No matter if hes Gandalf the Grey or Gandalf the White, hes the epitome of what a wizard should be. John Dee and Edward Kelly img source: sciencephoto.com British astronomer and mathematician John Dee and Renaissance occultist and psychic Edward Kelly created the so-called Enochian magic system based on conversations with spirits and angels. Usually alongside a classically evil witch. Instead, he found his destiny: to become a master of the mystic arts and protect the planet from magical threats as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. If only his [SPOILER ALERT] death wasn't so sudden and easily avoidable. It changed the business model for publishing books for kids. Whatever you want to call them, all of these characters and famous people can be defined as wizards. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The secret delegate battle that will decide the 2024 Republican nominee, The Dark Brandonmeme and why the Biden campaign has embraced it explained. Glenn Fleshler Goran Pazar. Share. In fact a lot of early writings on witches and witchcraft were downright menacing and certainly helped stoke fear of anything unexplained or deemed unnatural. But seeing witches as forces for goodor, at the very least, incredibly nuanced peoplebetter represents witchcraft as a spiritual way of life. Melisandre (Carice van Houten), Game of Thrones. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Still, it was up through the turn of the 20th century where the first major rumblings of non-threateningor outright good witchesappeared in media and literature. 8. These are the most famous wizards who have indebted history. Never forget: Before she went to Tomorrowland, Britt Robertson was doing semi-dark magic with a group of attractive teens on The CW. Willow is not only a famous wizard (or witch as she is better known) but a lesbian icon, with Buffy detailing her romance with the same sex in an informative and relatable way. , the Spellmans run a funeral home, which is the perfect cover for their spooky, gothic vibe in town. 48. Then, of course, there were the mythological sorceresses, including Circe, Hecate, and Morgan le Fay, who while not initially presented as evil in some cases, generally saw their stories descend into tales of duplicitousness and cruelty. The White Witch rules with an iron fist, turning those who oppose her into stone. COPYRIGHT 2023 Next Luxury ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is the cultural activities, practices, and beliefs of the masses (and often targeted at youths) within a society. Buffys bestie learns shes a witch early on in the series and her powers grow strongly; at one point, she turns to the dark side. A number of Harry Potter fans also went on to make significant marks on mainstream culture. A former surgeon who is now one of the most powerful wizards in the world, Dr Strange protects the world from mythical threats. Whether theyre tangentially connected to the witch trials or overtly, both have an overlapping trait: there were witches in Salem. (You totally tried it right now, didnt you? In most depictions of modern witchcraft, good witches live in our midst with their true powers (mostly) hidden. He was befriended by Russian nobles Emperor Nicholas and Empress Alexandra and began to exert influence over the two. Sir Ian McKellenplays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. Samantha Stephens (Nicole Kidman), Bewitched. In 2007, after the series end, J.K. Rowling retroactively outed the powerful wizard Dumbledore as gay. Grams didnt like to show off, but when her magic was needed, she did what she had to do. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain hes not even actually a wizard. Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), Practical Magic. The result is purely pleasurable to read at any age: The puzzlebox mystery plotting keeps the pages turning propulsively forward, the fantastic mythology gives the world scope and magic and joy, and the boarding school structure makes the characters warm and familiar and charming. 2. Saruman (Christopher Lee), Lord of the Rings, 45. In America, they often descend from the witches of Salem, our most notedthough certainly not singularinstance of witchcraft persecution. Most famously L. Frank Baums novel. This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access. She literally steals Ariels voice, turns herself into a beautiful woman named Vanessa, tries to steal Prince Eric, and then epically battles Ariels dad King Triton in *The Little Mermaid. Alyson Hannigan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (19972003). She almost brings about Buffys demise but is saved and embarks on a redemptive arc in the series. rthurian legend. From habit stacking to making your habits part of your vibe, these tips will help you achieve your goals with ease. 38. A list of famous wizards, both legendary and real wizards, mystics, and occultists. Theres, of course, the Bible, and then Malleus Maleficarum, a medieval book seen as the de facto manual on witchcraft and its heretic nature. RELATED: 17 Surprisingly Scary Kids Movie Moments, 50. The secrecy is often more or less an informal arrangement between a coven or magical family. *Hocus Pocus * is a Halloween tradition for, well, everyone. , for instance, the quest to remain hidden goes all the way to the top, with strict secrecy laws in place by the magical governing body. Daniel Radcliffe scored the coveted role of Harry, helping make the films a massive success and spawning several spinoff movies and books. Heres a look back at the way Harry Potter changed and influenced online fandom, millennial culture, and the publishing industry. (Why she doesn't magic herself some pants remains a mystery.). Tabitha Stephens (Lisa Hartman), Tabitha. medieval book seen as the de facto manual on witchcraft and its heretic nature. After Harry Potter, childrens literature became a category full of mega-sellers. Memorably portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith, Professor McGonagall is the head of Gryffindor and Headmistress of Hogwarts. She was the star pupil in her classes at Hogwarts and the savvy, level-headed member of the triumvirate that includes Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Tweet; Prev. A magical slip-up here and there. Strange, dont worry youll recognize this name soon, when hes portrayed by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch. Booklist found that middle-grade novels expanded 115.5 percent between 2006 and 2016, the decade in which the Potter novels were at their longest. And in both iterations of Charmed, a magical mentor called a Whitelighter guides the Halliwell sistersand more recently, the Verasthrough their magical studies. Next. So at the center of this story about an Italian nobleman, The Little Mermaid | Pat Carroll in The Little Mermaid (1989) An all-singing, all-dancing, all-evil, underwater witch for the ages. Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham), The Vampire Diaries. Louisa Miller (Robyn Lively), Teen Witch. 25. You barely even see him, and he instills. The fact that shes played by the irreplaceable Debbie Reynolds only adds to her charm, turning what could be a questionable character into a captivating one. Gandalf features heavily in J. R. R. Tolkiens novelsThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings. In Harry Potter and in The Magicians, those with magical powers attend an actual school. Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. We cant get enough of Revival, but before that, we couldnt get enough of Selena Gomez on the Disney Channel. And then, of course, there are the strictly magical communities. Max Russo (Jake T. Austin), Wizards of Waverly Place, RELATED: 10 Wickedly Great Books About Witches, 79. An all-powerful sorcerer, Constantine rarely uses his powers, preferring to let his wit and intelligence get him out of sticky situations. You can even have up to 255 spells at your disposal, making him the most versatile wizard on this list. Bill Hader Barry Berkman / Barry Block. There are still leagues to go in depicting witchcraft in its full diverse practice. The books proved such a success that they were adapted into a film series. Shes as good as they come, leading the way for Dorothy to make it back home and even gain some wisdom along the way. Unlike the Sanderson Sisters, the Halliwell girls of Charmed fame use their powers for good. That budget is structured so that elevating the numbers in one category means elevating the numbers in the next category: If youre going to invest $105,000 just in acquiring a book, youre also going to pour extra money into marketing, publicity, and production, so that you have a reasonable chance of making that money back. Worst witch ever. Surely that counts? That counts. Special mention must be made of Ralph Fiennes portrayal of him in the films. Top 10 Most Beloved Wizards As Harry Potter gets ready to take the big screen once again, TIME examines the most popular sorcerers of all time from Mickey Mouse to Gandalf Tweet Full List. He serves as the righthand man to King Arthur and is involved in many of the famous stories about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. Sometimes witches are just people who want to drink a bunch of midnight margaritas and maybe break a family curse. Most famously L. Frank Baum's novel The Wizard of Oz and its famous 1939 film adaptation. Stanley Has Its Famous Tumblers in a Brand-New Spring Color From ballet flats to personalized charm bracelets. Memorably portrayed by Tilda Swinton, the White Witch is the titular witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. 36. When that failed to kill him, he was shot in the chest twice, but still managed to survive. But you already knew that. Tales of these sorcerers have found their way into modern pop culture, often via fantasy stories. Ill get you, my pretty, and your little dog too! The woman formerly known as Elphaba (if youre going by *Wicked, * anyway) terrified soooo many children in *The Wizard of Oz. Matt Ryan has played him in several TV appearances, most notably his own standalone show. Sabrina learned everything from her aunts, who were always more powerful than they let on and inseparable. Potions and Pop Culture. In this video, we share the top 5 game-changing lessons to build good habits and break bad ones, with some fun pop culture references to keep you entertained. After years of solo hits and an ongoing stint fronting classic rock powerhouse Queen, Lambert was back on familiar ground on Sunday night (April 30) when he returned to the Idol stage for a . Opens in new tab Opens in new tab Opens in new tab. Taras greatest power was her heart. When not on his computer he enjoys traveling, eating pizza, and watching 80s action films. That theyre a family of witches is not generally public knowledge in Greendale. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty), Charmed, 47. Sure these modern pop culture witches are fictional, but normalizing the idea of the good witch in a variety of mediumsin TV shows, movies, booksdirectly combats centuries of stigma against witchcraft and mysticism. but creating a coven without even knowing it is pretty cool, too. In both the. He has perfected many great magic tricks over time and is remembered for making the Statue of Liberty disappear as well as walking through the Great Wall of China. The. It was a curiosity, and as such, it was a story. But still, with the same white creators, using the same historical backdrop to tell their stories, were not examining the beauty of witchcraft in all its forms. , make a more concerted, if not wholly successful effort to keep their magical powers under wraps. Twenty-nine here, but no. Elphaba/The Wicked Witch of the West. Who is the number one wizard that people just can't get enough of? The hook came from the press: Newspapers featured articles about the little English book that had garnered such a huge sale. Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), The Witches of Eastwick, 54. Thats why it hurt so much more when she left us all too soon. Oh, Tia Dalma is actually the super-powerful Calypso, the sea goddess, which you find out in the end. Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (200511). The Untamedfollows the story of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, two young cultivators that fall in love in ancient China. Was any teenage witch more relatable than Sabrina? Ursula (Pat Carroll), The Little Mermaid. Part of what made Harry Potter such a literary phenomenon is that so many kids were reading the books despite an unprecedented number of attempts to get them to stop reading the books. Known well by book readers, Quentin will rank higher as a pop culture wizard soon, thanks to Syfys serialization of his journey to Brakebills. Pop culture is often spread through mass media such as television, cinema, radio, and social media. Given the secrecy surrounding witches existence, its a given that education is a vital element. Jafar was the sorcerer, but Iago was the real brains of the operation. Nancy, Bonnie, Rochelle, and Sarah make up one serious coven, each with her own special powers. Before Liam Neeson developed a particular set of skills, he helped develop one of Star Wars wisest Jedi, and one of its most feared foes. Generic things also work for the other classes. What does it mean to be a modern-day good witch in pop culture? She led the ladies of American Horror Story: Coven with style and serious attitude. So shes got some pretty awesome skills. Others, like the Cromwells in Halloweentown or Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, make a more concerted, if not wholly successful effort to keep their magical powers under wraps. Comic book character Dr Stephen Strange has become much more well-known since Benedict Cumberbatch played him in the recent Marvel movies. Some people might think their grandmas are witches, but Marnies actually is one and a cool, caring one at that. If youre in a pinch, or looking to be trained in the ways of the Force, Obi-Wan is definitely the Jedi youre looking for. Starting the series as a timid young teenager who discovers she has magical abilities, Willow Rosenberg soon transforms into a powerful witch. Sometimes, they fully embrace said reputation. Even in his declining years, the headmaster of Hogwarts was a formidable magebut in his youth, full of vigor and brio, Albus Dumbledore was a force to be reckoned with. Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan), Charmed, 64. 100% Privacy. Gandalf - Top 10 Most Beloved Wizards - TIME But hes still the only one who can save Emma from becoming The Dark Swan, so hes definitely a force to be reckoned with. Hungarian Horntail. Only the most interesting animals and humanoid beings to come out of the human imagination. She finds herself in the magical land of Oz, populated by Munchkins and ruled over by two witches and one all-powerful wizard. Who Are Most Powerful Wizards in Literature? - Toptenz.net With both the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs, they recalled how a Knicks-Kings NBA Finals game was a huge scene . In Harry Potter, most witches and wizards live among non-magical folks. People like the Russian mystic Rasputin and Nicholas Flamel, the man who discovered the Philosophers Stone, are all said to have been real-life wizards from decades back. However, this doesnt mean there arent parameters. The coolest and most fashionable teen witch of the 80s uses her magic to get by during the toughest time of ones life: high school. The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), The Wizard of Oz. And thus, witches attempting to live incognito as regular humans are usually deemed eccentric by their communities. Witches are not a homogenous groupthere are so many ways to practice witchcraft. Thats why were still talking about these books 20 years later, and thats why all of this matters. You barely even saw him, and he instilled everyone with a knee-knocking sense of dread. But still, in the Netflix seriesthough slightly less so in 90s sitcomthere are plenty of humans in on the secret. In fact a lot of early writings on witches and witchcraft were downright menacing and certainly helped stoke fear of anything unexplained or deemed unnatural. 59. As Harry Potter gets ready to take the big screen once again, TIME examines the most popular sorcerers of all time from Mickey Mouse to Gandalf. Probably because she turns herself into a dragon. Cedric the Sensational (Jess Harnell), Sofia the First, 83. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The Outsiders reinvented young adult fiction. See more about - The 22 Best 90s Cartoon Characters. Theres, of course, the Bible, and then. Characters like Robin Hood, Merlin, Achilles, the pipe player from Hamelin, etc. Likewise, while eventually introducing a magical school, Wizards of Waverly Place mostly used the after school lessons method to teach magic. Of course, wizards from the Harry Potter universe are included, but this list features other fictional wizards as well. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, 15 Scary Movies We Saw as Kids That Still Haunt Our Nightmares, 17 Surprisingly Scary Kids Movie Moments, Syfys serialization of his journey to Brakebills, 20 Celebs Who Starred in Horror Movies Before They Made it Big, hes portrayed by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch, 8 horrifying books about real haunted houses to read with the lights on, 9 Haunted House Books to Keep You Up At Night. Movie studios scour the childrens bestseller lists for properties they can turn into the next Harry Potter: hence Twilight and The Hunger Games and Divergent and all the rest. That's why we keep our work free. Is Cher as a witch that much different from Cher every day? In America, they often descend from the witches of Salem, our most notedthough certainly not singularinstance of witchcraft persecution. Of course, one of the best modern homages to Marie is the one made famous by Angela Bassett in *AHS: Coven. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The feeling that the books thus promoted the occult proved to be the basis for constant challenges to the series presence in school libraries and bookstores by concerned conservative parents. Reviewers wanted to know what kind of book would justify that kind of money. Dont remember much about Dracos wizarding skills, but we do remember him getting punched in the face by Hermoine.