Magical Kids
In the effort to master the powers they didn’t even suspect they had, young witches (and wizards) need all the help they can get. Popular culture throughout the world appears fascinated by the idea of kids and teens with magical abilities. The boundary between witchcraft and magic is often blurred, perhaps because of the age of the protagonists, who are called upon to harness their hereditary potential in order to help neighbors and friends or to battle the evil forces in the world. They often make mistakes, cause accidents, and even occasionally despair. Invariably, they need their mentors, teachers, or parents to clean up after them and instruct them in the art of magic. Throughout their journeys of self-actualization, they are often accompanied by familiars or exhibit attributes that have come to embody witchcraft—an owl for Harry Potter, a black cat for Kiki, or a broomstick for the Little Witch.