Right before Cedric got arrested: King Roland "I didn't think you were capable of doing something like this" Cedric: "You didn't think I was capable of doing anything". Those words, those two lines of dialogue, were powerful as f*ck.
Watching this, I'm suddenly reminded of Megamind and how he shares an eerie similarity in Cedric's character. Remember, Megamind saw himself a villain because society did, but throughout the movie, Megamind changed and by the end, he became a hero despite it all. Something Cedric seemingly mirrors here.
It's messed up because the Prison Warden allowed him to be raised in a prison instead of saying "Good Lord there's a baby in the prison let's get him out of here he needs a proper home."
He has the megamind arc but imo his humor and overall personality reminds me of Gru from Despicable Me (not to mention both of them softened up because of certain children)
Not just kids' shows; Disney Junior was aimed for a preschool/kindergarten audience, so the fact that this is good despite being made for an audience who may be too young to appreciate it is pretty good.
Cedric and Sofia’s relationship was one of the best things in the show, she really helped Cedric through all the abuse he’d put up with since a child, by being there for him, and believing in him.🌈
Agreed! I beg you to avoid tracking down anything Cedric related when somebody decided to turn their innocent friendship into them being lovers once Sofia’s of legal age.
I love it when kids shows are actually well written and have good lessons to be learned rather than being mind-numbing slop just because "iTs FoR kIdS!" Kids deserve good shows, because the media they consume is ultimately what they're most focused on during their upbringing.
Fr, not only are there shows like Sesame Street & Bluey, shows that've tackled things like divorce & are praised by everyone, but Cedric, hell, Sophia The Frist had no gd right to be amazing as a "kid's show" made by modern Disney! They so easily could've used that classic "iTz 4 KiDz & KiDz R dUmB!" excuse (think of how the theme of the "sequel" to Wreck-It-Ralph was so hammered in as an example), but the heart of this show & the reliability of Cedric went harder than what I'd expect from modern Disney! (That dude's conflict with his family & self esteem pains me & I love it) 💀
@@fandroid6491 I mean... a show can be made for kids and still be enjoyed by adults too. In fact, that's usually the defining quality of the best kids shows. Parents have to sit through shows their kids watch all the time, so its good if that show happens to be fun and entertaining for the adults too.
I also find it very interesting how the show slowly shifted how Sofia and Cedric's relationship was going to be rather early on. I don't think this whole redemption arc was going to happen at first but when Sofia stopped calling Cedric "Seedric" it was when it clicked for the writers.
I don't think that's an accurate observation considering that episode 4 pretty much foreshadowed the whole thing. But I'll admit, the episodes often go back and forth with the character development so the progress can be easy to overlook.
I jusy realized Sofia has paid more respect to the original Disney Princesses way more than most Disney Remakes 😂 especially Mulan 🗿 Sofia The First was somehow more respectful and faithful to Mulan's character than the live action one
Just because a show is aimed at children, specifically little girls in this case, does not mean it does not have more going for it. Speaking as a guy and as a Disney Princess fan, I enjoyed this show growing up. I quite agree with everything in this video. Cedric is a well-written character and his redemption arc is most certainly one of the best.
@wdestroarchive5934 . Its cringe to like MLP but that show sure was a good show. Music, song, story, world building was one of the best you could find
So essentially, Cedric is kind of a reverse version of bowler hat guy from meet the Robinsons Instead of a villain who can’t let go of such a minor mistake he made in the past, it’s a villain who isn’t allowed to forget one measly mistake he made in the past because everyone keeps reminding him of such a minor slip-up
I’ve always loved Ambers character arc. From bratty, spoiled, and entitled to accountable, responsible, and understanding. The best Queen their kingdom could ever have. I still love how Aunt Tillie dropped the bomb of how James wasn’t the next ruler but Amber was. And how Amber took to the new role like a fish to water. Yes she still had some struggles juggling the role later on, but to be dropped that reveal and given a position of importance to welcome far away guest last minute she aced that trail.
@@viviennemorgan7217 yes, Aunt Tilly said the eldest child inherits the crown. And that Roland only became king because she(Aunt Tilly) gave up succession.
You briefly mentioned it, but a purple/yellow color scheme like Cedric has is very interesting, as color theory states purple (most of his outfit) to be melancholic, while yellow is a "happy" color. And where's yellow used? Very sparsely in a little bow that probably won't be paid attention to next to the sea of purple that surrounds it. Also thank you for putting song names.
Would it also be worth noting that the yellow bow tie is right next to his heart, thus implying something about him still having some spark of “happiness/goodness” in there?
I honestly felt bad for everything Cedric went through until Sofia came into his life. All he wanted was for people to respect him and not constantly put him and his abilities down. Even his own family (except his mother) treated him like garbage and were too prideful, stubborn and stupid to even try to be civil with him. And let’s not forget how King Roland had the audacity to abandon his friendship with Cedric once he was branded a bungler. I honestly resented him for that. But once he met Sofia, his views on his life goal changed and now his life’s gotten so much better. His relationship with his dad and sister is getting better, he and Roland reconciled and he’s given the title of “Cedric the Great” in the series finale. I just hope if there’s a reboot that’s about the future, all of this sticks.
@@fleshdadbot6852 Basically a wizard who's on the bad side, possibly kicked out of his village for practicing dark magic, has beef with a child, has an animal familiar, and wants to be known for great things.
I think Cedric is definitely part of what made me commit to watching sofia the first. Cedric is a very compelling character, with him always being unapologetically himself (even though he also hides his feelings/tricks others at the same time! Duality! His shifting morals is such a treat in terms of character motivations/arcs!) I always thought Cedric was a sympathetic villain, after all, even within his evil schemes, you see the royal children (sofia included) actually trust Cedric and rely on him for help whenever they need something! And in the episode where the children must make a science project, ill always remember the scene where cedric says "you came to the greatest sorcerer in the world for school supplies?!" And amber replies "No, we came to you...! :((" LIKE THE CHILDREN ALWAYS ENDED UP TRUSTING HIM AND GOING TO HIM FOR HELP AND EVEN THOUGH CEDRICS PEERS DIDNT SEE HIS POTENTIAL, THE KIDS ALWAYS DID! Cedric was never a bad person, he was misunderstood and wrongfully accused of something that wasnt ever his fault to begin with. Also, of note: In the episode the looking back glass, note how younger cedric was performs magic without using a wand, and until the potion was tempered with, his magic was working perfectly fine. It was always my belief that had the potion not been messed with and Cedric being blamed unjustly, he would've grown up being a natural prodigy with magic. Its a sad but symbolic way to show that cedric was ALWAYS capable, ALWAYS talented, but if you mistreat a person for long enough, it will eorde their confidence and skills to the point of crippling their potential. I adore that eventually, as Cedric's confidence grows, so does his magical ability again. The fact his magic is so connected to his emotions in my mind further proves his own aptitude for magic.
It’s always in shows of fantasy that had magic and emotions connected for example Elsa learning she does need to hide her emotions and herself from the world
In that episode it hurt me when everyone at the party began to say that he is a terrible sorcerer and that mistake was his fault and Cedric, being a kid, begs: "stop! stop it! don't say that!" something like that as I remember
I can believe I JUST noticed how Cedric's mom and Sofia look so similar. They both have purple amulets/gems that look similar and are designed with the same color schemes. AND they're both the only people who supported him fully throughout his life.
Right??? I know there is an age gap but I always shipped Sofia and Cedric. I wonder if his mother looking like her is a subtle thing that "when you grow old and look like your father you'll be with a woman in a purple dress"
Maybe I'm a little biased (I had a huge crush on him when I was little) but he gives the series SO much depth. His redemption arch really gave me hope in changing for the better - I didn't have many people believe in me when growing up, not even my own mother - and I'm currently applying for University. I've gained so many true friends who support me no matter what and as crazy as it sounds, the purple sorcerer helped me push through to where I am now :)
i'm so happy for you! :DDDD (I also had a huge crush on him btw. I had a CD with the show's songs and i couldnt hear his, because i just started blushing like a madman xD)
I'm a sucker for a good love story, so the evolution of Cedric from a comic villain to a kindly uncle was a joy to watch. They developed a tremendous mutual respect and admiration. I loved his Villain's Heal-face Turn when she said the worst thing he did wasn't trying to take over the kingdom, it was saying he wasn't her friend.
This show is like my comfort show, it has charm, great characters, not too serious, but serious enough to be interesting, and it is really easy to binge. I think it is very underrated Edit: And I almost forgot, It also has really good songs too.
You should watch the 2010 My Little Pony if you haven't already. It's also entertaining with good songs and well-done characters. (It takes a little while to reach the good songs though)
@@Sonic_the_hedgedogsunset shimmer is my favorite! She’s got such a great personality, and her arc in the one equestrian girls special (I can’t remember the name of it) was fantastic, and still is rewatching it years later
It's so underrated and it was awesome to see my Cedric and stf friends share this video. It was nice to see this analysis cuz of my aforementioned former fear of talking about it as a kid. I'd love to see more about this show from you! And the songs are like a theater kids dream (something I was to scared to be because of reasons. Again, Cedric helped me heal from that) Some kids shows have so much to give, more than people realize. I think looking back at some is important. Because there may be so many things you missed. Not like adult jokes. But deeper things you can only understand once you've lived it, and it can help remind of the joy of childhood again.
