colorful characters ranging from the enigmatic street puppetrist to the quirky corner shop manager.
As the sun was now setting, Marie's true magic was now shining through. Blessed with an arsenal of extra-ordinary powers, she embarked on a secret mission: unravel the mysteries plaguing her dear city. Arming herself with items like the Magic Mic and the Magic Pen, riddles, puzzles, and fantastical creatures encountered her with unwavering determination.
However, the road was not easy for Marie. Her older sister, Lily, was a powerful sorceress who tried to dominate the magic inside of Marie. Not easily deterred, Marie used her quick thinking and unyielding spirit to outwit her relentless adversary.
Along the way, Marie established friendships and a strong bond with her parents that made the path less difficult while crossing the hazardous streets, solving mysteries, and surpassing all odds in proving to everyone that an ordinary life could be exceptional.
Characters
Marie - the central character who is a young pre-teen girl frequently depicted in a mint-green hoodie or a lavender shirt (from season 3 onward). Known for her vibrant, friendly nature, she possesses a keen interest in numerous hobbies, has held several part-time jobs, and has a particular song that is pleasant to hear, varying with the arc named after it. If there is a significant issue that Lily has caused, she would occasionally harness the power of her magical abilities, using either special items she possesses or her entire body.
Lily - Marie's sinister-minded companion who is 11 years older, first appearing in the eighth episode of the first season, "Marie's Older Sister," wearing a shirt featuring a purple cat design. She is predominantly friends with the younger one occasionally, but tends to become hostile, hurling objects and employing her magical abilities as her primary method of combat if exposed to a catchy tune that Marie has played at full volume. It is known that she ranks among the most mischievous individuals in Marie's residence and would face backlash from her attentive parents.
Marie's Parents - a caregiving pair consisting of a father and a mother, both of whom are in their mid-30s and 40s, respectively. They assist their children and maintain the household in various situations, such as cleaning windows, cooking delicious meals, and completing other tasks they choose to undertake. Occasionally, there’s a possibility that one of them will prevent Lily from engaging in undesirable behaviors, even if it’s directed toward Marie’s possessions.
Imaginary Items and Creatures - various types of magical beings that appeared to differ in distinct shapes, sizes, and colors. They generally possess limbs or faces, and uniquely have special abilities or provide an element. With notable examples such as the Angel Hearts and the FM Maki (an old radio with rabbit ears), these forms can be found in diverse environments across Planet Melodiheart or in Marie's hands.
History
After the establishment of the Bail-Stew Company in 2021, Miss Bailee Stewart (b. 2000) is responsible for the desire to create its inaugural animated series. This production is intended as a present for another individual sharing the same surname, namely Marie C.D. Stewart, and is primarily based on actual events.
In the early stages of the first episode's production, it is initially referred to by the codename "Egg Sandwich Co." as indicated by the animatic's test slates on the first page. The premiere is also scheduled for YouTube in March 2022 but faced delays due to more complicated work practices, and it is formally titled "Marie’s Magic Life".
Marie’s character design is inspired by a type of non-realistic, white-colored humanoid figure with either sprouts or flowers atop its head, affectionately called "Reedettes". Within the series, they are portrayed wearing simple clothing and speaking in voices that vary in tone according to their personality. Likewise, the name of the town, Reediville, serves its purpose for the species from which it originated.
Beginning with season 2 episode 3, the character designs have evolved to resemble real people but retain a simplistic animation style. Bailee mentioned that the straightforward design of literally white characters with sprouts on their heads might lead to confusion with Colorbrutes (which have a similar design but come in different colors), as both are aimed at young children.
On February 4, 2024, the Bail-Stew Company, the entity behind the show’s production, was acquired by Studio MilleniAMP, a collaborative venture intended for the distribution of series and films created by individuals born during or after Generation Y. Following this transition, Bail-Stew subsequently gained 5,000 YouTube subscribers, enabling it to appear on the official banner of the group alongside JuiceTV's original live-action series Unfunny Central, and Magic Pet Freaks.
Episodes
Main article: List of Marie's Magic Life episodes
Since season 1 episode 11, every episode in the series (with the exception of 5 from the third season) is categorized into different arcs inspired by Marie's favorite song from the real world, with the first two being produced as feature-length films in 2024.
Other episodes that are still part of the franchise consist of short in-universe segments called "Music, Colours and Counting! with Marie and Lily", which began in season 2 and are uploaded every other Wednesday. These filler segments are designed for children under the age of 7 to help them learn numbers, music, and colors, typically lasting 1-4 minutes.
