The Bureau of Magical Things

Title: The Bureau of Magical Things
Creator: Jonathan M. Schiff
Starring: Kimie Tsukakoshi, Elizabeth Cullen, Mia Milnes, Julian Cullen, Rainbow Wedell, Jamie Carter, and Christopher Sommers

Life is good for high school student Kyra — mostly: a skilled basketball player, she has a circle of close friends and she gets along well with her stepfather. She misses her mother, but school keeps her busy. And then, while out jogging one night, she comes across a book floating in midair …. Surprise! Magic is real, and so are magical species such as elves and fairies. They live openly among humans, their magic and nonhuman features carefully hidden behind glamours. But now Kyra can see through the magic, leaving her in a unique position: to help the Bureau keep the magical and mundane worlds separate. But can she balance her new life with her old one? Can she lie to her friends and stepfather? And what happens when she and her fellow Bureau agents-in-training stumble across a magic they can’t handle …?

I was on the hunt for something simple and sweet to watch on television. I was tired of grim and dark. I wanted something fun. Happily, The Bureau of Magical Things popped up in my list of recommendations. Even though it was aimed at children, I decided to give it a chance.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the series. The special effects were well done, the magic was fun, the stories were strong and engaging, and — even better — the acting was good. Too often in my experience, programs with child actors aimed at younger audiences tend to be shrill and overly-dramatic. Too much arm waving and forced emoting. That was not the case with The Bureau of Magical Things. The actors embodied their characters well from the start, and just got stronger as the series progressed.

So, for anyone looking for a fantasy series with no swearing, no sex, and no violence — although there is plenty of magical danger and mystery — check out The Bureau of Magical Things. It’s a fun way to relax after a stressful day, to restore you sense of wonder and excitement. Recommended to fans of Hilda, The Owl House, and Gravity Falls.

[Reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan.]