Fate: The Winx Saga: Comparing The Netflix Show Characters To Their Animated Versions

Netflix’s new show Fate: The Winx Saga, has fans remembering the days of the animated series from 2004. The new 2021 show revamped some of the main characters to fit a more modern story of magical fairies with unique powers. While some title characters remained the same in certain ways, fans couldn’t help but notice some interesting changes that were made.

The original animated series went through a lot of storylines and graphics changes throughout its time on air. Bloom remains the fiery red-head with astounding inner power. Fans question whether Rosalind (Lesley Sharp) is meant to portray Ms. Griffin. Be aware some of the Netflix show’s characters were changed or not included but still have some characteristics of the original characters like the Trix or the headmistress.

10 Mike And Vanessa

Mike and Vanessa stayed relatively the same to their animated version. In both series, they are Bloom’s human world parents. But in the first season of the Netflix show, not much is known about them. The animated series has her father being a firefighter who found Bloom in a burning building. Mike (Josh Cowdery) is a sweet and caring and understanding father to Bloom in both.

The mother was changed a bit for the Netflix series. Bloom (Abigail Cowen) and her mother are often at each other’s throats. Vanessa (Eva Birthistle) tries to push Bloom to socialize and break her habit of being an introvert. This leads to tension and eventually Bloom’s rage that leads to an almost fatal accident. But much like the animated version, she comes to love Bloom for who she is.

9 Headmistress Farah Dowling

The role of the headmistress of Alfea got a name change in the Netflix show. The 2004 animated version has her titled Headmistress Faragonda. These two characters are widely different. Dowling (Eve Best) is responsible for bringing Bloom to the Alfea school and promising her to help harness her powers.

But she’s also strict and hard on the students hoping to prepare them for what’s ahead. Dowling is still a mentor to the main characters. The Netflix version also has more secrecy as she refused to tell Bloom the truth and whats happened with Rosalind. The animated version is more bubbly, uplifting, and teaches Convergence while Dowling is a mind fairy.

8 Beatrix

Fans of the original series realized who Beatrix’s (Sadie Soverall) character was possibly meant to represent from the original series. The Trix were a group of three fairies working as antagonists in the television show. One of them was Stormy, a fairy with the ability to manipulate weather and lighting.

The Netflix show only gave viewers one of the three characters, Beatrix.  She posses the same snarky and evil demeanor and the same type of powers. Early on its revealed that she was working with an unknown enemy to infiltrate the school and rescue Rosalind. Fans question whether or not Beatrix either represents all three Trixs or the other fairies will be introduced later on.

7 Sky

Sky (Danny Griffin) went through some minor changes in the Netflix show but still holds to being the golden blonde, kind and handsome male lead. He’s similar to the animated version of himself, both characters serving as the leader of the Specialists and top warriors. He also ends the show by starting a relationship with Bloom, but his backstory is revealed and differs from the original.

Fans learned that the Netflix version had Sky in a serious relationship with Stella that got complicated. Sky also looks to his Specialist teacher as a father figure seeing as his real father is supposedly dead. In the animated series, Sky is also a crown prince but the Netflix show has him as the son of a famous war hero.

6 Riven

Riven (Freddie Thorp) is one of the characters who had one of the biggest character changes from the original animated show. The Netflix series gave him a bigger role and backstory. Riven is still a Specialist and Sky’s best friend. He’s also still rebellious and a bit standoffish, but fans were shocked to see that Riven becomes smitten with Beatrix and starts a relationship.

Along the way, he becomes convinced by Beatrix that what she’s doing is the right thing. By the end of the season, Riven supposedly joins forces with Beatrix in helping Rosalind take over the Alfea school. Fans did get to see some heated chemistry between him and Musa, it showcased a possible relationship like in the animated version.

5 Terra

Fans were perplexed to see that the Netflix series made a drastic change to one of the original characters in the animated show. It created controversy over possible whitewashing. This is because the clearly non-white earth fairy, Flora was switched out for Terra (Eliot Salt). Both characters still have the same fairy powers and control over plants and nature.

The Netflix show tries to give some explanation by having Terra mention her cousin, Flora. Terra still has the same bubbly, sweet, and understanding personality that made the character Flora so lovable. But the Netflix version gave her more emotional baggage to deal with. Terra has a hard time relating to her suitemates, she also has a brother and father who works at Alfea.

4 Aisha

Fans of the original might have noticed that Aisha (Precious Mustapha) went through some personality changes in the Netflix show. The animated series and the Netflix version have many similarities like being a water fairy, a love for swimming, and highly dedicated.

In the Netflix version, Aisha is more straightforward and can be blunt at times, telling Bloom she’s a changeling or snitching to Dowling about their plans to see Rosalind. Both versions, however, prove to be a valuable friend to the others. The animated series introduced her in season two and she was once engaged. It remains to be seen what Netflix will do with this character’s future.

3 Stella

Stella (Hannah van der Westhuysen) went through quite a bit of change compared to her animated version. She’s still the crown princess who must one day take the throne of Solaria, but her powers are titled slightly different. The Netflix show calls her a light fairy while in the animated she’s a fairy of the sun. Both versions differ in personality.

Stella from Netflix is more uptight and slightly more conceited. She also looks to use anger to fuel her powers the way her mother, the queen, taught her. Stella also suffers emotional trauma due to an incident with her former best friend. She also has a previous relationship with Sky. The animated series has her in a relationship with another Specialist character and overall she’s more light-hearted and carefree.

2 Musa

Musa (Elisha Applebaum) is part of the original series but her powers differed in the Netflix show. Musa is an empath with the ability to feel others’ emotions and is titled a mind fairy. She also has the ability of pain manipulation. The animated Musa’s powers are based on sound waves and her official title is a music fairy.

In both versions, Musa wears headphones for different reasons. The Netflix Musa uses them to block out other people’s emotions. Both lose their mother, but Netflix’s Musa is traumatized due to feeling everything because of her powers. Netflix also has her date Terra’s brother while the animated series has her in a complex relationship with Riven.

1 Bloom

Bloom went through some interesting backstory and personality changes that weren’t seen in the original show. In the 2004 versions, Bloom is adopted after her planet gets destroyed. The Netflix Bloom is a changeling and was swapped with another baby in the First World. Both harness an indescribable Dragon Flame power that makes her a special fairy.

The Netflix version is not the sweetest and easy to get along with Bloom that the animated series portrayed. This version is a loner, an introvert with some anger issues, and pushes for what she wants to know. Bloom in this version has a lot more emotional baggage having never known who she really is. Also, the animated series version of Bloom is a princess while the Netflix show has yet to show who her parents are.

About The Author

Gabriela Silva
(477 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University with previous years experience interning for Cliché Magazine.

With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she’s interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of ‘Black Lightning’ to Tati Gabrielle from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’

Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You’ll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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