Just gonna say this, Sofia the First is a family show. Actual family shows used to be a lot more prevalent on TV. The fall from having so many family shows to having just 'kid shows' came with a dumbing down that happened slowly, then all at once. I got to see it, having an age gap of more than a decade with all my siblings, then spending time with friend's kids as their favorite 'not an uncle' after enlisting. Family shows are meant to have parents involved, either in watching with the kids or as a source the kids can get answers from when they have questions about the show. If one looks at the kid shows that have had wild fanbases in recent years, one can see that even when stupid humor is used, it isn't dumbed down. The kid shows popular with kids and adults are a return to elements that made family shows stand out, they aren't dumbed down. Even when they are written more for kids, they are simple, not dumbed down. This is the draw.👍
I thinks it’s absolutely adorable how he leans towards his mother with such a fond look at 11:34. It’s not only cute, but I think it humanizes him a little and makes him seem less like an evil villain.
I can easily compare Cedric the Sorcerer with Prince Zuko. Cedric wanting to take over the kingdom of Enchancia but Sofia showing that he doesn't need to take over the kingdom proves that Cedric can be good. For Prince Zuko, he thought that capturing the Avatar would be how his honor can be given but when he decided to side with the Avatar and help end the 100-year war, Zuko believed that honor is something you earn for yourself and that it can't be given. These two characters went from being bad to good and proved that they can do good in the world no matter how the world treats them. Zuko's redemption arc is the best redemption because he saw that evil and good are always inside him because when he finds out that he has two great-grandfathers, he understood the battle within himself. 👸,🧙,💧,🪨,🔥,🌪.
A major thing I appreciate about both of these characters is how conflicted they are. A lot of times villain redemptions are straight lines, but here the good and evil sides of both characters fight within themselves for large chunks of both shows. The evil side initially wins(Cedric joining the Order of the Wand and Zuko joining Azula) only for them to realize achieving their goals didn't make them happy and they chose to do the right thing.
37:41 This moment was also very sweet 💖 Cedric literally has the Amulet in his hands, no danger of it cursing him but instead looks over at Sofia fondly & gives it back to her, now having everything he actually wanted 🥹
Also for me it is: Cedric finally had the object that he was always determined to possess for his dreams, but he selflessly returned it to Sofia, now having everything he actually wanted.. my heart softens just remembering it.
What happens after that is amazing too! He's now acknowledged as "Cedric the Great", the title he always wanted and thought he could have after getting the Amulet of Avalor; yet after he gives the amulet back to its owner, Sofia addresses him with that title as if it's natural for her because she already knew how great her friend is ("It's about time somebody noticed") before his parents say how proud they're of him. Cedric started wanting to get the King's respect and his father's approval, and getting them on the spot feels like a great closure to his character 💜
I don't know what he meant by "It's about time somebody noticed" when Sofia said "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Cedric the Great." She always knew he was great, and always told him so.
I don't know what he meant by "It's about time somebody noticed" when Sofia said "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Cedric the Great." She always knew he was great, and always told him so.
@@sabrinamiller3671he wasn't talking about Sof noticing that, he was talking about the title of Great being finally something the whole kingdom would notice aside from Sofia. After all he saved her in front of the fairies, the royal family,her friends and other creatures, ofc he is gonna be recognizable after that. Hope it helps
As a kid, I liked Cedric for being the villain to a show I was sick of sitting through with my little sisters. As an adult, I like Cedric for reaching out to me as a character. I wish I noticed the good elements of this show when I was a kid instead of dismissing them for being in my ear every day.
This is a FANTASTIC video essay! Cedric was a character who could have easily been written off as “pure evil” and never redeemed, but clearly these writers understood the assignment and I couldn’t be happier 😫 I only watched a bit of this show a while back, but you might have just convinced me to watch it again!! You’ve earned a sub !
Welp, just binged all the Cedric episodes and started season 1, this show is a GEM 🥹 “My Evil Dreams” lives rent-free in my head, so thanks for the new fixation!
Cedric is easily my 2nd favorite character in this show (1st being Sofia). He's so layered and dynamic and the journey with him was legitimately heartwarming. I adore Bluey and there are other Disney Junior shows I really like but none can surpass Sofia the First personally; it's just that special in my eyes.
This is definitely a surprise to see (although I guess Rockotar did tease this idea in an earlier video). Cedric is definitely an interesting character. He has a detailed backstory, he can be an enjoyable character to watch and he does grow throughout the course of the show. Throughout most of the show, he's basically a character with mixed morality and his role can depend (prior to the end where he shifts to a protagonist). Some episodes he is the antagonist while in others, he's helping the main characters doing whatever (and in others, he's not even present). A pretty nice thing the show did is that it showed pretty early on that Cedric is more than just an incompetent villain. In the fourth episode of the show (Cedric's Apprentice), we already get a strong character study on Cedric. There will be spoilers for this episode: Basically, Sofia has to study for a magic exam and she needs Cedric's help to study, as he is the royal magician. Cedric is initially reluctant as he does not care for Sofia but he goes along with it as he realises that he can use the opportunity to take the amulet from Sofia, which was his main goal at this point in the show. The two of them bond and it culminates in the two of them putting on a magic show for their family. Cedric's initial plan was to use the magic show to take the amulet from Sofia and he has the opportunity to easily do just that. You do see him seriously contemplate whether he is going to betray Sofia and take the amulet or perform the magic show as Sofia expected. In the end, he chooses not to take the amulet and the magic show goes as planned. Everyone is pleased and Sofia passes her test. The episode ends with a really sweet moment where Cedric says something along the lines of "there's always another day to take over the kingdom". The end of the episode ultimately shows that while Cedric still ultimately has the same goal, he has also grown to appreciate Sofia by not violating her trust, at least for the time being. The episode is honestly one of the best in the show. It's an early episode of the show which shows us that Cedric is more than just a incompetent villain. In a good chunk of episodes where Cedric fails to achieve his goals, it comes down to his stupidity but in this episode, he doesn't achieve his goals because he decides to put his new friend over his selfish desires. The episode makes you know that Cedric wants the amulet and to take over the kingdom (he even has a whole song about it) so when he decides to give up those things , it is really impactful and sweet as the episode does make you second guess what Cedric is going to do. It shows us that Cedric is a more layered character and that he can grow, even if this is only the beginning. For me, this episode is one of the closest the show comes to greatness. It's really good stuff, especially considering the show's main target audience. I mainly just wanted to talk about Cedric's Apprentice because for me, it is one of the most praise worthy episodes of the show.
Yes, that duality is what made him intriguing as character to me. It also moves me when he says: "there's always another day to take over the kingdom" and how is the time he spends with Sofia, and even in the chapter I felt he was honestly worried when Sofia spilled the lizard potion accidentally.
I love Cedric too. He kind of gives me the vibe of being a good uncle. It was a great ending to his character arc to have him saving Sofia from the amulet. Really wonderful. At that moment he was basically an expert of the amulet and all his knowledge he acquired originally for villainy reasons was put to use to become a hero instead. Which I liked too because as you said, he thought he was destined to become a villain--and instead of the show just waving away all his prior experience and making it useless they flipped the script and said no, his experience actually was valuable, and was "destined for good" essentially because of who he was as a person inside. I love that. And that he finally got the same title as his father after saving Sofia. I like too how his greatness came from protecting someone "insignificant." I like how his role was small, because I think it shows that greatness isn't just based on your role in society. Sofia obviously is going to become (and already is) the best hero they have in their land. I really like that the older generation, Cedric, saved the next generation's greatest hero. That too, was really cool. I like the family vibe of that--which again he gives me a feeling of a good uncle. Kind of the uncle who's a failure but he actually helps out the family in the end and makes a difference. (Which you just don't see that story anywhere as far as I know--extremely rare to have a story of a good uncle character) But that's nice to see.
I too, at first Cedric pretended that he cared about Sofia, to get closer to his amulet, but then he realized that Sofia really admired him and was very kind to him unlike others, and he started to really care about her, every time she needed his help, and really Sofia brought out the best version of himself. And it does surprise me that in the end all the knowledge he had about the amulet of Avalor (which he had for his villainous plans) he used for the good to save her. Besides he saved her because she was his friend, not because he thought he would get the title after that, putting all his effort and magic. I will never forget Cedric, really a great good uncle like you said it
I believe it's such a beautiful thing to teach kids that even if people do bad things, it doesn't mean they are bad people, and how their mistakes don't define them when they do make them. Yes, Cedric says he is a bad person and he did do some bad things, but you can see how remorseful he is about it every time he has to do them. It isn't just a case of "feeling bad he got caught" either, since he didn't really get caught in many of them, he just sorta gave up on them when he realized he was doing something terrible.
