Early reactions are in for Netflix’s Spellbound and they are overwhelmingly positive: praising Rachel Zegler, a powerful story, and stunning animation.
Critics have now seen Netflix’s new animated feature, Spellbound, which comes to the streaming service just in time for the holiday season, on November 22. Early reactions are extremely positive, praising Rachel Zegler (who voices Ellian), the stunning animation, a mature story, and powerful messages.
Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters.
Spellbound Boasts “Heartfelt Storytelling” & is “Beautifully Animated”
Critics state that the story brings an emotional and heartfelt story to the screen with stunning animation and fantastic songs by the one and only Alan Menken. It is unafraid to shy away from unhealthy family dynamics, allowing a lot of viewers to feel seen.
Netflix’s Spellbound is full of heart and soul! There are some fantastic songs from Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. This beautifully animated musical dives into family dynamics and some pressures from a child’s point of view. #Spellbound pic.twitter.com/423FxDMhke
— Tania Lamb or Ms. Lambchops to Kevin Feige (@LolaLambchops) November 12, 2024
#Spellbound on Netflix is fantastic! The way this film weaves heartfelt storytelling with breathtaking animation is just magical. It strikes a perfect chord, exploring family dynamics and connection in such a relatable and profound way. Kudos to the brilliant team behind it,… pic.twitter.com/n73Lh8zIW1
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) November 12, 2024
Netflix's #Spellbound is a beautiful yet powerful story with fantastic visuals that tackles tough themes like parental separation through a child's eyes. It explores the journey of kids who blame themselves and try to 'fix' their parents' relationship, all wrapped in a magical… pic.twitter.com/mmc7y6HFoG
— Sean Tajipour (@Seantaj) November 12, 2024
Spellbound hit me right in the feels! As a parent, this one really got to me. Even when we try our hardest, we often don't realize the effect we have on our kids. Songs are catchy, the oracles are a ton of fun, and the animation is beautiful! Families will love it! #Spellbound pic.twitter.com/TZbOnlcfap
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) November 12, 2024
Alan Menken is back scoring a feature-length animated film & it brings a smile to my face. #Spellbound is a fun fantasy adventure, & the family dynamic hits differently compared to other animated fantasy films. However, the 3rd act does feel contrived with character motivations. pic.twitter.com/WptijyRKfn
— John Nguyen (@JohnSpartan300) November 12, 2024
We had a BLAST with Netflix's SPELLBOUND. The animation is stunning, and every character is downright adorable! The world-building seamlessly merges our reality with a whimsical fantasy. Let’s not forget that incredible voice cast! Definitely worth watching! #Spellbound pic.twitter.com/FVcflZuFFX
— That Hashtag Show (Official) (@ThatHashtagShow) November 12, 2024
Spellbound is cute stuff. Solid songs and a good message. Nothing amazing, to be fair, but a nice throwback to the sort of animated film I grew up on. Alan Menken for the win.#Spellbound pic.twitter.com/qhhaWxiWMO
— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) November 12, 2024
Netflix’s Spellbound delves into family issues in a fun and creative way. The animation is STUNNING, and every character is simply adorable! That said, I found the music to be heartfelt, but equally forgettable. That said the movie is definitely worth a watch.#spellbound pic.twitter.com/CQvotz4May
— SmellsLikeTeenAngst (@SLTAngst) November 12, 2024
Just screened new #Skydance animated musical adventure #Spellbound debuting next Friday Nov. 22 on #Netflix. Star-studded voice cast, large scope, grand production numbers and a story that definitely has a couple surprises. More coming soon, including at https://t.co/yhkSdW9MNK. pic.twitter.com/gsPSrfhiKu
— Lights Camera Jackson (@LCJReviews) November 12, 2024
Get ready to queue this one up for family movie night! Beautiful animation, lovely music & the message surprised me… in a good way! I've seen countless animated musicals and this is something that hasn't been done before. Save #Spellbound to your Netflix watchlist for Nov 22! pic.twitter.com/lsIn6WkgkT
— Jennifer Borget (@JenniferBorget) November 12, 2024
Rachel Zegler “Nails The Princess Role”
It should come as no surprise that Rachel Zegler is incredible in the lead role. Not only does she capture the princess vibes perfectly, she shows off her beautiful singing voice in song after song.
#Spellbound is a vibrant fairy tale adventure that explores negative feelings and family dynamics in a surprisingly poignant way. The animation is stunning and Rachel Zegler is a superstar. While it started slow and the music didn’t all land for me, the third act had me in tears. pic.twitter.com/z9A5NuigrU
— Kristen Maldonado (@kaymaldo) November 12, 2024
Netflix's #Spellbound is magical! Rachel Zegler nails the princess role as the headstrong and optimistic Ellian, while Alan Menken and Glenn Slater deliver the kind of soaring emotional ballad we've come to expect from them with standout song "The Way It Was Before." pic.twitter.com/JemxIJBWCo
— Katcy Stephan (@katcystephan) November 12, 2024
#Spellbound is a fun adventure that boasts a surprisingly mature message.
— Russ Milheim – The Direct (@RussMilheim) November 12, 2024
Its unique world is vibrant and fully realized, with lots of songs to enjoy as the story plays out.
Rachel Zegler’s musical talent shines bright, as one would expect. pic.twitter.com/gLfTVK6hRC
#Spellbound is so sweet! An animated princess musical with songs by Alan Menken… from Skydance?! I'm always happy when Rachel Zegler sings, and I loved the pairing of Nathan Lane & Tituss Burgess. The film has a nice message, and is worth checking out on Netflix next week! pic.twitter.com/7e1wO2NlHv
— Jamie Jirak (@JamieCinematics) November 12, 2024
#Spellbound on @NetflixAnime is a true delight! This magical film captivates with its heartwarming story and stunning animation. Alan Menken’s beautiful score elevates every scene, while Rachel Zegler shines with soulful brilliance. Don’t miss it! pic.twitter.com/yOhNwmhIsg
— Amanda Taylor (@geeklyamanda) November 12, 2024
Spellbound comes exclusively to Netflix on November 22.
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About Spellbound
Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters.
Directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek), featuring songs by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled), and starring Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), this is a dream come true for anyone longing to enter a magical new animated world.
Spellbound starts streaming exclusively on Netflix November 22.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.