History WesternAnimation / TheMagicRiddle

** It may be {{Justified}} that in the beginning of the movie, during the first song sequence, the old woman who plays Cindy's grandmother in the story, was just making it up as it goes due to her poor memory.

* {{Catchphrase}}: Pinocchio has this habit of saying he's the best ___ in the world. He has an ego problem it seems.

* OffModel: Lots of instances of these. Many of the scenes have many differing art styles and direction, given the main directors all have their different styles. As a result scenes will look very off and include lots of animation errors. One minute you'll be having the movie looking like [[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b729e385-c0a7-4fd9-b695-420574463a26/dekulok-06cc5932-76b5-4995-a29c-30d69a8facc3.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2I3MjllMzg1LWMwYTctNGZkOS1iNjk1LTQyMDU3NDQ2M2EyNlwvZGVrdWxvay0wNmNjNTkzMi03NmI1LTQ5OTUtYTI5Yy0zMGQ2OWE4ZmFjYzMucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.CfqMGv53Yw3Z64jKmKzd9KWa7BjnhddaszYQLcpP6Lw this]] and then the next minute the next scene completely whiplashes you with [[https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cc047403da0868443328a1f450ddf593da41256c/0_39_704_422/master/704.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&s=938f9a2f9576ee542c7757d9b1961c1d THIS.]]

''The Magic Riddle'' is a 1991 Australian fantasy musical animated film directed by Creator/YoramGross. The story follows Cindy (inspired by Cinderella), a servant to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters who desires to have love. Along the way, she goes through a bunch of parts of different fairy tales, being narrated by an old woman who keeps on mixing them up, combining into her own story. The film was first released in Australia in September of 1991, and eventually had a theatrical release in the Philippines in 1994. The film has since been criticized for it's jumbled story, less than favorable animation and being a carbon copy of different Disney films that preceded the movie.

* UnexplainedAccent: You really can't tell WHERE this fairytale is supposed to take place in with all of the different accents.

* AmbiguouslyRelated: Exactly how the widow and her daughters are related to Cindy is never elaborated on in the film itself. Given the CinderellaPlot, one would assume they're her stepmother and stepsisters, but the only time this is said to be the case is in the trailer, not the actual film.
** There's also the question of how the widow obtained Cindy's grandfather's estate, especially considering his wife is still alive. It's unlikely this is one of those "legal guardian benefitting from the estate" sort of deals since Cindy being the rightful heir doesn't seem to be common knowledge.

* AmbiguouslyRelated: Exactly how the widow and her daughters are related to Cindy is never elaborated on in the film itself. Given the CinderellaPlot, one would assume they're her stepmother and stepsisters, but the only time this is said to be the case is in the trailer, not the actual film. There's also the question of how the widow obtained Cindy's grandfather's estate, especially considering his wife is still alive.

* * AmbiguouslyRelated: Exactly how the widow is related to Cindy is never elaborated on in the film itself. One would assume she's her WickedStepmother considering the CinderellaPlot, though she's only addressed as such in the trailer. There's also the question of how the widow obtained Cindy's grandfather's estate, especially considering his wife is still alive.

''The Magic Riddle'' is a 1991 Australian fantasy musical animated film directed by Creator/YoramGross. The story follows Cindy (inspired by Cinderella), a servant to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters who desires to have love. Along the way, she goes through a bunch of parts of different fairy tales, being narrated by an old woman who keeps on mixing them up, combining into her own story. The film was first released in Australia in September of 1991, and eventually had a theatrical release in the Phillipines in 1994. The film has since been criticised for it's jumbled story, less than favourable animation and being a carbon copy of different Disney films that preceded the movie.

* AgonyOfTheFeet: It's only when Cindy gets her foot stepped on by Pinocchio that she realises she needs shoes. Guess all of the other times she was perfectly fine having none.
* AmbiguousTimePeriod: Does anyone know what time period this movie is supposed to take place in? This is a fairytale and there are elements of it being set in the 19th century, but THEN you have elements that exceed WAY into the future. Fairytales must be more wack than we thought...