I used to always adore Cedric as a kid when i firsy saw the show. He was funny and really interesting to me. But i remember being worried to talk about the show cuz i was 13 and "to old" jfkfkdkf (and now I'm 25 so here we are jfkdkdkd) But i found him oddly comforting then and i do now. (self shipping aside in the current) I was recently diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder, which has made a lot of things so difficult. Including my career goals as an animator. Where i give uo before i even begin because i get so scared and in my own head. Add to that people in my life who only put me down instead of supporting me, and i just find his character has helped me so much since my diagnosis. Watching the show again, especially recently, has been so healing. Viewing him under the lense of anxiety has helped me immensely. On top of all that, my little brothers began to watch the show with mecand having it to bond over has made me feel closer to them where previously my depression made it difficult. I masked so hard and for so long. Worried about being to much or weird, but Cedric and his goofy self just....IS. He fans over Merlin. He is passioante in his goal. Hes unapologetically funny and sarcastic! In so many ways, his character helped me when i was younger. And in so many ways, he is helping me now. As an animator i of course hate the "animation for kids" narrative. But i feel especially with shows like Sofia the First (and characters like Cedric) it proves ecen if the medium IS intended for kids, that never ONCE steals from its merrit. Ill always stand by animation, kids focus, or otherwsie. Because if not for it, I'd not be an aniamtor today, nor would I have the comfort from Cedric as I deal with my own insecurities and issues.
Also add the fact I've met some of the coolest people ever recently when I started to shout about my love of Cedric on my art accounts. As well as met ond of my best friend. So, needless to say, I adore this video and everything you have to say on Cedric and his journey. As he eternally holds an important place in my heart.
I severely felt that, when I got into the show briefly I was 12-13ish myself and I thought I'd grown out of shows geared toward a 4-10 year old audience, but alas 😂
i checked out your instagram, and i just gotta say i love your art. and im always glad to see selfshippers, im not one personally but i respect the grind so much. keep living your best life soldier o7
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I actually used to watch the show with my younger sister, and I remember we used to find Cedric HILARIOUS. But I also remember seeing that good in him displayed throughout the series until he finally chooses good. I always did wonder as a kid though why he refused to choose good for so long. I can 100% agree that Cedric is an amazing character. I always like to see redemption for evil characters, and I loved the way the writers of the show wrote Cedric’s character arc. The way they handled it was very unique, and I always liked that.
I feel that the reason Cedric always failed in his spells was because deep down he never really agreed with what he was doing, OR because the only MOTIVATION he had was that he wanted to prove others wrong, instead of trying to prove himself right. Like it was mentioned, Cedric did what he did to prove himself, not because it was genuinely something he wanted to do, but rather his only option. Whenever his magic failed, it was usually either during when he was up to no good, or when he was desperately trying to prove himself to others. like at 13:50 , he tried putting everyone to sleep, and it did, but it also put HIM to sleep. Or at 14:30 he turned into that form to steal the princesses crown I believe. 15:00 he's trying to prove himself to his parents.
I loved his character in the show! I loved how it was showing that it was the character’s belief in himself and determination to help Sophia was the ultimate way to make his magic stronger
Cedric is also one of my favorite characters in this show, and I wholeheartedly agree that he has one of the best redemption stories ever. Makes me happy to see someone else give him the appreciation he deserves. Plus I’d be all for you talking about this show again in the future, it’s easily one of my all time favorites.
I noticed something in some of the clips you've used for this video,. Every time Cedric is in danger alongside another, younger character, he puts himself in between them and whatever that danger is. It's a very touching detail!
THANK YOU!!! finally someone who recognizes Cedric's greatness, and that looks beyond the demographics of the program to talk about how well done the best of its characters is.
As someone who’s favorite color is purple and magenta, I agree and appreciate this. On a more serious note, I had no idea this show was that deep. Very happy I watched this, cause now I have a new fictional character to add to my list of favorites
I love when shows for "kids" have way deeper story to them and people still don't see how wonderful they can be Sofia was cool. Tangled the tv show was incredible and so on. Sad how things considered for kids 10 20 years ago is basically pg 13 or even R with telling a story with layers lile justice league tas
This show is genuinely so good but it’s SO underrated I never see people talk about it’s awesomeness, I’m glad it’s becoming more recognized it was a huge part of my childhood. Cedric is also such a great character, truly one of a kind
This was one of my childhood shows, I stopped watching it as a I grew older, and after seeing it get more appreciated I def need to rewatch and finish it
When I was watching Sofia the First, I thought he would always be the generic 1 dimensional villain who only exists to cause conflict. Then I watch Cedric’s apprentice and was blown away by how Sofia showed genuine kindness to Cedric and he actually returned that kindness, passing up on taking the amulet for himself to not hurt Sofia’s feelings. That was a really good episode.
I love Cedric. As somone with anxiety and low self-esteem, I found him really relatable. I also enjoyed his redemption arc. I'd definitely love to see more Sofia the First content!
cedric reminds me so much of megamind. both were shaped by the people around them to fit into a box of expectations. what makes them so cool is that they end up fighting for their voice, to be heard, and to be seen. which is why both characters are great; aaand it doesn't hurt that both cedric and megamind are goofy and charming 😂
another thing I noticed was the main cast are color coded so he shares a close color to Sofia who's a light purple/lavender(?). it made me feel that they would get closer over time. He becomes a good mentor to her and she becomes a true friend to him.
I will admit that I honestly didn't like Cedric at first because he was a villain trying to steal Sofia's amulet to take over the kingdom. Not to mention that I was worried about Sofia actually being friends with him due to the inevitability of his betrayal. However, as the series showed Cedric's past and motivations, I actually started to feel sorry for him, to the point that I wanted things to go well for him, but I wanted him to do the right thing. Cedric was just better on the side of good rather than the side of evil, and I honestly think that his friendship with Sofia was the best thing to ever happen in his life. Ultimately, I was glad that Cedric made right his wrongs, made things right with his father and sister with help from his niece and Sofia, and was ultimately able to keep his friendship with Sofia. I even like that he got to meet his hero, Merlin.
The amount of validation I felt from watching this really makes this comforting. I am soo happy to hear someone talk about Sofia the First beyond its perspective of from children. I love the development of the characters AND I LOVE the story of Cedric 🪄 GAWD the way that it just circles back right from where it started with cedric wanting to be the great and having it be the ending JUST KJNDFLJKADHAJLKDS
Yeah, Cedric is awesome. Cedric and Sofia's relationship is so pure and her kindness helps him so much. Advocating for him and supporting him whenever he needs it. Believing in him.
Excellent essay on Cedric. He is also on my top favorites of all media characters. Sofia the First deserves more love, and I'm glad you provided a discussion years after! There's so much heart put into this show, and truly a good edition to the fantasy genre.
I used to watch this show when I was little. Very entertaining and even a bit inspiring for its intended audience. Personally I'd love to see you cover Thomas & Friends' excellent cast of characters, think it'd be fun to see someone outside the fandom see what makes that show truly special
I used to watch Thomas when I was little, but I haven't watched it in so long that I barely remember anything from it anymore, my grandma used to own a bunch of episodes on VHS.
I hadn't watched an awful lot of Sofia the First when it was airing, but when I did, I was quite fond of Cedric. To me, he had a certain charm to him despite his clumsiness.
I swear, someone on the team was watching Avatar, noticed how good Zuko's development was and yelled, "Write that down!" And applied it to Cedrick's character arc in the best way possible. Cedrick is my favorite character.
As well as being very well written, Cedric is proof that good acting and animation also go a long way into making a character memorable. Ever since I was a kid I've found him entertaining and funny mainly for his voice and mannerisms
I'm so glad there are other people who appreciate Cedric's arc as much as I do. Sofia the First was such a comfort show for me in the 2010s with genuinely amazing character writing and it's so good to see it get the attention it deserves. I'd love to see you cover Amber's arc as well as I think she and Cedric went through the most growth throughout the series. I'm looking forward to seeing future videos. Thank you for making this. 💖
My favorite thing about the show was growing friendship between Cedric and Sofia. This adult man has no idea how to react to this little girl being nice to him. It’s so adorable and funny
My theory on Cedric has also always been that part of the reason he fails so hard is because he's better with potions than wand-magic. We see him complete complicated potions or ones considered difficult throughout the show, even when he faults at wand related magic.
As a child, I would watch this show if it happened to be on. But I never intentionally tried to find it. Though, I can say 1 thing I love about this show. Yeah it's target audience is mainly children, but it manages to appeal to more mature people as well. Every episode has a different lesson that kids can learn, but are very obvious to anyone older than maybe 5. But it does this in conjunction with more "mature" themes. Not only that, but these themes are carried through most of, if not the entire show. It gives everyone a reason to watch it, which I think is very important for any piece of media that is made to be family friendly.
I can’t tell you how much it means to me for someone else to say that just b/c something is “made for kids” doesn’t make it lesser. I watch & rewatch old “kids shows” from my past, b/c some of them have the most compelling characters & stories I’ve ever seen anywhere. Animation in general is looked down on as less b/c it’s “for kids,” but actually it is just a medium w/ which to tell a story. Some tales can only work in animation, just like some can only work as books. I’m so happy that this channel exists to appreciate that.
