Shoebox Zoo

fantasy elements

1. season 1 . 2004
2. season 2 . 2005

2004

Review

Marnie and her recently widowed father come to Scotland to make a new start. On her 11th birthday, she wanders in to a junk shop, and is presented with the "Shoebox Zoo" -- four small model creatures. She soon discovers she has the power to bring the creatures to life, and discovers she is the Chosen One, destined to find the magic book and restore them to human form. But it's difficult to concentrate on a quest, what with schoolwork, and a father worried about how she's settling in to a new life.

This is a rather well-done children's fantasy TV series, with good special effects. There isn't too much explanation, or too much moralising. It's all rather spooky and weird, and occasionally dark, without the comic relief of the shoebox critters intruding. It feels slightly old-fashioned -- which may be why it appealed to me, as it reminded me, in tone at least, of some good children's fantasy novels I read many years ago.

There is to be a second season. This first season does have a satisfying degree of closure at the end, but with one whopping loose end for the second.

Rating: 3.5

2005

Review

The second season of Marnie's quest sees the action moved to the US, and the addition of native American "medicine" magic. It maintains all the quirkiness and spookiness of the first season, with the addition of some acid swipes at trashy cable TV shows, although there are some plot discontinuities that jar a bit. TV seems to manage children's fantasy better than adult ones, as it doesn't feel the need to be tongue in cheek and "knowing".

Marnie's quest ends satisfactorily, but the ending leaves open the possibility of new quests with the same Zoo.

Rating: 3.5