Arabela Returns

Lore & Background

Arabela Returns continues the story of the fairy tale world introduced in the 1980 series Arabela. The series features Jiří Lábus as Rumburak, a mischievous sorcerer who serves as the primary antagonist. Miroslava Šafránková reprises her role as Arabela Majerová, Princess, and Vladimír Dlouhý as her husband Petr Majer.

Reader's Guide

The series is significant as a direct continuation of the popular 1980 fairy tale series Arabela, expanding the narrative of the Fairy Tale Kingdom. It introduces new characters such as Mr. Papp, King of Toys, and the Witch Mrs. Černá, who helps Rumburak. The cast includes many notable Czech actors, including Vlastimil Brodský as King Hyacint and Jana Brejchová as the Queen. The series maintains the fantastical elements of its predecessor while focusing on Rumburak's schemes to become king.

Did You Know?

• The series is a sequel to the fairy tale series Arabela from 1980.
• Jiří Lábus plays Rumburak, the mischievous sorcerer and primary antagonist.
• Vlastimil Brodský portrays King Hyacint, father of Arabela and Xénie.
• The literal Czech title translates to 'Arabela Returns or Rumburak the King of the Fairy Tale Kingdom'.
• Jana Brejchová plays Xénie, while Dagmar Patrasová portrays the Queen.

The Sequel and Its Central Premise

By 1993, the beloved Czech fairy tale world of the 1980 series Arabela had grown a devoted following, and the creators answered that demand with a full sequel. The new production carries the Czech title Arabela se vrací aneb Rumburak králem Říše pohádek, which translates to Arabela Returns or Rumburak the King of the Fairy Tale Kingdom. That subtitle is a telling detail: it frames the entire narrative around the mischievous sorcerer Rumburak having seized the throne of the Fairy Tale Kingdom, transforming what was once a lighthearted princess story into a tale of restoration and resistance. The series picks up where the original left off, reuniting the core characters while expanding the scope of the world they inhabit. Alena Karešová lends her voice as the narrator, guiding audiences through the unfolding events. The 1993 release date places the sequel thirteen years after the original, suggesting a matured audience and a willingness to revisit familiar characters with fresh stakes. The project stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Czech fairy tale television.

Rumburak and His Court of Misrule

Jiří Lábus returns to the role that defined him in the original series, portraying Rumburak as the mischievous sorcerer and primary antagonist of the 1993 sequel. In this installment, his ambition has clearly outgrown mere pranks; the very title positions him as the self-appointed king of the Fairy Tale Kingdom. Around him gathers a small but colorful court of underlings. Jana Andresíková plays Mrs. Černá, a witch whose function is explicitly to assist Rumburak in his schemes. Jaroslava Kretschmerová appears as Roxana, originally a shepherdess who is later recruited into Rumburak's service as a helper, suggesting a character arc from innocence to complicity. Jiří Sedláček rounds out the villainous ensemble as Ogre Balibul. Perhaps the most dramatic element of Rumburak's power is his treatment of Fantomas, the ruler of the Realm of Adult Fairy Tales, whom Rumburak has transformed into a mere ball. This act of magical domination underscores the sorcerer's reach across multiple kingdoms and realms, making his threat far broader than a single kingdom's troubles.

Arabela's Grown-Up Family

One of the most striking aspects of the sequel is how much the world has expanded around Arabela. Miroslava Šafránková reprises her role as the princess, now married to Petr Majer, played by Vladimír Dlouhý. Their union has produced twins, Karel and Hyacint, portrayed by Petr Nárožný and Pavel Zedníček respectively. The family tree extends further: Petr's brother Honzík Majer, a student played by Ondřej Kepka, brings his own friend Mařenka, played by Hana Igonda Ševčíková, into the orbit of the story, while their mother, Grandma Majerová, is played by Stella Zázvorková. Arabela's sister Xénie, played by Dagmar Patrasová, has her own household with husband Vilibald, played by Oldřich Vízner, and son, prince Fredy, played by Matouš Soukenka. This web of relationships transforms the sequel from a simple princess-and-sorcerer conflict into a rich domestic tapestry, where family bonds and everyday life coexist with the extraordinary politics of the Fairy Tale Kingdom.

The Kingdom's Hierarchy and Wider World

Beyond the immediate family drama, Arabela Returns populates its world with a layered hierarchy of rulers and officials. At the top sits King Hyacint, played by Vlastimil Brodský, the sovereign of the Fairy Tale Kingdom and father to both Arabela and Xénie. His wife, the Queen, is portrayed by Jana Brejchová. The magical governance of the realm falls under Theophil Vigo, the Wizard Supreme, played by Jiří Sovák. The world extends beyond a single kingdom: Fantomas rules the separate Realm of Adult Fairy Tales, and Marián Labuda appears as Mr. Papp, the King of Toys, whose daughter Natálka is played by Jana Kimlová. Even the domestic sphere has its own characters—Luděk Sobota as the servant Baltus, and Iva Janžurová as Mrs. Mülerová, a piano teacher and the wife of a character named Blekota. This breadth of roles suggests a fully realized fantasy society with its own bureaucracy, education, and social structures, giving the sequel a depth that goes well beyond a simple good-versus-evil narrative.