Wow, thank you so, so much for creating this video essay! Cedric as a character has always been very dear to me, and I’m so happy that there are others out there who recognise the intricacies and complexities of his nature. It may simply be the neurodivergent part of me, but I’ve always felt profound levels of empathy for Cedric and his constant state of inner turmoil. I absolutely agree that he is perhaps one of the most well-written (and frankly hilarious) characters in all of animated television history.
I've never seen Sofia the First before but honestly this video sold me on it! I love it when "kid" shows are more like "everyone but also kid friendly" shows. More kid shows need to be like that.
Man. I was _wrong_ about this show. Big time. They put Cedric in so many situations that expand his whole character and motivations, and others that contrast with them and change his views! They made him win at the goal he was set in achieving for many of the episodes, for Christ's sake! I don't remember many shows who actually did that and ran with it straight, with the added caveat of showing the consequences of it, and expanding on his character growth! More impressively to me tho, is how they put him against actually evil characters despite him being the show's "villain", yet all his backstory, comments and actions don't contrast with those moments! It doesn't feel like he's inconsistent at all. Rather, it gives more nuance to what his goals actually are.
Cedric is my favourite character from Sofia The First. So I absolutely agree with you. I feel bad for him cause of his backstory. I can’t help but be so empathetic and supportive for him.
i think its really cool how in sofia the first there is actual continuity and character development and themes. I was really shocked when cedrick actually had a character arc.
I have never heard of Cedric until watching this video but now that I have. Yes I now see why he is one the greatest characters and redeemed villains. Just hearing about the growth he has is inspiring. Even when he believed he couldn't be good he still did the right thing and his villain song. It feels like he's trying to trick himself into believing that his current connection and growth meant nothing or detracting him from what he thinks he wants. Sadly he went through with thinking that taking over the kingdom was the thing that would make him feel fulfilled.
I absolutely loved this show but felt embarrassed for watching it when I was "older" (I was literally like 8 when I felt embarrassed watching it) now I might rewatch this masterpiece. Never realized how good it actually was like godamn 😮
Absolutely Sofia The First is a literally amazing show, also Cedric was literally my favorite character tbh, so glad you made a video that talks about him.
something i realized... this does the whole 'adult's best and only friend is a little girl' think right, something Ralph breaks the internet failed at. ralph acted so clingy, but Sophia was essential to Cedric's redemption
I love this show SO MUCH. Began watching it in my early adult years because i was a young single mother. I put it on for my child and then fell in love with this show. I rewatch it sometimes by myself haha
As once a male kid I didn't really acknowledged or cared about Sofia the first and it's other characters, but for some reason I never forgot Cedric. I never paid too much attention to the series so I never knew Cedric's whole deal, so it's refreshing to see someone summarizing his story for guys like me. He's unforgettable and is quite literally the Doofenshmirtz of the show.
My little sister used to watch this show all the time. Every time I would hang out with her when it was her turn for the TV and this show was on it was actually pretty nice, there was hardly a moment where I would visibly cringe. It was honestly some of the memories I hold the fondest. Cedric was generally my favorite as well. Edit: Now that I have seen the whole video, yeah now Cedric has been solidified as my favorite, and good on him for finally getting the respect he deserved.
OK I discovered this show when I was in college because my niece was talking about it, I then watched the whole thing years later during covid because it was free on UA-cam. Great show, still love it even if a good chunk of it makes me cringe now at age 29. Cedric is and always will be one on my favorite fictional comfort characters of all time. We have very similar reactions and I relate very hard to his backstory and how he was treated because that is what happened to me. I messed up a few times, but the people around me used those few stupid mistakes to treat me badly for years and even got me bullied in school because of rumors. #justiceforCedric
I wish this fandom was bigger. When I wander back to Sofia the First, I dive into the fandom to keep me there and to explore all that it has to offer. Instead, I get old and/or unfinished fanfictions, a few bits of fanart, and lots and lots of Cedfia shipping. There isn't any Watching the show fanfictions, or reveals for what adventures Sofia has gone on with the magical amulet except for one or two and a heap of unfinished, old, abandoned work. There isn't a lot of video essays like this either so probs to you. And my goodness is it hard to find any headcannons that doesn't involve Cedfia! I'd also like to mention that the songs are incredible and if people looked passed the corniness of it, they could appreciate the harmonies and runs. And the LORE is so fun to explore. However, there are few places to go for such things sadly, so I suppose it's times me to return to something more plentiful. Like Star Wars or Batfam or something..
I liked how Cedric changed a lot and for the better since he had been with Sofia. If she had never come into his life, he would’ve still been the same old Cedric. Thanks to Sofia, he turned over a new leaf and became a better sorcerer because of their friendship. He tried to steal the amulet of Avalon so he could make everyone see he was a great man, but instead, Sofia made him a better person.
Right before Cedric got arrested: King Roland "I didn't think you were capable of doing something like this" Cedric: "You didn't think I was capable of doing anything". Those words, those two lines of dialogue, were powerful as f*ck.
Cedric’s line is just raw in general.
It’s insane how good of a line that is, for both villains and heroes.
Absolutely phenomenal dialogue truly.
@@DaltonIzHerei was about to comment how raw it was but ya beat me to it /lh
I got chills, honestly.
Which episode is this?
Iconic line:
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to my tower to cry."
I am wheezing 😂
I laugh so much just remembering it, and I can already imagine it jojojojo
Workshop
I haven't even watched the show and that already is my most favorite line. 😂
Big M O O D
15:43
I heard the words “Purple”, “Villainous”, and “good character development” and got here as fast as I could!
William afton
Wah
I mean... Yeah, logic is on point.
good character development doesn't really check out with him@@G55544
@@G55544 I was thinking the same thing.
Sofia's line "The worst thing you did was say we weren't friends" broke me so much
Same..
What episode is it? I would like to see it 🥺
@@RoxanadelaCaridad The first episode of season 4.
@@ryanjohnson4249 Thank you 💗
Watching this, I'm suddenly reminded of Megamind and how he shares an eerie similarity in Cedric's character.
Remember, Megamind saw himself a villain because society did, but throughout the movie, Megamind changed and by the end, he became a hero despite it all. Something Cedric seemingly mirrors here.
wth i was reminded of megamind too!!!!!
It's messed up because the Prison Warden allowed him to be raised in a prison instead of saying "Good Lord there's a baby in the prison let's get him out of here he needs a proper home."
He has the megamind arc but imo his humor and overall personality reminds me of Gru from Despicable Me (not to mention both of them softened up because of certain children)
Both amazing characters
I was thinking this exact same thing!
It’s insane how a kids show villain can be the most interesting character than the normal movies itself!
Frfr
I mean, Zuko, Iroh, Bill Cypher, Batman (Batman animated series), Aang, and Azula.
True
@@steffanyschwartz7801How dare you suggest Iroh is a villain smh slander
@@mrscaryfox3955 bringing up really good characters but I get it. Iroh is cool dude
Respect for kids shows. The true mark of a gentleman with class.
Edit: Where did all these likes come from!?
Agreed !
Not just kids' shows; Disney Junior was aimed for a preschool/kindergarten audience, so the fact that this is good despite being made for an audience who may be too young to appreciate it is pretty good.
Kids shows are great. One of my favorites is word girl
Like mlp
Yes yes yes I agree
Cedric and Sofia’s relationship was one of the best things in the show, she really helped Cedric through all the abuse he’d put up with since a child, by being there for him, and believing in him.🌈
Agreed! I beg you to avoid tracking down anything Cedric related when somebody decided to turn their innocent friendship into them being lovers once Sofia’s of legal age.
It's so gross like sometimes they age him down and no just no, Cedric is the same age as rolland, he and sofia have a father daughter relationship
@@penmars9530 I unfortunately came across that in a reanimated version of My Evil Dreams. Backed out of that video very fast.
@@penmars9530 Yeah I’ve already seen some stuff, shippers can be weird sometimes😓
@@OneOfRainbows especially the loud house ship…
Can we just appreciate for a second the great teacher that Cedric had ?
One sentence is all it takes, to mold a defining trait of your personality.
Man a absolutely legend
cedric's delivery when he said, "and now if youll excuse me im going to retreat to my workshop to cry" sent me
2:52 "she made me do it."
The sheer amount of no hesitstion
You think he does that out of habit?
@@daelen.cclark Oh my god absolutely
I love it when kids shows are actually well written and have good lessons to be learned rather than being mind-numbing slop just because "iTs FoR kIdS!" Kids deserve good shows, because the media they consume is ultimately what they're most focused on during their upbringing.
Fr, not only are there shows like Sesame Street & Bluey, shows that've tackled things like divorce & are praised by everyone, but Cedric, hell, Sophia The Frist had no gd right to be amazing as a "kid's show" made by modern Disney! They so easily could've used that classic "iTz 4 KiDz & KiDz R dUmB!" excuse (think of how the theme of the "sequel" to Wreck-It-Ralph was so hammered in as an example), but the heart of this show & the reliability of Cedric went harder than what I'd expect from modern Disney! (That dude's conflict with his family & self esteem pains me & I love it) 💀
well not every kids show was good back then. for exsample caillou
@@Super_star_remix Not every kid show is good now either. Good kids shows are unfortunately a rare commodity.
