What is the True Meaning of the Curse in Spellbound, and How Was It Ultimately Broken?

Princess Ellian and her family received an unconventional happy ending in Spellbound, as the curse on King Solon and Queen Ellesmere was broken unexpectedly. This animated fantasy adventure introduces the royal family of a magical kingdom who spent an entire year hiding a dark secret. Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, voiced the king and queen, ventured into an enchanted forest and were tragically transformed into monsters.

Their daughter, Princess Ellian, played by Rachel Zegler, bore the heavy burden of this secret. Determined to break the curse and restore her family, she embarked on a desperate quest while pretending everything was normal.

This heartfelt tale combines family resilience, magical twists, and emotional depth, making Spellbound a must-watch for fans of fantasy and adventure.

The terrible King and Queen of Spellbound tried to destroy the neighboring castle and even fight each other, seemingly forgetting about their daughter, Princess Ellian. A consensus emerged among the few who knew Ellian’s secret: the princess should be crowned queen and given sole authority over the kingdom, while the monstrous king and queen should be banished.

However, Ellian discovered one final glimmer of hope. To restore her parents to their true selves, she needed to guide them through the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness and find the Lake of Light.

Yet, the ending of Spellbound on Netflix revealed an unexpected twist, making the resolution even more magical and emotional. This story of hope, perseverance, and love captivated viewers, solidifying Spellbound as a standout animated fantasy adventure.

How Was the Curse on Princess Ellian’s Parents Finally Broken in Spellbound’s Ending?

Spellbound
Spellbound | Source: IMDB

In Spellbound, the king and queen gradually regain their memories as they travel with Princess Ellian through the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness. As monsters, their only focus had been on hurting each other, constantly fighting and destroying everything around them, completely unaware that the child accompanying them was their daughter.

When Ellesmere and Solon reached the Lake of Light, their bitterness and hostility had deepened, transforming them into monstrous versions of themselves. The glow of love they once shared was gone, and they were no longer in love. This emotional turning point in Spellbound highlights the power of love, memory, and determination in overcoming even the darkest curses.

Ellian’s parents, however, couldn’t just enter the Lake of Light and pick up the light they had lost. Rather, after Spellbound, the two collaborated to cast the pool’s luminous light onto their long-neglected daughter.

Solon and Ellsemre acknowledged that they had lost sight of the fact that their love for their daughter outweighed their feud. They ended the spell on Spellbound’s queen and king when they put Ellian first once more, and the family hugged in the now-empty lake. Unlike the previous one, a new light enveloped them and their surroundings.

What Does Princess Ellian’s Vision and Encounter with Her Younger Self Mean in Spellbound?

Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, and Rachel Zegler in Spellbound
Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, and Rachel Zegler in Spellbound | Source: IMDB

The princess began disintegrating when Ellesmere and the motionless, hideous Solon shifted their attention from the Lake of Light to their troubles, excluding Ellian. For an entire year, Ellian kept things together, pretending nothing was wrong and holding onto the hope that her family would return to normal and her parents’ true forms would be restored.

However, even after their memories were restored, Ellian could no longer endure her self-centered, monstrous parents and their behavior. This pivotal moment in Spellbound underscores Ellian’s emotional struggle and the shattering realization that not even restored memories could bring back the love and unity she longed for.

Spellbound’s Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness turns everyone who thinks negatively into a monster by conjuring a tornado of evil. King Solon and Queen Ellesmere were originally cursed in this exact manner. When this happened to Ellian, her parents eventually calmed down.

Disagreements aside, they poured the entirety of the Lake of Light over their daughter after realizing she wasn’t okay. Ellian saw a younger version of herself as the darkness dissipated, and she tried to draw her toward a picture of their family as they used to be.

It would never be the same again,” Ellian softly reminded her younger self. Rachel Zegler’s musical figure sang, “Families don’t all grow in one straight line,” emphasizing the importance of letting go of the past. Ellian hugged the weeping child, acknowledging it was time to embrace the future for herself and her parents.

Their family relationships were shifting, but their love for one another would blossom again, bringing a new, bright light into the pool. This poignant moment in Spellbound captures the emotional transformation of family dynamics and the hopeful renewal of love and connection.

Why Were Queen Ellesmere and King Solon Unable to Enter the Lake of Light in Spellbound?

Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and Rachel Zegler in Spellbound
Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and Rachel Zegler in Spellbound | Source: IMDB

In Spellbound’s fantasy, the curse on the queen and king was finally lifted, but not in the way anybody had expected. They were to enter the Lake of Light and be miraculously transformed back into their former selves, but the light faded when they attempted to do so.

Just before they were cursed, Ellesmere and Solon glimpsed a vision of themselves as they continued to strive. Even before they changed, they had been fighting, insulting each other, and acting like monsters. Both knew right away that they didn’t want to return to that.

Spellbound’s powerful metaphor for love, “light,” was gone, and Queen Ellesmere and King Solon were cursed. Nevertheless, they couldn’t just enter a swimming pool and suddenly fall in love again.

They had to reinvent their connection and create something new to lift the curse. They tried to leave Ellian and find a means to accomplish this alone. But as their daughter started becoming a monster herself, they understood that they had to prioritize their daughter to rebuild properly.

What Impact Did the King and Queen’s Divorce Have on Ellian and Their Kingdom in Spellbound?

Spellbound
Spellbound | Source: IMDB

Princess Ellian thought that her happy ending would see her parents become exactly who they had been before, but the unexpected ending of this children’s film revealed something completely different. The King and Queen were effectively divorced after returning to their kingdom after being transformed back into humans in Spellbound.

They resided in different castles but still ruled and had children together. With Queen Ellesmere and King Solon constantly prioritizing their daughter, Ellian, and the country, they have flourished under this new dynamic. Despite their changes, their family remained more loving than ever.

What is the True Meaning of the Ending in Spellbound?

Spellbound
Spellbound | Source: IMDB

The main theme of Netflix’s Spellbound is the transformations a family experiences as a marriage starts to fail. Even before their curse, King Solon and Queen Ellesmere had become monsters who had neglected to prioritize their daughter and lost their love for one another.

The pressure was all on Ellian while these parents concentrated on their resentment of one another. Spellbound shows that Ellian was compelled to mature earlier than she should have. They were merely hardships that Ellian was forced to bear despite being commended for her extraordinary grace and maturity.

Spellbound ultimately illustrates how divorce develops within a family. If her parents could cease loving each other, Ellian feared they would stop loving her. If her family could change one thing, it would undoubtedly change everything. Children of divorce often experience these very familiar emotions, and the Netflix film uses this to educate parents about the burdens they may unintentionally lay on their children.

However, Spellbound’s last message is directed specifically at the kids. It serves as a reminder that they are cherished and that the light of their love may still be something lovely despite the differences in appearance within their family.

Watch Spellbound on:

About Spellbound

Spellbound is a 2024 American animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film directed by Vicky Jenson from a screenplay by Julia Miranda and the writing team of Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin. It features music composed by Alan Menken, who also wrote the songs with longtime collaborator and lyricist Glenn Slater.

Produced by Skydance Animation, the film features the voices of Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

Set in the world of magic known as Lumbria, the story follows Princess Ellian (Zegler) who must break the spell that has turned her parents into monsters and split her kingdom in two.

Epic Dope Staff

Epic Dope Staff

Our talented team of Freelance writers - Always on the lookout - pour their energies into a wide range of topics bringing to our audience what they crave - fun up-to-date news, reviews, fan theories and much much more.

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