Review: “The Owl House” Is Another Promising Addition To Disney’s Animation Catalog

“The Owl House” is a new Disney animated TV series that debuted earlier this year on January 10 after being delayed from its intended premiere in 2019. As an original series from Disney Channel alum Dana Terrace (whose credits include “Gravity Falls” and the 2017 version of “Duck Tales”), it’s another promising addition to their many acclaimed shows.

The story follows a young woman named Luz Noceda (voice of Sarah-Nicole Robles), a 14-year-old student whose flights of fancy are often at odds with her classmates and her school’s faculty. When she’s about to be sent to a summer camp for re-education, she instead finds a doorway into a magical land known as “The Boiling Isles;” leading her to the titular Owl House and its keeper Eda (voice of Wendie Malick). Joining up with Eda and an adorable demon named King (voice of “Gravity Falls” creator Alex Hirsch), Luz becomes an apprentice in a land far beyond anything she’s imagined or read in her fantasy books.

Following in the footsteps of “Gravity Falls” and “Star VS The Forces of Evil,” this series furthers Disney’s commitment to helping high-quality animated series return to TV. Luz’s enthusiasm and imagination are some of the best parts of the show, with the series often taking cues from the story and art of acclaimed anime such as Trigger’s “Little Witch Academia” and the classic “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” Eda is a crafty and unconventional mentor figure that helps lend to the show’s subversive take on fantasy stories. King, despite his demonic origins; is absolutely huggable, with his crown coming from a fast food restaurant in the human realm.

The Boiling Isles are a setting rife with intricate details and vibrant color palettes. A marketplace has many earthbound items that fascinate those on the Boiling Isles; with the magical creatures being entranced by a portable TV showing exercise videos. Luz herself has to fend off creatures in one episode with a plastic sword, including a monstrous puppeteer who tries to lure her in with a false front version of Hogwarts from the “Harry Potter” series.

With the series already having greenlit a second season before its first began airing; now is the perfect time to enter the world of “The Owl House.” Following in the footsteps of “Gravity Falls” and the acclaimed “Duck Tales” relaunch, it’s a real hoot and strongly recommended.

Verdict: 4.5 Stars Out of 5

Review by Steven Pryor

At a Glance:

Starring the voices of Sarah-Nicole Robles, Wendie Malick, Alex Hirsch, Tati Gabrielle, Isaac Ryan Brown, Mae Whitman, Parvesh Cheena, Eden Riegel and Bumper Robinson

Created by Dana Terrace

Friday Nights on Disney Channel (Check Your Local Cable or Satellite Listings)
Rated TV-Y7