I just want to scream at these people audacious enough to boast such a mentality with: "It's not just for kids, it's for EVERYBODY"
@@fandroid6491 I mean... a show can be made for kids and still be enjoyed by adults too. In fact, that's usually the defining quality of the best kids shows.
Parents have to sit through shows their kids watch all the time, so its good if that show happens to be fun and entertaining for the adults too.
I also find it very interesting how the show slowly shifted how Sofia and Cedric's relationship was going to be rather early on. I don't think this whole redemption arc was going to happen at first but when Sofia stopped calling Cedric "Seedric" it was when it clicked for the writers.
I don't think that's an accurate observation considering that episode 4 pretty much foreshadowed the whole thing. But I'll admit, the episodes often go back and forth with the character development so the progress can be easy to overlook.
That was a satisfying scene, she just said his name right and Cedric was 😮
@@stellar783 Your right, I thought Cedric's apprentice happened later than the Enchanted Feast.
Sofia the first did a better job at honoring and celebrating Disneys legacy then wish ever did.
LITERALLY (
He deserves more episodes, there's just 30 episodes that he's featured in Sofia The First 😭 this man deserves a whole show
I jusy realized Sofia has paid more respect to the original Disney Princesses way more than most Disney Remakes 😂
especially Mulan 🗿
Sofia The First was somehow more respectful and faithful to Mulan's character than the live action one
And Descendants. Oh boy, the Descendants.
@@countessdewordegreat trilogy
@@countessdewordefor teenage me, Descendants was THE peak
@@tsumikiayato1560 It has its moments, like making Hades into a punk rocker and Maleficent's expartner.
@@countessdewordeI am honestly more angry because of how they made Captain Hook, like he doesn't look like a captain to me
Just because a show is aimed at children, specifically little girls in this case, does not mean it does not have more going for it. Speaking as a guy and as a Disney Princess fan, I enjoyed this show growing up. I quite agree with everything in this video. Cedric is a well-written character and his redemption arc is most certainly one of the best.
yeah my little pony proves it a lot
hey! I'm a guy and I love the show!
@wdestroarchive5934 . Its cringe to like MLP but that show sure was a good show. Music, song, story, world building was one of the best you could find
@@timexyemerald6290let go of your cringe my sibling. MLP FIM was a really good show and there's no shame in admitting it. Cringe culture is dead
@@eojamgilme to
So essentially, Cedric is kind of a reverse version of bowler hat guy from meet the Robinsons
Instead of a villain who can’t let go of such a minor mistake he made in the past, it’s a villain who isn’t allowed to forget one measly mistake he made in the past because everyone keeps reminding him of such a minor slip-up
not to mention it was a mistake he didn't even make it wasn't even his fault to begin with
That’s a very good point.
Reverse Goob is an interesting yet accurate description
@@undercookedtoast1479 Sure is.
Now I’m just imagining Jess Harnell in the Cedric voice reading Bowler Hat Guy’s lines.
I’ve always loved Ambers character arc. From bratty, spoiled, and entitled to accountable, responsible, and understanding. The best Queen their kingdom could ever have. I still love how Aunt Tillie dropped the bomb of how James wasn’t the next ruler but Amber was. And how Amber took to the new role like a fish to water. Yes she still had some struggles juggling the role later on, but to be dropped that reveal and given a position of importance to welcome far away guest last minute she aced that trail.
I'm excited that Amber is going to be the next queen of Enchancia. Sorry Not Sorry Prince James!
I know I love Ember along with Sofia, but Cedric will always be my favorite.
99th like
is it because she's the oldest when james was born with her?
@@viviennemorgan7217 yes, Aunt Tilly said the eldest child inherits the crown. And that Roland only became king because she(Aunt Tilly) gave up succession.
You briefly mentioned it, but a purple/yellow color scheme like Cedric has is very interesting, as color theory states purple (most of his outfit) to be melancholic, while yellow is a "happy" color. And where's yellow used? Very sparsely in a little bow that probably won't be paid attention to next to the sea of purple that surrounds it.
Also thank you for putting song names.
Would it also be worth noting that the yellow bow tie is right next to his heart, thus implying something about him still having some spark of “happiness/goodness” in there?
I honestly felt bad for everything Cedric went through until Sofia came into his life. All he wanted was for people to respect him and not constantly put him and his abilities down. Even his own family (except his mother) treated him like garbage and were too prideful, stubborn and stupid to even try to be civil with him. And let’s not forget how King Roland had the audacity to abandon his friendship with Cedric once he was branded a bungler. I honestly resented him for that. But once he met Sofia, his views on his life goal changed and now his life’s gotten so much better. His relationship with his dad and sister is getting better, he and Roland reconciled and he’s given the title of “Cedric the Great” in the series finale. I just hope if there’s a reboot that’s about the future, all of this sticks.
...The beginning is basically Licorice Cookie from Cookie Run. Deadass....
With the anniversary of the series, the creator of the show recently said there's a reboot on the works, but that's all we know by now
@@minoriiida465 heard of cookie run, never heard of this specific character, kindly explain.
@@fleshdadbot6852 Basically a wizard who's on the bad side, possibly kicked out of his village for practicing dark magic, has beef with a child, has an animal familiar, and wants to be known for great things.
@@minoriiida465 does he get a redemption arc, perchance?
I think Cedric is definitely part of what made me commit to watching sofia the first. Cedric is a very compelling character, with him always being unapologetically himself (even though he also hides his feelings/tricks others at the same time! Duality! His shifting morals is such a treat in terms of character motivations/arcs!)
I always thought Cedric was a sympathetic villain, after all, even within his evil schemes, you see the royal children (sofia included) actually trust Cedric and rely on him for help whenever they need something! And in the episode where the children must make a science project, ill always remember the scene where cedric says "you came to the greatest sorcerer in the world for school supplies?!" And amber replies
"No, we came to you...! :((" LIKE THE CHILDREN ALWAYS ENDED UP TRUSTING HIM AND GOING TO HIM FOR HELP AND EVEN THOUGH CEDRICS PEERS DIDNT SEE HIS POTENTIAL, THE KIDS ALWAYS DID!
Cedric was never a bad person, he was misunderstood and wrongfully accused of something that wasnt ever his fault to begin with. Also, of note:
In the episode the looking back glass, note how younger cedric was performs magic without using a wand, and until the potion was tempered with, his magic was working perfectly fine. It was always my belief that had the potion not been messed with and Cedric being blamed unjustly, he would've grown up being a natural prodigy with magic. Its a sad but symbolic way to show that cedric was ALWAYS capable, ALWAYS talented, but if you mistreat a person for long enough, it will eorde their confidence and skills to the point of crippling their potential.
I adore that eventually, as Cedric's confidence grows, so does his magical ability again. The fact his magic is so connected to his emotions in my mind further proves his own aptitude for magic.
I KNEW YOUD BE HERE HELLO FRIEND!!!!!
It’s always in shows of fantasy that had magic and emotions connected for example Elsa learning she does need to hide her emotions and herself from the world
In that episode it hurt me when everyone at the party began to say that he is a terrible sorcerer and that mistake was his fault and Cedric, being a kid, begs: "stop! stop it! don't say that!" something like that as I remember
Hello!!
Well said!!
It's Shychick. Could not agree more!!
Even if this show may be aimed primarily at children, they just made a character that is so relatable, even to adults.
Cedric is Disney’s Squidward
@@voilet-the-non-violet-vulpix, lol, what a guy 👍
Cedric kins where you at?
He’s like raquelle from Barbie life in the dream house
So Cedric is like a mix between Megamind and Severus Snape? Talk about a winning combo!
Snape walked so Cedric could run
I wonder who’s idea was it for him to have such a handsome design
@@vivianaespinoza5281 I second that
@@WolverineKin I’m talking about Cedric like why does he have a cute design
@@vivianaespinoza5281 that’s what I meant too lol
I can believe I JUST noticed how Cedric's mom and Sofia look so similar. They both have purple amulets/gems that look similar and are designed with the same color schemes. AND they're both the only people who supported him fully throughout his life.
Right??? I know there is an age gap but I always shipped Sofia and Cedric. I wonder if his mother looking like her is a subtle thing that "when you grow old and look like your father you'll be with a woman in a purple dress"
@@stephanieporter3493Ew
@@stephanieporter3493 same xD. As a child I loved drawing them together
Y'all are weird💀 Cedric is a adult and Sofia is a minor
@@Lina-iz7tvreal. Like the way my jaw dropped when I saw that shit. Y’all are vile
Maybe I'm a little biased (I had a huge crush on him when I was little) but he gives the series SO much depth. His redemption arch really gave me hope in changing for the better - I didn't have many people believe in me when growing up, not even my own mother - and I'm currently applying for University. I've gained so many true friends who support me no matter what and as crazy as it sounds, the purple sorcerer helped me push through to where I am now :)
@aisleelovegreenwood6448 thank you so much, I really needed that today. I'm hoping for the very best for you, too.
