# The Sound of Magic
**The Sound of Magic** (안나라수마나라) is a 2022 South Korean fantasy musical drama series released on Netflix, based on the 2010 Naver webtoon *Annarasumanara* by Ha Il-kwon. It follows two disenchanted teenagers, Yoon Ah-yi and Na Il-deung, who meet a mysterious magician named Ri-eul living in an abandoned amusement park[1](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult). The series consists of six episodes of roughly 69 minutes each, directed by Kim Sung-yoon and scripted by Kim Min-jeong, and was released in full on May 6, 2022[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/58674/the-sound-of-magic).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 안나라수마나라 (*Annarasumanara*), an invented Korean word for "abracadabra"[4](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-making-of-the-sound-of-magic-featurette) |
| Platform and release | Netflix, all six episodes on May 6, 2022[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic) |
| Format | Fantasy music drama, one season of 6 episodes averaging 69 minutes[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/58674/the-sound-of-magic) |
| Source material | Webtoon *Annarasumanara* by Ha Il-kwon, serialized on Naver Webtoon in 2010 and previously adapted into a play[5](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere) |
| Main cast | Ji Chang-wook as Ri-eul, Choi Sung-eun as Yoon Ah-yi, Hwang In-yeop as Na Il-deung[5](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere) |
| Creative team | Director Kim Sung-yoon (*Itaewon Class*); screenwriter Kim Min-jeong (*Love in the Moonlight*)[1](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult) |
| Reception | IMDb 7.5/10 from about 7,000 votes; Rotten Tomatoes 100% Tomatometer from 5 reviews and 93% Popcornmeter[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14460684/ratings/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic/s01) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The story centers on Yoon Ah-yi, a high school student who lost her dreams to poverty. Abandoned by her parents, she supports herself and her younger sister through part-time work while managing school, and her only ambition is to become an adult quickly. Her classmate Na Il-deung, the top student at their school, is pressured by his parents to stay at the top of his class to secure a good future career. The two meet Ri-eul, a mysterious magician who lives in an abandoned amusement park and, although grown up, wants to remain a child. He introduces them to hopes and dreams they had set aside[1](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult) • [4](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-making-of-the-sound-of-magic-featurette).
The names carry the theme: Ah-yi literally means "child" in Korean, and Il-deung means "number one"[4](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-making-of-the-sound-of-magic-featurette). Director Kim Sung-yoon described the series as raising questions for both adults and children about what it means to become an adult, how children should be raised, and how to define a happy life[1](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult).
## From webtoon to screen
The source webtoon, *Annarasumanara*, was serialized on Naver Webtoon in 2010 and had already been adapted into a stage play before the drama[5](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere). Kim Sung-yoon first proposed the live-action adaptation to Ha Il-kwon and said he had wanted to adapt the webcomic for about eight years before the series reached audiences[1](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult). He involved screenwriter Kim Min-jeong and Ha Il-kwon from the early planning stages to set the direction and tone, drawing on his experience adapting the webtoon *Itaewon Class* for television[8](https://www.hellokpop.com/kdrama/the-sound-of-magic-director-writer-interview/).
Kim has said he wanted to preserve the original's message about characters wavering between dreams and reality, and to convey its warm comfort[5](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere).
## Music and magic
The series is one of the first K-dramas to prominently feature musical theater, with [Ji Chang-wook](https://www.edgepedia.org/ji-chang-wook), Choi Sung-eun, and Hwang In-yeop performing their own songs; Hwang also plays guitar in one scene[4](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-making-of-the-sound-of-magic-featurette). Kim has explained that he thought integrating music into the magic theme could convey the story's message effectively, weaving music, choreography, and computer-generated imagery into the original narrative[8](https://www.hellokpop.com/kdrama/the-sound-of-magic-director-writer-interview/).
The magic itself had professional supervision. The illusionist Lee Eun-gyeol, who has performed in Korea for 25 years, served as "magical scene director," and the production also received his help more broadly[9](https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/HonoraryReporters/view?articleId=215154) • [10](https://www.hellokpop.com/featured/press-con-the-sound-of-magic/). For his role, Ji Chang-wook practiced magic and singing for at least three months before filming began[5](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere).
## Reception
Critical response was generally favorable on aggregate measures: Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 100% Tomatometer from five critics and a 93% audience score[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic/s01), while IMDb users gave 7.5 out of 10 from about 7,000 ratings, with the finale the highest-rated episode at 8.6[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14460684/ratings/). Within two days of release the series was ranked third among TV shows on Netflix in some markets[11](https://namastehallyu.com/the-sound-of-magic-review-redreaming-through-magic-and-music/).
Critics divided over the musical format and pacing. Kate Sánchez of *But Why Tho?* scored it 9/10, calling it "fantastically emotive in every way," and Kayti Burt of *Paste Magazine* (7.3/10) praised Kim's "dazzling visuals" and the cast's earnest performances[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic/s01). More mixed reviews came from Pierce Conran of the *South China Morning Post* (3/5), who called it "a half-baked fable," and Jonathon Wilson of *Ready Steady Cut* (3/5), who found it "a little too nice" and safe[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic/s01). An NME review praised Ji Chang-wook's portrayal of Ri-eul and the cinematography but judged six hour-long episodes insufficient for the show's ambition, with pacing that establishes characters slowly and then unravels the plot quickly[12](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/the-sound-of-magic-review-netflix-k-drama-3221197).
## References
1. [Netflix's 'The Sound of Magic' to explore meaning of becoming adult, The Korea Times](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220503/netflixs-the-sound-of-magic-to-explore-meaning-of-becoming-adult)
2. [The Sound of Magic, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic)
3. [The Sound of Magic, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/58674/the-sound-of-magic)
4. [The Making of Musical K-drama 'The Sound of Magic', Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-making-of-the-sound-of-magic-featurette)
5. [Fantasy Music Drama "The Sound Of Magic" Shares 3 Focal Points Ahead Of Premiere, Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1524990wpp/fantasy-music-drama-the-sound-of-magic-shares-3-focal-points-ahead-of-premiere)
6. [The Sound of Magic (2022) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14460684/ratings/)
7. [The Sound of Magic: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_sound_of_magic/s01)
8. ["The Sound Of Magic" Creative Team Gives A Peek At The Creative Process Of The Series, Hellokpop](https://www.hellokpop.com/kdrama/the-sound-of-magic-director-writer-interview/)
9. [Illusionist discusses advisory role in hit drama 'Sound of Magic', Korea.net](https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/HonoraryReporters/view?articleId=215154)
10. ["The Sound Of Magic" Promises To Wield Comfort and Encouragement, Hellokpop](https://www.hellokpop.com/featured/press-con-the-sound-of-magic/)
11. ['The Sound Of Magic' Review: Redreaming Through Magic And Music, Namaste Hallyu](https://namastehallyu.com/the-sound-of-magic-review-redreaming-through-magic-and-music/)
12. ['The Sound Of Magic' review: sorcery and symphonies collide on this stirring, if average, fantasy K-drama, NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/the-sound-of-magic-review-netflix-k-drama-3221197)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Korean contemporary drama › Fantasy, supernatural, and science fiction series › Premiered 2010 to 2022*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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