Motown Magic is an animated children's television series, created by Josh Wakely, and produced for Netflix. The series follows Ben, described by Netflix as "a wide-eyed 8-year-old with a big heart and an amazing imagination", who uses a magic paintbrush to bring the street art in Motown to life. Wakely acquired worldwide rights from the music of Motown to feature in the series. The program features versions of songs by the popular record label, performed by contemporary recording artists and interwoven into the narrative. Motown hits that are recorded in the series are from such performers as The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.[1][2]
| Motown Magic | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Josh Wakely |
| Directed by | Josh Wakely |
| Opening theme | "ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic Cast |
| Ending theme | "ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic Cast |
| Composer | |
| Country of origin | United States Australia |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 51 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Josh Wakely |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Production companies | Grace - A Storytelling Company Beyond Entertainment PolyGram Entertainment EMI Music Publishing Sony-ATV Music Publishing |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix 7TWO (Australia) |
| Release | November 20, 2018 – June 28, 2019 |
The series was first made available worldwide on Netflix on November 20, 2018.[3]
Cast and characters
edit- Avia Fields as Ben
- Marissa Buccianti as Ella
- Betsy Kenney as Angie
- Monie Mon as Mickey
- Alex Thomas as Brad, Jimmy Mack
- Steven Cantor as Dancing Machine
- Rhonda Morman as Grandma Ruby
- Ryan Robinson as Grandpa Marvin
- Byron Marc Newsome as Uncle Rod
- Kelly Jean Badgley as Jenny, Stephanie, Mrs Hernandez
- Ingrid Nilson as Harmony
- Autumn Joy as Bernadette, Skywritter
- Amanuel Richards as Bill
- Peter Tiganis as Johnny
- Tessa VonderHaar as Nelly
- Lani Minella as Lorenzo
- Lauren Flans as Bonnie
- Marc Graue as Magical River
- AJ Hudson as Hunter
- Dustin Green as Skateboard
- Shawn Michael Howard as Clarence
- Michael Bearden as Doc Ellington
Episodes
editSeries overview
editSeason 1 (2018)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "It's Easy as ABC" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 2 | 2 | "Dancing Machine" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 3 | 3 | "Jimmy Mack" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 4 | 4 | "My Girl" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 5 | 5 | "Mickey's Monkey" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 6 | 6 | "Happy Birthday" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 7 | 7 | "Dancing in the Street" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 8 | 8 | "Money (That’s What I Want)" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 9 | 9 | "Master Blaster" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 10 | 10 | "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 11 | 11 | "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 12 | 12 | "Ben" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 13 | 13 | "(Love Is Like a) Heatwave" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 14 | 14 | "War" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 15 | 15 | "The Tracks of My Tears" | Unknown | Unknown | July 24, 2023 |
| 16 | 16 | "Road Runner" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 17 | 17 | "Smiling Faces Sometimes" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 18 | 18 | "Twenty-Five Miles" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 19 | 19 | "Skywriter" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 20 | 20 | "Runaway Child, Running Wild" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 21 | 21 | "Don't Mess with Bill" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 22 | 22 | "Stop in the Name of Love" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 23 | 23 | "I Wish" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 24 | 24 | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
| 25 | 25 | "For Once in My Life" | Unknown | Unknown | November 20, 2018 |
Season 2 (2019)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1 | "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 27 | 2 | "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 28 | 3 | "Superstition" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 29 | 4 | "How Funky Is Your Chicken" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 30 | 5 | "Skate to the Rhythm" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 31 | 6 | "My Guy" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 32 | 7 | "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 33 | 8 | "I Wish It Would Rain" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 34 | 9 | "Somebody's Watching Me" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 35 | 10 | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 36 | 11 | "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 37 | 12 | "I'll Be Doggone" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 38 | 13 | "He's Misstra Know-It-All" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 39 | 14 | "You Can't Hurry Love" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 40 | 15 | "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 41 | 16 | "Agent Double O Soul" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 42 | 17 | "You Haven't Done Nothin'" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 43 | 18 | "Christmas Everyday" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 44 | 19 | "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 45 | 20 | "Keep on Truckin'" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 46 | 21 | "Easy" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 47 | 22 | "Reach Out I'll Be There" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 48 | 23 | "I Want You Back" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 49 | 24 | "Nowhere to Run" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 50 | 25 | "Higher Ground" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
| 51 | 26 | "Living for the City" | Unknown | Unknown | June 28, 2019 |
Reception
editMotown Magic received favourable reviews. Critics praised the concept of reimagining Motown songs for a young audience.[4]
Other media
editSoundtracks
editThe first soundtrack to the show was released on online music-streaming service Apple Music on November 20, 2018.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Netflix's 'Motown Magic' exclusive: Watch this amazing kid's version of Jackson 5's 'ABC'". Eu.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Motown Reveals 'Motown Magic' Soundtrack Track List, Previews Becky G's 'For Once in My Life' (Exclusive)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
- ^ Sippell, Margeaux (2 November 2018). "TV Roundup: 'Stargirl' Series at DC Universe Casts Anjelika Washington". Variety.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "'Motown Magic' - Netflix Original Series Review - Ready Steady Cut". 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Eventbrite Received $17M Discount on Ticketfly Purchase as Part of Renegotiated Deal With Pandora". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
External links
edit- Motown Magic at IMDb