I’m so happy for you! Cedric may seem like a bad character, but he funny, kindhearted, smart, and talented but he is also relatable.
i'm so happy for you! :DDDD
(I also had a huge crush on him btw. I had a CD with the show's songs and i couldnt hear his, because i just started blushing like a madman xD)
WOOOOO THAT'S AWESOME
@@torch_warden8177 mood absolute mood
need i say more
Can we all agree that Cedric is the better father figure for Sofia than Roland?
I can see it
Okay that's unfair Roland might be terrible at a lot of things but he's a pretty cool dad
Roland is not a bad dad tho,but i can see where is this come from
He’s certainly more involved in Sofia’s life than Roland is.
I'm a sucker for a good love story, so the evolution of Cedric from a comic villain to a kindly uncle was a joy to watch.
They developed a tremendous mutual respect and admiration. I loved his Villain's Heal-face Turn when she said the worst thing he did wasn't trying to take over the kingdom, it was saying he wasn't her friend.
This show is like my comfort show, it has charm, great characters, not too serious, but serious enough to be interesting, and it is really easy to binge. I think it is very underrated
Edit: And I almost forgot, It also has really good songs too.
*I agree. It was a great show.* ✨️
You should watch the 2010 My Little Pony if you haven't already. It's also entertaining with good songs and well-done characters. (It takes a little while to reach the good songs though)
@@theAstarrr I love My Little Pony and Equestria Girls. Sunset Shimmer is redemption arc done right.
@@Sonic_the_hedgedogsunset shimmer is my favorite! She’s got such a great personality, and her arc in the one equestrian girls special (I can’t remember the name of it) was fantastic, and still is rewatching it years later
It's so underrated and it was awesome to see my Cedric and stf friends share this video. It was nice to see this analysis cuz of my aforementioned former fear of talking about it as a kid. I'd love to see more about this show from you! And the songs are like a theater kids dream (something I was to scared to be because of reasons. Again, Cedric helped me heal from that)
Some kids shows have so much to give, more than people realize. I think looking back at some is important. Because there may be so many things you missed. Not like adult jokes. But deeper things you can only understand once you've lived it, and it can help remind of the joy of childhood again.
Just gonna say this, Sofia the First is a family show. Actual family shows used to be a lot more prevalent on TV. The fall from having so many family shows to having just 'kid shows' came with a dumbing down that happened slowly, then all at once. I got to see it, having an age gap of more than a decade with all my siblings, then spending time with friend's kids as their favorite 'not an uncle' after enlisting.
Family shows are meant to have parents involved, either in watching with the kids or as a source the kids can get answers from when they have questions about the show.
If one looks at the kid shows that have had wild fanbases in recent years, one can see that even when stupid humor is used, it isn't dumbed down. The kid shows popular with kids and adults are a return to elements that made family shows stand out, they aren't dumbed down. Even when they are written more for kids, they are simple, not dumbed down. This is the draw.👍
I thinks it’s absolutely adorable how he leans towards his mother with such a fond look at 11:34. It’s not only cute, but I think it humanizes him a little and makes him seem less like an evil villain.
I can easily compare Cedric the Sorcerer with Prince Zuko. Cedric wanting to take over the kingdom of Enchancia but Sofia showing that he doesn't need to take over the kingdom proves that Cedric can be good. For Prince Zuko, he thought that capturing the Avatar would be how his honor can be given but when he decided to side with the Avatar and help end the 100-year war, Zuko believed that honor is something you earn for yourself and that it can't be given. These two characters went from being bad to good and proved that they can do good in the world no matter how the world treats them. Zuko's redemption arc is the best redemption because he saw that evil and good are always inside him because when he finds out that he has two great-grandfathers, he understood the battle within himself. 👸,🧙,💧,🪨,🔥,🌪.
A major thing I appreciate about both of these characters is how conflicted they are. A lot of times villain redemptions are straight lines, but here the good and evil sides of both characters fight within themselves for large chunks of both shows. The evil side initially wins(Cedric joining the Order of the Wand and Zuko joining Azula) only for them to realize achieving their goals didn't make them happy and they chose to do the right thing.
"I must capture that amulet Wormwood. In order to restore my honor. And take my place on the throne, as Cedric The Great!"
37:41 This moment was also very sweet 💖 Cedric literally has the Amulet in his hands, no danger of it cursing him but instead looks over at Sofia fondly & gives it back to her, now having everything he actually wanted 🥹
Also for me it is: Cedric finally had the object that he was always determined to possess for his dreams, but he selflessly returned it to Sofia, now having everything he actually wanted.. my heart softens just remembering it.
What happens after that is amazing too! He's now acknowledged as "Cedric the Great", the title he always wanted and thought he could have after getting the Amulet of Avalor; yet after he gives the amulet back to its owner, Sofia addresses him with that title as if it's natural for her because she already knew how great her friend is ("It's about time somebody noticed") before his parents say how proud they're of him.
Cedric started wanting to get the King's respect and his father's approval, and getting them on the spot feels like a great closure to his character 💜
I don't know what he meant by "It's about time somebody noticed" when Sofia said "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Cedric the Great." She always knew he was great, and always told him so.
I don't know what he meant by "It's about time somebody noticed" when Sofia said "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Cedric the Great." She always knew he was great, and always told him so.
@@sabrinamiller3671he wasn't talking about Sof noticing that, he was talking about the title of Great being finally something the whole kingdom would notice aside from Sofia. After all he saved her in front of the fairies, the royal family,her friends and other creatures, ofc he is gonna be recognizable after that. Hope it helps
Unironically the most underrated Disney villain.
As a kid, I liked Cedric for being the villain to a show I was sick of sitting through with my little sisters. As an adult, I like Cedric for reaching out to me as a character. I wish I noticed the good elements of this show when I was a kid instead of dismissing them for being in my ear every day.
This is a FANTASTIC video essay! Cedric was a character who could have easily been written off as “pure evil” and never redeemed, but clearly these writers understood the assignment and I couldn’t be happier 😫
I only watched a bit of this show a while back, but you might have just convinced me to watch it again!! You’ve earned a sub !
Welp, just binged all the Cedric episodes and started season 1, this show is a GEM 🥹 “My Evil Dreams” lives rent-free in my head, so thanks for the new fixation!
Cedric is easily my 2nd favorite character in this show (1st being Sofia). He's so layered and dynamic and the journey with him was legitimately heartwarming. I adore Bluey and there are other Disney Junior shows I really like but none can surpass Sofia the First personally; it's just that special in my eyes.
This is definitely a surprise to see (although I guess Rockotar did tease this idea in an earlier video). Cedric is definitely an interesting character. He has a detailed backstory, he can be an enjoyable character to watch and he does grow throughout the course of the show. Throughout most of the show, he's basically a character with mixed morality and his role can depend (prior to the end where he shifts to a protagonist). Some episodes he is the antagonist while in others, he's helping the main characters doing whatever (and in others, he's not even present). A pretty nice thing the show did is that it showed pretty early on that Cedric is more than just an incompetent villain. In the fourth episode of the show (Cedric's Apprentice), we already get a strong character study on Cedric. There will be spoilers for this episode:
Basically, Sofia has to study for a magic exam and she needs Cedric's help to study, as he is the royal magician. Cedric is initially reluctant as he does not care for Sofia but he goes along with it as he realises that he can use the opportunity to take the amulet from Sofia, which was his main goal at this point in the show. The two of them bond and it culminates in the two of them putting on a magic show for their family. Cedric's initial plan was to use the magic show to take the amulet from Sofia and he has the opportunity to easily do just that. You do see him seriously contemplate whether he is going to betray Sofia and take the amulet or perform the magic show as Sofia expected. In the end, he chooses not to take the amulet and the magic show goes as planned. Everyone is pleased and Sofia passes her test. The episode ends with a really sweet moment where Cedric says something along the lines of "there's always another day to take over the kingdom". The end of the episode ultimately shows that while Cedric still ultimately has the same goal, he has also grown to appreciate Sofia by not violating her trust, at least for the time being.
The episode is honestly one of the best in the show. It's an early episode of the show which shows us that Cedric is more than just a incompetent villain. In a good chunk of episodes where Cedric fails to achieve his goals, it comes down to his stupidity but in this episode, he doesn't achieve his goals because he decides to put his new friend over his selfish desires. The episode makes you know that Cedric wants the amulet and to take over the kingdom (he even has a whole song about it) so when he decides to give up those things , it is really impactful and sweet as the episode does make you second guess what Cedric is going to do. It shows us that Cedric is a more layered character and that he can grow, even if this is only the beginning. For me, this episode is one of the closest the show comes to greatness. It's really good stuff, especially considering the show's main target audience.
I mainly just wanted to talk about Cedric's Apprentice because for me, it is one of the most praise worthy episodes of the show.
Yes, that duality is what made him intriguing as character to me. It also moves me when he says: "there's always another day to take over the kingdom" and how is the time he spends with Sofia, and even in the chapter I felt he was honestly worried when Sofia spilled the lizard potion accidentally.
