Spellbound: A Modern Fairy Tale for Children of Divorced Parents

Netflix's Spellbound is a surprisingly poignant take on divorce and co-parenting, wrapped in a magical fantasy.

Don’t let all the magic fairy dust and colorful, quality animation fool you, Netflix’s Spellbound is a story about a girl caught in the middle of her parents’ nasty divorce. Plain and simple. I was initially drawn to this family movie because the storyline and imagery made me nostalgic for my childhood favorites like Shrek. I was so wrapped up in the action scenes and potion blunders that it wasn’t until the very end when she mentions that the Queen, her mother, and the King, her father, now live in separate castles, that I realized we just witnessed a divorce unfold.

WHAT?! 

Who would've thought a cartoon about a cursed royal family could hit this close to home? Spellbound is a magical, messy, and surprisingly relatable tale about separation, divorce, and at the end, co-parenting.

Picture this: a young princess begins to feel alone and uncared for once her parents transform into large monstrous creatures. Talk about metaphor! She is forced to grow up fast focusing mostly on the needs of her parents who as monsters are self-centered and immature. The parents cause endless damage and disruption with little to no self-awareness or concern for the innocent people impacted by their messes. 

Additionally, the movie points out the burden often placed on children of divorced parents and the negative thinking and anxiety that children can develop during this time. In fact, the writers depict the stress that builds inside children witnessing their parents fighting using a large, terrifying tornado that grows and grows until positive thoughts and words prevail. 

There is a critical part of the movie where the princess comforts her younger self and acknowledges that while her family would never be the same, they will be ok in this new family structure. It was so touching. My hope is that kids of divorced parents can see this movie and realize they are not alone and that they can still have a fairytale ending.

So, if you're looking for a movie that's both heartwarming and hilarious, check out Spellbound. It's the perfect blend of fairy tale fantasy and real-world relatability. Trust me, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you might even recognize a thing or two about your own unique family.

Learn more about co-parenting dos and don’ts from the lens of someone who was co-parented as a child by watching our podcast episode with AshaAung.