I actually really enjoyed this series, it was recommended to us by our son, we all binged it within an afternoon. I must add until watching this series, I'd never heard of the animated version or the winx club so can't comment on whether or not the characters have changed and I'm probably alot older than the target Y.A audience, I thought the cast were great, really good story with great potential for more. Like a modern day, grown up Harry Potter with a bit of Twilight thrown in.