Bia the challenge of magic

Original title: Majokko Megu-chan Characters: Bia Japo, Noa, Mami Japo, Papa Japo, Rabi Japo, Apo Japo, Ciosa Author: Makiko Narita Production: Toei Animation Regia:Yugo Serikawa

Country: Japan Year: 1974 Broadcast in Italy: 1981 Gender: Magic / Sentiment / Comedian Episodes: 72 Duration: 25 minutes Recommended age: Children from 6 to 12 years old

Bia the challenge of magic, can be considered the first progenitor of all the wizards and witches of Japanese cartoons: Magica Doremi, Sailor Moon, Ransie, Magica Emi etc ... The series Bia the challenge of magic (original title "ajokko Meg Chan ") was made in 1974 by Toei Animation and was broadcast for the first time in Italy in March 1981, on Rai Due for a total of 72 episodes, one more fun than the other. The famous and unforgettable theme song "Bia the challenge of magic" sung by "The Little Wizards" and written by Andrea Lo Vecmark: "BEA, BEE BA BE ...".

It is the story of Bia, a fifteen-year-old young witch from the Kingdom of Magic, who is sent to earth along with her rival Noa for a magic contest. The winner of the two will be crowned queen of the Kingdom of Witches and their task will be to learn as much information on the behavior of human beings. Landing on our planet with a small umbrella (Mary Poppins style), Bia immediately proves to be a troublemaker witch, as she falls right on top of a policeman, arousing her ire. Bia is welcomed by the Giappo family, but the impact is not the best, as immediately the young children of the Giappo spouses prove hostile and spiteful towards him and Mr. Giappo himself is very suspicious. At this point, Mrs. Giappo (actually the former witch Mami) intervenes, the only one who knows the true secret identity of Bia, who with a spell alters the minds of her family and makes them believe that Bia is a daughter who has returned among them. , after a long trip abroad. Bia thus finds herself having two little brothers in law: Apo and Rabi. Apo is a six-year-old girl who loves animals, but also very mischievous, Rabi is a boy of about 10, often very unpleasant and pestiferous.

Apparently innocent, Apo at the right moment unleashes a large rubber hammer that strikes on the heads of those who dare to harm her (Rabi knows something ...). Both Apo and Rabi are very fond of Bia, whom they consider their big sister. At first, the first contact with Apo and Rabi was certainly not the best, in fact, tired of Rabi's provocations, Bia reacts by threatening him, which Mr. Giappo does not like and gives her a loud slap. Bia moves away from that sad and embittered house for not being able to understand the strange behavior of human beings and takes refuge at a beach to observe the sea. At this point the witch Noa appears, her rival who with a spell makes her swallowed by the waves of the sea. Bia in turn with a magic, transforms the flowers into a life preserver, but Noa proves to be a very powerful witch and alters those flowers into nails, which pierce the life preserver. Luckily she is saved by Mr. Giappo, who repented of her behavior towards Bia, goes to look for her and finds her lifeless near the beach. Bia is lovingly cared for and cared for by the Giappo family, who, crying for her, show her all their repentance and love for her. It is at this point that Bia begins to understand and become attached to human beings. During the magic trials, Noa, Bia's rival, is protected by Kiran, an old witch who was once a rival of Mami. The latter decided to leave the kingdom of the witches, to marry and love a mortal man forever. Noa is a contemporary of Bia, with a cold and calculating character, who despises human beings and aspires to reach the throne using any means. Bia and Noa are also enrolled in the same school and here the first envy and rivalry in friendship and love with schoolmates take off.

Bia will become friends with the shy Roca, while Noa will befriend the evil and clumsy Boss. Thanks to her little sister Apo, Bia will meet Dany Hamilton, a blond tennis player who falls in love with her. Initially, Dany's attitudes towards him appear very strange, but a romantic feeling will arise between the two, unfortunately short, because the boy will be forced to leave to follow his father. Bia will learn the meaning of love between two boys, also thanks to the explanations of her adoptive father, Mr. Giappo. During the magic challenges, Noa proves to be a very strong and unsurpassed witch, also thanks to the magic stone placed on her forehead which gives her enormous power. To further complicate Bia's plans there is also Ciosa, a clumsy guardian wizard, sent from the Kingdom of the Witches to arbitrate the challenge between the two witches, but who, due to his ineptitude, will always end up creating big trouble for both. contenders for the title of queen. To help (so to speak!) Ciosa in his work we think the Siamese cat Furufù and the crow Cracra, both unpleasant and inbranato who in an attempt to spite them, end up making a lot of trouble for their boss Ciosa.
However, Bia in the use of magic is no less than her rival Noa; thanks to her heart-shaped pendant and the magic word "scialanda" which she pronounces while kissing her fingers, she always manages to obtain the desired magical effect that will allow her to earn points against Noa. Over the course of the episodes, Noa will learn to appreciate human beings and will prove to be a loyal opponent, saving Bia and her friends on more than one occasion, such as when they will face the terrible witch Sanda, envious of the young witches for having been thrown out of their kingdom. . At the end of the series both Bia and Noa will get a tie and must return to earth. Unfortunately the second series was never made and left several fans of Bia with a bad taste in their mouths, waiting for the rest of the episodes. Patience, it's never too late to hope for a sequel!

Bia the challenge of magic is copyright © Toei Animation, Makihorita, Satori Inoue and of those entitled, the names and images are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.

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