I love Cedric too. He kind of gives me the vibe of being a good uncle. It was a great ending to his character arc to have him saving Sofia from the amulet. Really wonderful. At that moment he was basically an expert of the amulet and all his knowledge he acquired originally for villainy reasons was put to use to become a hero instead. Which I liked too because as you said, he thought he was destined to become a villain--and instead of the show just waving away all his prior experience and making it useless they flipped the script and said no, his experience actually was valuable, and was "destined for good" essentially because of who he was as a person inside.
I love that. And that he finally got the same title as his father after saving Sofia. I like too how his greatness came from protecting someone "insignificant." I like how his role was small, because I think it shows that greatness isn't just based on your role in society. Sofia obviously is going to become (and already is) the best hero they have in their land. I really like that the older generation, Cedric, saved the next generation's greatest hero. That too, was really cool. I like the family vibe of that--which again he gives me a feeling of a good uncle. Kind of the uncle who's a failure but he actually helps out the family in the end and makes a difference. (Which you just don't see that story anywhere as far as I know--extremely rare to have a story of a good uncle character)
But that's nice to see.
I too, at first Cedric pretended that he cared about Sofia, to get closer to his amulet,
but then he realized that Sofia really admired him and was very kind to him unlike others, and he started to really care about her, every time she needed his help, and really Sofia brought out the best version of himself. And it does surprise me that in the end all the knowledge he had about the amulet of Avalor (which he had for his villainous plans) he used for the good to save her. Besides he saved her because she was his friend, not because he thought he would get the title after that, putting all his effort and magic. I will never forget Cedric, really a great good uncle like you said it
I believe it's such a beautiful thing to teach kids that even if people do bad things, it doesn't mean they are bad people, and how their mistakes don't define them when they do make them. Yes, Cedric says he is a bad person and he did do some bad things, but you can see how remorseful he is about it every time he has to do them. It isn't just a case of "feeling bad he got caught" either, since he didn't really get caught in many of them, he just sorta gave up on them when he realized he was doing something terrible.
I am convinced that this entire video was made my Cedric himself
Walking around in a purple bathrobe regardless of the time or occasion is already peak character, and yet it gets better. Incredible. Masterpiece.
I used to always adore Cedric as a kid when i firsy saw the show. He was funny and really interesting to me. But i remember being worried to talk about the show cuz i was 13 and "to old" jfkfkdkf (and now I'm 25 so here we are jfkdkdkd)
But i found him oddly comforting then and i do now. (self shipping aside in the current) I was recently diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder, which has made a lot of things so difficult. Including my career goals as an animator. Where i give uo before i even begin because i get so scared and in my own head. Add to that people in my life who only put me down instead of supporting me, and i just find his character has helped me so much since my diagnosis. Watching the show again, especially recently, has been so healing. Viewing him under the lense of anxiety has helped me immensely.
On top of all that, my little brothers began to watch the show with mecand having it to bond over has made me feel closer to them where previously my depression made it difficult.
I masked so hard and for so long. Worried about being to much or weird, but Cedric and his goofy self just....IS. He fans over Merlin. He is passioante in his goal. Hes unapologetically funny and sarcastic!
In so many ways, his character helped me when i was younger. And in so many ways, he is helping me now. As an animator i of course hate the "animation for kids" narrative. But i feel especially with shows like Sofia the First (and characters like Cedric) it proves ecen if the medium IS intended for kids, that never ONCE steals from its merrit.
Ill always stand by animation, kids focus, or otherwsie. Because if not for it, I'd not be an aniamtor today, nor would I have the comfort from Cedric as I deal with my own insecurities and issues.
Also add the fact I've met some of the coolest people ever recently when I started to shout about my love of Cedric on my art accounts. As well as met ond of my best friend. So, needless to say, I adore this video and everything you have to say on Cedric and his journey. As he eternally holds an important place in my heart.
I severely felt that, when I got into the show briefly I was 12-13ish myself and I thought I'd grown out of shows geared toward a 4-10 year old audience, but alas 😂
i checked out your instagram, and i just gotta say i love your art. and im always glad to see selfshippers, im not one personally but i respect the grind so much. keep living your best life soldier o7
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I actually used to watch the show with my younger sister, and I remember we used to find Cedric HILARIOUS. But I also remember seeing that good in him displayed throughout the series until he finally chooses good. I always did wonder as a kid though why he refused to choose good for so long.
I can 100% agree that Cedric is an amazing character. I always like to see redemption for evil characters, and I loved the way the writers of the show wrote Cedric’s character arc. The way they handled it was very unique, and I always liked that.
He's not Cedric the Great.
He's Cedric the GOATED.
I feel that the reason Cedric always failed in his spells was because deep down he never really agreed with what he was doing, OR because the only MOTIVATION he had was that he wanted to prove others wrong, instead of trying to prove himself right. Like it was mentioned, Cedric did what he did to prove himself, not because it was genuinely something he wanted to do, but rather his only option.
Whenever his magic failed, it was usually either during when he was up to no good, or when he was desperately trying to prove himself to others.
like at 13:50 , he tried putting everyone to sleep, and it did, but it also put HIM to sleep.
Or at 14:30 he turned into that form to steal the princesses crown I believe.
15:00 he's trying to prove himself to his parents.
I loved his character in the show! I loved how it was showing that it was the character’s belief in himself and determination to help Sophia was the ultimate way to make his magic stronger
Cedric’s and Sofia’s friendship is the definition of “All it takes is one person to change another person’s life.”
Cedric is also one of my favorite characters in this show, and I wholeheartedly agree that he has one of the best redemption stories ever. Makes me happy to see someone else give him the appreciation he deserves. Plus I’d be all for you talking about this show again in the future, it’s easily one of my all time favorites.
You can tell that Jess Harnell was clearly having so much fun voicing him!
I noticed something in some of the clips you've used for this video,. Every time Cedric is in danger alongside another, younger character, he puts himself in between them and whatever that danger is. It's a very touching detail!
THANK YOU!!! finally someone who recognizes Cedric's greatness, and that looks beyond the demographics of the program to talk about how well done the best of its characters is.
As someone who’s favorite color is purple and magenta, I agree and appreciate this. On a more serious note, I had no idea this show was that deep. Very happy I watched this, cause now I have a new fictional character to add to my list of favorites
I love when shows for "kids" have way deeper story to them and people still don't see how wonderful they can be
Sofia was cool. Tangled the tv show was incredible and so on.
Sad how things considered for kids 10 20 years ago is basically pg 13 or even R with telling a story with layers lile justice league tas
Or really in most adult shows
"if you'll excuse me, i'm going to retreat to my workshop and cry" is a MOOD
This show is genuinely so good but it’s SO underrated I never see people talk about it’s awesomeness, I’m glad it’s becoming more recognized it was a huge part of my childhood.
Cedric is also such a great character, truly one of a kind
This was one of my childhood shows, I stopped watching it as a I grew older, and after seeing it get more appreciated I def need to rewatch and finish it
When I was watching Sofia the First, I thought he would always be the generic 1 dimensional villain who only exists to cause conflict. Then I watch Cedric’s apprentice and was blown away by how Sofia showed genuine kindness to Cedric and he actually returned that kindness, passing up on taking the amulet for himself to not hurt Sofia’s feelings. That was a really good episode.
I love Cedric. As somone with anxiety and low self-esteem, I found him really relatable. I also enjoyed his redemption arc.
I'd definitely love to see more Sofia the First content!
I loved Cedric a lot as a kid, I’m so glad you made a full analysis of his character!
cedric reminds me so much of megamind. both were shaped by the people around them to fit into a box of expectations. what makes them so cool is that they end up fighting for their voice, to be heard, and to be seen. which is why both characters are great; aaand it doesn't hurt that both cedric and megamind are goofy and charming 😂
Yeah if you think about him in his Bernard that’d be accurate
another thing I noticed was the main cast are color coded so he shares a close color to Sofia who's a light purple/lavender(?). it made me feel that they would get closer over time. He becomes a good mentor to her and she becomes a true friend to him.
I will admit that I honestly didn't like Cedric at first because he was a villain trying to steal Sofia's amulet to take over the kingdom. Not to mention that I was worried about Sofia actually being friends with him due to the inevitability of his betrayal. However, as the series showed Cedric's past and motivations, I actually started to feel sorry for him, to the point that I wanted things to go well for him, but I wanted him to do the right thing. Cedric was just better on the side of good rather than the side of evil, and I honestly think that his friendship with Sofia was the best thing to ever happen in his life. Ultimately, I was glad that Cedric made right his wrongs, made things right with his father and sister with help from his niece and Sofia, and was ultimately able to keep his friendship with Sofia. I even like that he got to meet his hero, Merlin.