Theme song
The song that has been featured at the beginning of each episode is titled "Everyday's Enchanting", performed by the band Leslee's Geeky Biscuits, written by Leslee Beckman (the lead singer) and Aaron Deas, and initially included in the third album "The Third Bite" in a complete version as a track from the deluxe edition.
This track is recognized as a punk rock and power pop song in the key of G major and with a tempo of 165, taking inspiration from Toni Basil's "Mickey" and Avril Lavigne's "What the Hell".
Tropes
Main article: Marie's Magic Life/List of tropes
The entire retrospective of the series has a countless number of tropes that shift through the purpose of the episodes. In addition, there are original visual facts existing in more common situations.
Reception
FanFishingGood.com gave the series a 4/5 because of its scriptwriting and art style, and on iMDb it has a rating of 7.2. One review on Common Sense Media said:
"Let me tell you, Marie's Magic Life isn't your ordinary animated series. It is a special thing indeed. I found myself hooked immediately by its very unusual sequencing of episodes, leaving you in suspense and glued to the screen in a way few shows do. The animation is a visual treat, obviously enhanced and vibrant, making every magical adventure Marie takes on even more enchanting. And though it is not a laugh-riot, there's a subtle, clever humor that made me laugh throughout. In fact, if you're looking for something fresh, innovative, and visually stunning, then give Marie's Magic Life a chance – you simply won't regret it."
Related shows
Dreamy Bedtime Stories
Marie’s Dreamy Bedtime Stories is a podcast spinoff created specifically and solely by Studio MilleniAMP and Bail-Stew, featuring long-form original tales inspired by the writing of the Marie’s Magic Life episodes, with each episode released every Tuesday at 7:00 PM EDT, starting from November 19, 2024. This format is designed for children aged 3-12 years to assist them in preparing for bedtime, and is typically narrated by Miss Bailee Stewart, along with the characters’ respective voice actors, who reprise their roles from the main series.
Merchandise
Redbubble
The Bail-Stew Company's Redbubble shop offers products showcasing designs and visuals inspired by the series, including t-shirts, hoodies, bucket hats, mugs, and stickers. Exclusive product lines available on specific holidays, particularly Christmas and Valentine's Day, can also be bought until the season concludes.
Graphic novels
Either abridged episode-length or short story-format visual E-books were released throughout the series' duration, beginning with the release of the first season's 16th episode, "The Noisy Library". The majority of the releases draw inspiration from several episodes, whereas others are entirely original narratives.
List of E-book releases
Legend:
* based on the episode
# original story
- Learning to Dance (*)
- Next Good Sprouty Thing (*)
- Where Are My Snacks? (#)
- Marie Feels Very Sick (*)
- Marie's Birthday Party (#)
- The Popstar in Disguise (*)
- Glitched Vision (*)
- Welcome to Planet Melodiheart! (*)
- Let's Play Some Tennis, Can We? (#)
- Is It Jingle Bell Time? (*)
- A Day Without the Happy Place Dance (#)
Video game
Main article: Marie's Magic Life: Good Girl Simulator
A video game derived from certain events in the series is announced in January 2024 and releases on April 10 for Windows, MacOS, and Android by the same production company that also developed the interactive project Meringue Collector. It is named "Marie’s Magic Life: Good Girl Simulator", and regarded as a life simulation and edutainment game.
Continuing with the primary storyline and the multi-ending narrative adventures, it explores how Marie, the same child from the original series with her characteristics preserved, can be cared for and properly nurtured by a set of two parents: one as a mother and the other as a father. As the narrative unfolds, Lily (the main antagonist) sometimes disrupts the enjoyment by taking away most things that contribute to being a casual person until reaching her teenage years.
There have been no confirmed plans for the game to be ported to the Nintendo Switch, featuring major differences compared to the native PC version, and including 3 expansion pack DLCs along with a complete bundle.
Gallery
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| Magic Pet Freaks (2020-present) · Unfunny Central (2022-present) · Marie's Magic Life (2022-present) · Stella's Snowpoint (2023-present) · Unfunny Central On Demand (2023-present) · Bail-Stew Newsround (2023-present) · MilleniStim (2024-present) · 1-2 START! (2024-present) · Roxanne's Rave: The Second Party (2025, upcoming) · Fwicky Time (2025, upcoming) |