“The School of Magical Animals” has firmly established itself as one of Germany’s most successful family entertainment franchises of recent years — and the momentum continues to build.
Based on the bestselling children’s book series by Margit Auer, the award-winning film adaptations captivated audiences from the very beginning. The first movie attracted more than 1.7 million moviegoers, laying the foundation for an exceptional franchise success story. It went on to receive two German Film Awards (Deutscher Filmpreis), for the film with highest attendance and for the best visual effects. The sequel seamlessly expanded on that success. Launching on a record-breaking 741 screens, the second installment became Germany’s biggest domestic theatrical opening of 2022 and the strongest opening for a German production in almost five years. With more than 2.8 million admissions, the franchise firmly secured its place among Germany’s top-performing theatrical brands.
With every new chapter, the universe continues to grow: new magical animals, new adventures and an ever-expanding story world deepen audience engagement.
Part three, released on September 26, 2024, dominated the box office with more than 580,000 admissions during its opening weekend alone. After just eight weeks, ticket sales had surpassed 2.7 million, making it the most successful German film release of 2024. It also became the first German production since 2020 to cross the three-million-admissions mark, earning the prestigious Golden Screen Award (Goldene Leinwand).
Part four, released on September 25, 2025, continued the franchise’s impressive growth trajectory. To date, the films have collectively drawn more than twelve million moviegoers to cinemas across the German-speaking market.
And the story is far from over. A fifth feature film has already been confirmed for theatrical release on September 30, 2027. At the same time, the brand is expanding well beyond the big screen, with a planned TV series and additional content formats designed to further grow the universe and ensure strong multi-platform visibility through 2028 and beyond.
These films highlight the issues kids can face at school, from bullies to friends and finding the strength to be your true self. The animals guide their chosen human partners through all manner of troubles. Even if, at first, some kids are not so enthusiastic about their animal, in the end, these loveable creatures prove to us all that, like their young companions, there’s more to them than meets the eye.
