Motown Magic

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Motown Magic
Genre
Created byJosh Wakely
Directed byJosh Wakely
Opening theme"ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic Cast
Ending theme"ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic Cast
Composer
Country of originUnited States
Australia
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes51
Production
Executive producers
  • Josh Wakely
  • Mikael Borglund
  • Smokey Robinson
ProducerJosh Wakely
Running time15 minutes
Production companiesGrace - A Storytelling Company
Beyond Entertainment
PolyGram Entertainment
EMI Music Publishing
Sony-ATV Music Publishing
Original release
NetworkNetflix
7TWO (Australia)
ReleaseNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20) –
June 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)

Motown Magic is an animated children's television series, created by Josh Wakely, and produced for Netflix. The series follows Ben, described by Netflix as "a wide-eyed 8-year-old with a big heart and an amazing imagination", who uses a magic paintbrush to bring the street art in Motown to life. Wakely acquired worldwide rights from the music of Motown to feature in the series. The program features versions of songs by the popular record label, performed by contemporary recording artists and interwoven into the narrative. Motown hits that are recorded in the series are from such performers as The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.[1][2]

The series was first made available worldwide on Netflix on November 20, 2018.[3]

Cast and characters

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  • Avia Fields as Ben
  • Marissa Buccianti as Ella
  • Betsy Kenney as Angie
  • Monie Mon as Mickey
  • Alex Thomas as Brad, Jimmy Mack
  • Steven Cantor as Dancing Machine
  • Rhonda Morman as Grandma Ruby
  • Ryan Robinson as Grandpa Marvin
  • Byron Marc Newsome as Uncle Rod
  • Kelly Jean Badgley as Jenny, Stephanie, Mrs Hernandez
  • Ingrid Nilson as Harmony
  • Autumn Joy as Bernadette, Skywritter
  • Amanuel Richards as Bill
  • Peter Tiganis as Johnny
  • Tessa VonderHaar as Nelly
  • Lani Minella as Lorenzo
  • Lauren Flans as Bonnie
  • Marc Graue as Magical River
  • AJ Hudson as Hunter
  • Dustin Green as Skateboard
  • Shawn Michael Howard as Clarence
  • Michael Bearden as Doc Ellington

Episodes

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Series overview

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Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
125November 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
226June 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)

Season 1 (2018)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"It's Easy as ABC"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
22"Dancing Machine"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
33"Jimmy Mack"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
44"My Girl"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
55"Mickey's Monkey"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
66"Happy Birthday"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
77"Dancing in the Street"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
88"Money (That’s What I Want)"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
99"Master Blaster"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1010"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1111"Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1212"Ben"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1313"(Love Is Like a) Heatwave"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1414"War"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1515"The Tracks of My Tears"UnknownUnknownJuly 24, 2023 (2023-07-24)
1616"Road Runner"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1717"Smiling Faces Sometimes"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1818"Twenty-Five Miles"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
1919"Skywriter"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2020"Runaway Child, Running Wild"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2121"Don't Mess with Bill"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2222"Stop in the Name of Love"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2323"I Wish"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2424"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)
2525"For Once in My Life"UnknownUnknownNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20)

Season 2 (2019)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
261"I Heard It Through The Grapevine"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
272"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
283"Superstition"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
294"How Funky Is Your Chicken"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
305"Skate to the Rhythm"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
316"My Guy"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
327"You've Really Got a Hold on Me"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
338"I Wish It Would Rain"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
349"Somebody's Watching Me"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
3510"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
3611"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
3712"I'll Be Doggone"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
3813"He's Misstra Know-It-All"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
3914"You Can't Hurry Love"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4015"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4116"Agent Double O Soul"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4217"You Haven't Done Nothin'"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4318"Christmas Everyday"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4419"Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4520"Keep on Truckin'"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4621"Easy"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4722"Reach Out I'll Be There"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4823"I Want You Back"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
4924"Nowhere to Run"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
5025"Higher Ground"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)
5126"Living for the City"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)

Reception

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Motown Magic received favourable reviews. Critics praised the concept of reimagining Motown songs for a young audience.[4]

Other media

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Soundtracks

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The first soundtrack to the show was released on online music-streaming service Apple Music on November 20, 2018.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Netflix's 'Motown Magic' exclusive: Watch this amazing kid's version of Jackson 5's 'ABC'". Eu.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Motown Reveals 'Motown Magic' Soundtrack Track List, Previews Becky G's 'For Once in My Life' (Exclusive)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  3. ^ Sippell, Margeaux (2 November 2018). "TV Roundup: 'Stargirl' Series at DC Universe Casts Anjelika Washington". Variety.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  4. ^ "'Motown Magic' - Netflix Original Series Review - Ready Steady Cut". 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Eventbrite Received $17M Discount on Ticketfly Purchase as Part of Renegotiated Deal With Pandora". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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