Disney's 100% RT Fantasy Series Is Harry Potter Meets Adventure Time

Published Aug 1, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep." Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. Of all the streaming platforms that might be expected to produce a fantasy TV show masterpiece, Disney is surely at the top of the list. Disney fairytales have defined a generation and are practically a genre of their own, but many have been seen with new eyes in recent years, with their formulaic approach no longer considered reassuringly predictable as much as stale. With modern viewers looking for more creative and lore-filled fantasy TV shows to become immersed in, Disney has needed to up its game, and it succeeded with a three-part animated show. No longer the undisputed king of the fantasy genre, Disney is now in competition with shows that push the boundaries and appear to a wider audience. This new wave of exciting fantasy TV shows raised the bar for Disney, and it was only a matter of time before the platform tried its hand at a new kind of fantasy story. Disney has historically had a bad track record when stepping out of its comfort zone, but The Owl House is a fantasy triumph with a well-deserved perfect 100% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating. The Owl House Mixes Harry Potter's Premise With Adventure Time's Spirit The Owl House follows Luz, who finds her way into a magical land and becomes a witch's apprentice despite having no inbuilt magical talent herself. While attending Hexside School of Magic and Demonics, Luz explores the realm and discovers the evil Emperor Belos has sinister plans for it. The main Owl House characters must work together to save the realm, discover the truth about their pasts, and find a way for Luz to safely return home. The show's premise may feel familiar, but magical schools have been a common fantasy theme for decades. While Harry Potter popularized it for an enormous international audience, The Owl House has avoided many of the issues found when rewatching Harry Potter, giving disillusioned fans an alternative, with a diverse range of characters that more closely reflects real life despite being fantasy, and at times, The Owl House openly parodies Harry Potter in moments like The Choosy Hat scene. The stories may have a similar premise, but The Owl House's spirit resembles another animated fantasy masterpiece through its sheer weirdness. The Owl House shares DNA with Adventure Time, which at first appears to be a simple story about a boy and his dog having adventures through a quirkily animated world, but is surprisingly deep. Both explore good, evil, and redemption though coming-of-age stories that promote creating your own destiny as opposed to being "the Chosen One." The Owl House places this concept within a setting that might resemble Harry Potter's, but takes great joy in highlighting its plotholes in a hilarious and self-aware way. There are few shows like The Owl House, yet other platforms should learn from its success. The Owl House Deserves Its Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score Credit: MovieStillsDB While some viewers did not respond well to the show's uneven pacing, especially towards the end, critics have widely praised The Owl House's groundbreaking representation, worldbuilding, and character arcs. Despite Disney canceling The Owl House after season 3, reportedly because it did not fit the Disney brand, it was allowed to conclude with the third season taking the form of a series of specials. Even with this significant challenge, the show still received a 100% positive Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, and deserved every point of it. The three seasons of The Owl House Season Year Rotten Tomatoes critics' rating Rotten Tomatoes audience rating 1 2020 100% 83% 2 2021 100% 83% 3 2022 - 81% Some lore may have been left unexplored, but The Owl House had an emotionally satisfying ending. Still, fans have been hoping for the show's return and although it appears that the series is not coming back to screens, The Owl House has given a glimpse of its new sequel in the form of a graphic novel centered on the fan favorite King. The Owl House might not have the widespread acclaim shared by Harry Potter and Adventure Time, but it is time it found a wider audience, containing the best parts from both while also being its own unique creation. The Owl House follows Luz Noceda, a creative teenager who stumbles into the magical Boiling Isles and becomes the apprentice of the rebellious witch Eda Clawthorne. Unable to perform magic herself, Luz sets out to learn the craft alongside her new friends while uncovering the secrets of a realm ruled by the mysterious Emperor Belos, whose plans threaten the future of the Isles.