What Is Balala?
Balala is a Chinese cartoon that's heavily inspired by Japanese magical girl series, particularly Pretty Cure and Ojamajo Doremi. Some have accused it of copying those series, but we think this series has plenty of original ideas and concepts, it's simply inspired by other iconic shows.
Each season, a group of girls - sometimes fairies, sometimes humans, usually a mix of both - find themselves learning about magic, and in the process, find themselves needing to use it to save and help others. Often, they have to deal with regular, non-magical humans not believing them, and magical fairies who are more powerful and more experienced looking down on them. The duality of the worlds, especially since they aren't 'destroyed' or 'invaded' like most Precure universes, creates a unique dynamic.
Like Pretty Cure, Balala is a metaseries. Unlike Precure, it has Live Action seasons and movies, and the first 5 seasons actually act as semi-sequels, with the sixth and current seventh seasons being independent.
With the connected series, you don't necessarily need to have seen the previous ones, though it may help or be more enjoyable. Each season has a different leading lady, usually a new character, that acts as an audience stand-in for whom the other characters explain their situation and backstory. Even more unique is that the leader of the group isn't always the leading lady, nor is the leader ever canonically pink themed.
If you'd like to look at the season profiles, scroll to the VERY bottom of this page.
Each season, a group of girls - sometimes fairies, sometimes humans, usually a mix of both - find themselves learning about magic, and in the process, find themselves needing to use it to save and help others. Often, they have to deal with regular, non-magical humans not believing them, and magical fairies who are more powerful and more experienced looking down on them. The duality of the worlds, especially since they aren't 'destroyed' or 'invaded' like most Precure universes, creates a unique dynamic.
Like Pretty Cure, Balala is a metaseries. Unlike Precure, it has Live Action seasons and movies, and the first 5 seasons actually act as semi-sequels, with the sixth and current seventh seasons being independent.
With the connected series, you don't necessarily need to have seen the previous ones, though it may help or be more enjoyable. Each season has a different leading lady, usually a new character, that acts as an audience stand-in for whom the other characters explain their situation and backstory. Even more unique is that the leader of the group isn't always the leading lady, nor is the leader ever canonically pink themed.
If you'd like to look at the season profiles, scroll to the VERY bottom of this page.
Our Guide:
Just like with Precure, you can, in theory, start anywhere. Despite some series being connected and featuring similar casts, each season is self-contained, and if they ever discuss previous seasons they usually show flashbacks or explain it verbally.
In saying that, we still recommend watching it in one of two ways:
In saying that, we still recommend watching it in one of two ways:
(Almost) In Order
Although the 2008 Live Action season technically came first, most places list Rainbow Heart as the first season, and we also recommend starting with it. Rainbow Heart needs no explanation, as all the background information is clearly explained or shown, and there's honestly not a lot from the Live Action series that crosses over, besides the three leads - and in RH, they aren't the leads anyway, as the focus falls on a new character.
As the seasons continue, you'll get to see how each one influences the next, and watch as the girls grow and mature into young ladies. You may miss them once it's over, but then you'll just have to make room for the two self-contained seasons!
As the seasons continue, you'll get to see how each one influences the next, and watch as the girls grow and mature into young ladies. You may miss them once it's over, but then you'll just have to make room for the two self-contained seasons!
A Bit Backwards
Starting with Ocean Magic or Over the Rainbow is another option. While their worlds are kept separate, they have all the same tropes, concepts, and tones as the original series. If you start with one of these two, you'll get a better idea of whether or not it's worth investing your time in watching the originals, whose dated designs can put some people off.
Other Guides:
At this point, we haven't found any other guides to Balala. If you know one, or have made one, please contact us!
Show Profiles:
If you'd like to look at the season profiles, click on their titles.
0.5 : Balala
This live-action series sees Maggie and Michelle, twin human girls, accidentally becoming Fairies! They must juggle learning magic, human school, and fighting evil.
Technically, this is the first season. Officially, it's generally considered a prelude. There are no official subs or dubs besides Chinese.
Technically, this is the first season. Officially, it's generally considered a prelude. There are no official subs or dubs besides Chinese.
1: Rainbow Heart
The first animated and officially subbed series follows runaway fairy Sara, who searches for her mother in the fairy world. Maggie, Michelle, and Shirley find themselves playing fairy guardians! Together, they must save Sara's family and the fairy world from destruction. It is completely subtitled in English on Youtube!
The official website and youtube channel both list this as the first season, hence our numbering.
The official website and youtube channel both list this as the first season, hence our numbering.
2: Miracle Dance
Following directly on from Rainbow Heart, an old enemy attacks the sister kingdom of the fairies, Gemini Kingdom. Princess Ella is captured, and Princess Emma seeks out Shirley to help her take back the Kingdom and save her sister. Prince Noah also joins the regular cast. . It is completely subtitled in English on Youtube!
2.5: The Mystery Note
Another Live Action season. Shirley is gifted a musical, magical item that is stolen by an old enemy. Maggie, Michelle, Emma, and Noah decide to help Shirley get it back.
This is somewhat of an interlude season, as while old villains resurface, it doesn't affect subsequent seasons the way the animated ones do.
This is somewhat of an interlude season, as while old villains resurface, it doesn't affect subsequent seasons the way the animated ones do.
3: Finding Melody
The Fairy Queen's friend and musician Melody has gone missing. A new Kingdom of Music is introduced. Shirely, Maggie, Michelle, and Emma, along with new allies, want to find and save Melody - but all is not as it seems.
This season is partially subtitled on Youtube.
This season is partially subtitled on Youtube.
4: Over the Rainbow
A new story begins! Jessi stumbles upon pixies and their fairy realm, the Colourful Castle, while being bullied. The pixies give Jessi magic powers in order to scare off their evil enemies, and soon Jessi and her two friends are off on magic-filled adventures.
The Colourful Castle is said to exist near the Fairy Castle, in the same way the Gemini Kingdom did. Outside of that, there aren't any major references to the original series.
The Colourful Castle is said to exist near the Fairy Castle, in the same way the Gemini Kingdom did. Outside of that, there aren't any major references to the original series.
5: Ocean Magic
Ling and Xia, two ocean-loving best friends, accidentally encounter the Ocean Kingdom fairy princess Nahiya. Together, they try to stop the pollution of the oceans, and protect both their worlds from evil.
There are no direct references to the original series, or to OtR.
There are no direct references to the original series, or to OtR.