Can a magician help an exhausted student find her lost dreams?
In short: In this South Korean fantasy drama, magic isn't just a trick—it is a lifeline for those crushed by reality. Follow a girl who wishes to grow up too fast and a mysterious magician who refuses to leave childhood behind as they navigate the boundaries of belief.
Based on the Naver webtoon Annarasumanara, The Sound of Magic premiered on Netflix on May 6, 2022. The narrative centers on Yoon Ah-yi, an impoverished high school student struggling to make a living while caring for her younger sister. Overwhelmed by life's stresses, she wishes to escape her current reality—a wish that leads her to Ri Eul, a mysterious magician residing in an abandoned amusement park.
The production was a massive collaborative effort involving high-level artistry. For this production, Kim Min-jeong and Kim Seong-yoon collaborated again, with Lee Eun-gyeol providing magic consultancy. To ensure authenticity, lead actor Ji Chang-wook underwent three months of magic practice to portray Ri Eul. The musical score was a significant undertaking, with music director Park Seong-il recording daily for over a year and collaborating with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
The series explores themes of belief and ambition through a trio of perspectives: Ah-yi, who lost her faith in magic; Ri Eul, an adult who wants to remain a child; and Na Il-deung, a wealthy student forced into a life of constant study. While critics have debated the narrative's clarity and pacing—with some calling it a 'half-baked fable' while others praised its dazzling visuals and earnest performances—the show achieved significant global reach, ranking as high as 4th in Netflix's Non-English TV category shortly after its release.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Sound of Magic
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