* BondVillainStupidity: Instead of the Widow's main goal being to search for the will, it should've been her going back to high school after the stupidity she exhibits. For example, the moment she sneaks up on Grandma one would think she's going to capture her and make sure she doesn't do anything else to help Cindy right? Well instead she chases her around for whatever reason (Maybe trying to drive her out?) and then lets her get away. Then she tries to gain her BACK and take revenge on Cindy by putting on disguises that would definitely get her to be recognised in an instant. And THEN to try and lure Cindy back she hosts a ball since Cindy loves to dance. Okay that seems pretty smart. But spoilers, the ball is a MASKED ball. So it would've been pointless to try and find Cindy if she's in a way helping her not be lured back into her life of hardship. On the other hand [[IdiotHero our protagonists aren't any better...]]
* CardCarryingVillain: The widow sings a VillainSong about how "Mean Mean Mean" she is.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Everyone in this film calls the Widow either "Mother" or actually just "The Widow". Heck even the Widow herself calls her that. Which raises some interesting questions...
* EvilSoundsRaspy: The Widow has a strange raspy, high pitched voice that can't decide if her accent is either Australian or American. It gets to the point of irritating fast.
* FanDisservice: The widow flashes her knickers onscreen as well her breasts fly around.

* {{Gainaxing}}: The less said about the Widow's torso anatomy the better.

* InformedDeformity: Cindy describes herself as "ugly duckling", but she's actually beautiful (see IWantSong below).

* NoNameGiven: The widow's name is never revealed.
* NotQuiteDead: You'd think that after failing her last plan, becoming dehydrated, having a bucket smashed on her head, being flung by a well crane and THEN falling into the deep well, the Widow might've finally dropped. But eventually she makes it out... Only to be dropped back in multiple times with no harm done to her. That's some shocking strength.

* VillainSong: The widow's song "Mean Mean Mean".
* WickedStepMother: Cindy's stepmother (simply known as the widow) who tries to steal her inheritance. Of course there is an evil stepmother because it's a reference to Cinderella.

* BarefootPoverty: Cindy, except when Pinocchio gives her his shoes.

* DamselInDistress: Cindy falls in this trope too many times too often. Though Cindy DOES have a personality as well as having motives and goals, she barely contributes to the movie outside of being a feel sorry for character, as well as a titular princess trope who cries about how sad her life is, sings about whatever and must be protected at all costs (That includes being saved every time by all of the other characters without her doing anything). Though she gets her happy ending, it doesn't feel like she earned it outside of what she's supposed to represent because fairytales. And yes there are times when she does make decisions and helps, but only because other people tell her to. And the one time where she does want to help on her own accord (When the dwarves first appear and go out to find grandma), they say that she must stay and be guarded because "It's too dangerous".

* GrewASpine: Emphasis on GREW. In the original concept trailer, Cindy actually stands up to her stepmother by refusing to do her chores, and decides to run away for a better life on her own accord, growing an independent and rebellious attitude. A scene in the concept trailer shows that she is facing a challenge she must escape on her own. As a result, her happily ever after is much more deserved and earned as she contributed something then. However, this was only the concept trailer as the final movie would cut those scenes out for whatever reason. Cindy as a result of this change would revert back to her one dimensional personality of being a damsel in distress and everyone would forever be beyond comprehension as to why they didn't stick to the original formula. Another character who can fall into this line in the final movie can be Ertha, one of the stepsisters. Most evident where she decides to take a stand against the Widow and help Philippe after being refused to search for Pinocchio and being insulted at.

* ProneToTears: Cindy has a total of 8 scenes where she cries about something. In some instances Cindy cries in one scene and then cries in the NEXT one after it!
* RagsToRiches: Cindy eventually follows this trope the moment she marries Philippe and gets the inheritance.

* TheHero: Cindy. [[DamselInDistress Though she doesn't have much to contribute.]]

* TheWoobie: There might need to be a checklist for ALL of the times and ALL of the features that make Cindy the ultimate fairytale woobie.