LoliRock
French animated series about princesses who are idol singers.
LoliRock is a French animated series from Marathon Media and Zodiak Kids, made with the involvement of France Télévisions and The Walt Disney Company France. Jean-Louis Vandestoc and David Michel created it, with writing by Madellaine Paxson. It debuted in France on France 3 on October 19, 2013, and later aired across other European channels. The show offers a distinctive magical-girl premise, following teenagers who balance lives as idol singers and secret princesses, using magic to combat a growing menace.
The story centers on Iris, a fifteen-year-old girl in Sunny Bay who loves singing and helping others, but her voice causes strange effects. Encouraged by her friend and crush Nathaniel, she tries out for a girl group, accidentally wrecking the room. She is then attacked by twins Praxina and Mephisto. The audition judges, Princesses Talia and Auriana, rescue her and reveal she is the crown princess of Ephedia, a magical kingdom taken over by the evil Lord Gramorr. To save it, she must master her powers and find the twelve Oracle Gems of Ephedia’s Crown, scattered across Earth. The three girls live as ordinary teens and members of the band LoliRock while secretly training Iris and collecting the gems. Gramorr sends the twins to find the gems and destroy LoliRock with monsters.
In season two, two more Ephedian princesses, Carissa and Lyna, join the group. They were part of the planet’s resistance, led by Izira. These new princesses transform into magical warriors but do not join the band. The girls keep gathering gems and helping others, while Gramorr and the twins grow stronger and more dangerous.
When the last gem is collected, Iris must face leaving Earth—especially Nathaniel—to return to Ephedia and reunite with her parents, the king and queen. But Gramorr seizes the final gem and unleashes destruction on Ephedia. The girls unite for a final battle. Iris, in her evolved Shanila form, destroys Gramorr, whose pet panther Banes abandons him. Banes later finds Praxina, bitter after Mephisto’s sacrifice, and gives her Gramorr’s mask so they can attack Earth. This forces LoliRock to return to Earth to stop them, guided by Iris’s freed parents.
Iris, voiced by Kazumi Evans, is the lead singer. She has wavy blonde hair, fair skin, light blue eyes, pink lips, and freckles.
- Creator
- Jean-Louis Vandestoc, David Michel
- First aired
- 19 October 2013
Lore & Background
The series follows Iris, a teenage girl who loves to sing and help others. When she sings, strange things happen. Encouraged by her best friend/crush Nathaniel, Iris auditions for a girl group but destroys the room and is attacked by magical twins Praxina and Mephisto. The judges, Princess Talia and Princess Auriana, reveal that Iris is a princess of Ephedia who must master her powers and find the twelve Oracle Gems of the Crown of Ephedia, scattered across Earth. The three girls live as ordinary teenagers and as the all-female band LoliRock while training Iris and gathering the gems. Lord Gramorr sends Praxina and Mephisto to find the gems and destroy LoliRock.
In season two, the group is joined by two other Ephedian princesses, Carissa and Lyna, who were part of the planet's resistance, led by Izira.
Reader's Guide
LoliRock represents a notable entry in the magical girl genre, blending idol singer culture with princess mythology. The series was produced by Marathon Media and Zodiak Kids with participation from France Télévisions and The Walt Disney Company France, indicating a significant co-production effort. Its first airing on France 3 in 2014 and expansion to European channels show its reach. The show's character designs drew from real-world references: Iris was based on actress Taylor Momsen and her wardrobe on Blake Lively, Talia referenced fashion blogger Betty Autier and actress Amber Stevens West, and Auriana referenced Blair Waldorf and Cat Valentine. The series also features a detailed magical system with transformation items (pendant, bracelet, ring) and symbols (heart, diamond, crescent moon). The production Tumblr provided additional lore, such as Iris having two symbols due to royal status, and Praxina being an 'anti-Iris' with lightning and butterfly symbols. The series' legacy includes its unique premise of princesses as pop stars and its handling of themes like duty, friendship, and sacrifice.
Did You Know?
- Iris was based on actress Taylor Momsen from Gossip Girl, and her wardrobe was based on a picture of Blake Lively.
- Auriana was originally going to be named Aurora, and character designer Bertrand Todesco had pictured her as a black girl with a huge volume of hair.
- In early promotions, Lord Gramorr was named Gromar and depicted as Iris's evil uncle, but the idea was scrapped.
- Praxina and Mephisto were originally considered the two evil twin nephews of Lord Gramorr.
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