The amount of validation I felt from watching this really makes this comforting. I am soo happy to hear someone talk about Sofia the First beyond its perspective of from children. I love the development of the characters AND I LOVE the story of Cedric 🪄 GAWD the way that it just circles back right from where it started with cedric wanting to be the great and having it be the ending JUST KJNDFLJKADHAJLKDS
I didn't even noticed that sofia the first was an anime this whole time. Look at it, it has so many arcs
Yeah, Cedric is awesome. Cedric and Sofia's relationship is so pure and her kindness helps him so much. Advocating for him and supporting him whenever he needs it. Believing in him.
Excellent essay on Cedric. He is also on my top favorites of all media characters.
Sofia the First deserves more love, and I'm glad you provided a discussion years after! There's so much heart put into this show, and truly a good edition to the fantasy genre.
I was a girl in the village doing alright, then Rockotar made a vid overnight.
Now I gotta figure out why Cedric is great.
So much to learn and see!
Also, I would love to see more Sofia the First content. The idea of the "Evil Sofia clone" in that one episode has always fascinated me.
Hah, that's cute
How are Disney junior shows having better characters and plotlines than the movies they're putting out these days😂
I used to watch this show when I was little. Very entertaining and even a bit inspiring for its intended audience. Personally I'd love to see you cover Thomas & Friends' excellent cast of characters, think it'd be fun to see someone outside the fandom see what makes that show truly special
I used to watch Thomas when I was little, but I haven't watched it in so long that I barely remember anything from it anymore, my grandma used to own a bunch of episodes on VHS.
@@Rockotarthepurplehatguy Oh sick!
@@Rockotarthepurplehatguy Thomas was my favorite show when I was young, I’d love to see you cover the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad!
I hadn't watched an awful lot of Sofia the First when it was airing, but when I did, I was quite fond of Cedric. To me, he had a certain charm to him despite his clumsiness.
I swear, someone on the team was watching Avatar, noticed how good Zuko's development was and yelled, "Write that down!" And applied it to Cedrick's character arc in the best way possible. Cedrick is my favorite character.
Cedric and Amber were my two favourite characters for how much character development they got.
Cedric is my baby and i just want to hug him XD
As well as being very well written, Cedric is proof that good acting and animation also go a long way into making a character memorable. Ever since I was a kid I've found him entertaining and funny mainly for his voice and mannerisms
I'm so glad there are other people who appreciate Cedric's arc as much as I do. Sofia the First was such a comfort show for me in the 2010s with genuinely amazing character writing and it's so good to see it get the attention it deserves. I'd love to see you cover Amber's arc as well as I think she and Cedric went through the most growth throughout the series. I'm looking forward to seeing future videos. Thank you for making this. 💖
My favorite thing about the show was growing friendship between Cedric and Sofia. This adult man has no idea how to react to this little girl being nice to him. It’s so adorable and funny
My theory on Cedric has also always been that part of the reason he fails so hard is because he's better with potions than wand-magic. We see him complete complicated potions or ones considered difficult throughout the show, even when he faults at wand related magic.
As a child, I would watch this show if it happened to be on. But I never intentionally tried to find it. Though, I can say 1 thing I love about this show. Yeah it's target audience is mainly children, but it manages to appeal to more mature people as well. Every episode has a different lesson that kids can learn, but are very obvious to anyone older than maybe 5. But it does this in conjunction with more "mature" themes. Not only that, but these themes are carried through most of, if not the entire show. It gives everyone a reason to watch it, which I think is very important for any piece of media that is made to be family friendly.
I can’t tell you how much it means to me for someone else to say that just b/c something is “made for kids” doesn’t make it lesser. I watch & rewatch old “kids shows” from my past, b/c some of them have the most compelling characters & stories I’ve ever seen anywhere.
Animation in general is looked down on as less b/c it’s “for kids,” but actually it is just a medium w/ which to tell a story. Some tales can only work in animation, just like some can only work as books. I’m so happy that this channel exists to appreciate that.
Wow, thank you so, so much for creating this video essay! Cedric as a character has always been very dear to me, and I’m so happy that there are others out there who recognise the intricacies and complexities of his nature. It may simply be the neurodivergent part of me, but I’ve always felt profound levels of empathy for Cedric and his constant state of inner turmoil. I absolutely agree that he is perhaps one of the most well-written (and frankly hilarious) characters in all of animated television history.
I've never seen Sofia the First before but honestly this video sold me on it! I love it when "kid" shows are more like "everyone but also kid friendly" shows. More kid shows need to be like that.
Man.
I was _wrong_ about this show. Big time.
They put Cedric in so many situations that expand his whole character and motivations, and others that contrast with them and change his views! They made him win at the goal he was set in achieving for many of the episodes, for Christ's sake! I don't remember many shows who actually did that and ran with it straight, with the added caveat of showing the consequences of it, and expanding on his character growth!
More impressively to me tho, is how they put him against actually evil characters despite him being the show's "villain", yet all his backstory, comments and actions don't contrast with those moments! It doesn't feel like he's inconsistent at all. Rather, it gives more nuance to what his goals actually are.
Cedric is my favourite character from Sofia The First. So I absolutely agree with you. I feel bad for him cause of his backstory. I can’t help but be so empathetic and supportive for him.
i think its really cool how in sofia the first there is actual continuity and character development and themes. I was really shocked when cedrick actually had a character arc.
I have never heard of Cedric until watching this video but now that I have. Yes I now see why he is one the greatest characters and redeemed villains.
Just hearing about the growth he has is inspiring. Even when he believed he couldn't be good he still did the right thing and his villain song.
It feels like he's trying to trick himself into believing that his current connection and growth meant nothing or detracting him from what he thinks he wants. Sadly he went through with thinking that taking over the kingdom was the thing that would make him feel fulfilled.
I absolutely loved this show but felt embarrassed for watching it when I was "older" (I was literally like 8 when I felt embarrassed watching it) now I might rewatch this masterpiece. Never realized how good it actually was like godamn 😮
Absolutely Sofia The First is a literally amazing show, also Cedric was literally my favorite character tbh, so glad you made a video that talks about him.
something i realized... this does the whole 'adult's best and only friend is a little girl' think right, something Ralph breaks the internet failed at. ralph acted so clingy, but Sophia was essential to Cedric's redemption
It's nice to see that even shows aimed towards children can get the respect they deserve. Kudos ❤
I've never watched this show, but this was very well done and interesting. Also Cedric's singing voice is really good.
I love this show SO MUCH. Began watching it in my early adult years because i was a young single mother. I put it on for my child and then fell in love with this show. I rewatch it sometimes by myself haha
As once a male kid I didn't really acknowledged or cared about Sofia the first and it's other characters, but for some reason I never forgot Cedric. I never paid too much attention to the series so I never knew Cedric's whole deal, so it's refreshing to see someone summarizing his story for guys like me. He's unforgettable and is quite literally the Doofenshmirtz of the show.
I have never seen Sofia the first, but damn this Cedric guy seems pretty cool.
My little sister used to watch this show all the time. Every time I would hang out with her when it was her turn for the TV and this show was on it was actually pretty nice, there was hardly a moment where I would visibly cringe. It was honestly some of the memories I hold the fondest.
Cedric was generally my favorite as well.
Edit: Now that I have seen the whole video, yeah now Cedric has been solidified as my favorite, and good on him for finally getting the respect he deserved.
OK I discovered this show when I was in college because my niece was talking about it, I then watched the whole thing years later during covid because it was free on UA-cam. Great show, still love it even if a good chunk of it makes me cringe now at age 29.
Cedric is and always will be one on my favorite fictional comfort characters of all time. We have very similar reactions and I relate very hard to his backstory and how he was treated because that is what happened to me. I messed up a few times, but the people around me used those few stupid mistakes to treat me badly for years and even got me bullied in school because of rumors. #justiceforCedric
not me crying over a sad lanky wizard and Sofia's wholesome friendship
I wish this fandom was bigger. When I wander back to Sofia the First, I dive into the fandom to keep me there and to explore all that it has to offer.
Instead, I get old and/or unfinished fanfictions, a few bits of fanart, and lots and lots of Cedfia shipping.
There isn't any Watching the show fanfictions, or reveals for what adventures Sofia has gone on with the magical amulet except for one or two and a heap of unfinished, old, abandoned work.
There isn't a lot of video essays like this either so probs to you.
And my goodness is it hard to find any headcannons that doesn't involve Cedfia!
I'd also like to mention that the songs are incredible and if people looked passed the corniness of it, they could appreciate the harmonies and runs.
And the LORE is so fun to explore.
However, there are few places to go for such things sadly, so I suppose it's times me to return to something more plentiful. Like Star Wars or Batfam or something..
A point well proved. I'm glad that Cedric did manage to really become a good sorcerer in the end. He both deserved and earned his respect. Well done.
The brilliance that Cedric has is brilliant.
Why is this an accurate representation of court humiliation and reputation in that era
I liked how Cedric changed a lot and for the better since he had been with Sofia.
If she had never come into his life, he would’ve still been the same old Cedric.
Thanks to Sofia, he turned over a new leaf and became a better sorcerer because of their friendship.
He tried to steal the amulet of Avalon so he could make everyone see he was a great man, but instead, Sofia made him a better person.
The "You distracted me" Sounds like cedric is alsmost Crying