“Bi EA, Bi EE Ba Be, Bi EI Ba Be Bi, Bi EO Ba Be Bi Bo”. No, we didn't type letters at random. Anime fans, especially those of the 80s, will surely have recognized one of the most famous acronyms, almost a tongue twister that belongs to the cartoon of Bia - The challenge of magic. Our journey through the souls continues with the very famous witch who arrives on Earth with the aim of becoming queen, a goal that will put her to the test, up to a surprise ending.
Bia, the challenge of magic: the plot
The arrival on Earth and the new family
Directly from another planet and with the help of an umbrella, a red-haired girl arrives on Earth with a very specific goal: to do the apprenticeship she will need in order to then aspire to become the queen of witches. Once finished, in fact, he can return to his planet. Arrived at its destination, Bia and reca home Japo, as per indications received from the world of witches. Here he meets a former witch who, at the end of her apprenticeship, has decided to stay on earth and marry a human. The woman welcomes her into her home and explains that, to do her apprenticeship, she will have to integrate into her family and live with them. Big to a spell, the woman makes Bia appear in the memories of her husband and her two children as the daughter and sister who has been abroad for some time and who has now returned home.
Bia vs Noa: who will be the Queen witch?
Bia's life in this family, a word she does not know as this type of bond does not exist on her planet, it is quite difficult. The witch has to get used to the relationship with the terrible step brothers, to the lectures of the father, trying to understand the meaning of the words 'love'. However, these are not the only difficulties he has to deal with. Bia is not the only witch apprentice to have come to Earth with the ambition of becoming queen. We know so Noa, the bitter rival of the protagonist, who makes his appearance directly from the sea and meets Bia, challenging her and announcing that she will become Queen. An immediate clash begins which will only be the first in a long series that will alternate over the course of the 72 episodes of the animated series.
Bia between loves, clashes and Ciosa's traps
There is also a problem with our little witch Ciosa, a wizard sent to Earth by the current Queen of Witches to guard Bia and Noa. He, however, along with his henchmen FruFru and CraCra, will try to sabotage both but always without success. As he continues his time on Earth, Bia not only adapts to humans but begins to become attached to his 'adoptive' family and to make friends. He especially falls in love with Dany Hamilton, a blond tennis player who will then reciprocate her feelings but will leave her because he is forced to leave with her father. It is not the same for Noa: the witch is initially cold and ruthless but the difficulty of adapting to humans discourages her, leading her to think of abandoning the challenge with Bia and returning to her planet. Episode after episode, however, she learns to be loyal to her rival, going so far as to save her and her friends on more than one occasion.
The (not) final
So many adventures and enemies that Beer and Noah they will face; but what happens in the finale? At the 71st episode we are in September but it snows as if it were the middle of winter. The fault lies with the Saturnia witch, a third and ruthless pretender to the throne of the witches who try to get rid of the other two with the help of the ever present Ciosa, who aspires to the post of minister at his side. Bia manages to destroy it also thanks to the help of the other witches known during her stay on Earth. Soon after comes a letter that warns the pretenders to the throne of return to the world of magic because the apprenticeship is over. Bia does not want: her desire is to stay on Earth. However, she is forced to return as well as Noa. Here is the unexpected revelation: the Queen has decided that both must continue their training, Bia because she discovered love for human beings, Noa for the opposite reason. Both then return to Earth. Bia, over the moon, is back with her family. The challenge between aspiring queens therefore ends with a disappointing "draw". We could therefore define it as a 'non-final'.
Bia the witch: curiosity
'Censored' episodes and different names
The anime series dedicated to the witch Bia was made in Japan in the mid-70s and produced by Toei animation in 72 episodes. It will arrive in Italy a few years later, in 1981, but not with all episodes. Rai decides to censor six of them (22, 25, 28, 29, 56, 59 and 66) probably because they are considered too violent or, in any case, with scenes and unsuitable themes to an audience of minors. Many European countries adopted the Italian version of the episodes instead of adapting it directly from the original Japanese one. Another difference with the Japanese animated series lies in theuse of names. The Italian adaptation transforms, in fact, many of the original names; here then is the protagonist Megu becomes Bia, his rival No becomes Noa, the family Kanzaki (the one in which the protagonist lives) becomes the family Japan (as if to underline its origin).
The Majokko vein
Bia is part of a line of anime that in Japan, those years, has a great success: the one dedicated to the majokko, or the "witches". It is precisely Toei who started this kind of anime with Sally the sorceress in 1966. A success, this, which will lead to the creation of other faces of maghette that will dominate the scene in the 70s and 80s. A success that comes also thanks to the popularity that, even in Japan, the American sitcom Bewitched was getting. Toei will then give life to characters such as Lulu the angel among the flowers, The sorceress Chappy, all stories that will then also be an inspiration for other anime production companies (see The Enchanting Creamy, Ransie, Magica Emi, Sandy of a thousand colors ...).
The abbreviation
The Italian acronym Bia, the challenge of magic (or even The alphabet of Bia) is one of the best known and most appreciated elements of the anime series, which helped make it famous. It was written and sung by Andrea Lo Vecchio and interpreted by him and by Giovanni Marrelli, under the pseudonym of I Piccoli Sorceroni.
Bia the witch: the characters
Bia - She is the protagonist of the anime. A sorceress who aspires to become Queen of Witches.
Noa - Bia's witch and rival. Their relationship will evolve over the course of history.
Ciosa - wizard sent to earth by the Queen of Witches to watch over Bia and Noa. However, he will try to hinder them in every possible way (but without success).
Mami Japo - A witch who moved to earth many years earlier because she was in love with an earthling. She becomes Bia's 'adoptive' mother during her time on earth.
Papa Japo - Mami's husband and Bia's 'adoptive' dad.
Rabbi and Apo - the two children of the spouses Japo and "brothers" of Bia.
FruFru and CraCra - Ciosa's henchmen, troublemaker as well as their master.
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You want to relive the stories of others 80s anime? We took a dip in prehistoric times with Ryu the cave boy, then in the troubled history of Lady Oscar, between Sorgenti Maledette with Ranma 1 / 2, among the thousand messes of Doraemon e Nobita. We went to a dystopian future with Conan, and we are passionate about the sporting challenges of Holly and Benji, Lotti e Mila and Shiro. But also a lot, more!
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