Regal Academy: The Grand Ball

Adapted from an Italian animated series, this strange show is set at a magical fairy-tale school attended by ditzy city-dwelling blonde Rose, who uses a special key to enter a realm where her grandmother is Headmistress Cinderella (markedly older than in her original story). "The Grand Ball" finds Rose’s evil classmate, Vicky Broomstick, working in concert with a donkey boy to cause trouble at a big dance where the students are being graded on poise, while the girls search for dates, and Rose’s BFF Joy (granddaughter of the Frog Prince) doggedly pursues a cute (?) frog in order to test some curse-breaking lipstick. Bad Vicky also causes trouble in the other two included episodes: "Swan Dancing with the Stars," featuring characters from "The Swan Princess" and "The Three Little Pigs"; and "Song of the Sea Witch," which draws inspiration from "The Little Mermaid." To be honest, I could barely tell the other classmates apart in this unremarkable series built around hyperactive but also somewhat confusing stories. Extras include a karaoke version of the song "This is the Moment." Not a necessary purchase. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)