Grachi

Grachi is a Spanish-language American fantasy TV series produced by Nickelodeon Latin America created by Mariela Romero. The series stars Isabella Castillo as Grachi and Andrés Mercado as Daniel; also featuring Danilo Carrera, Kimberly Dos Ramos, Mauricio Henao, Sol Rodríguez, Lance Dos Ramos, María Gabriela de Faría, Willy Martin & Jesús Neyra in supporting roles. The series was filmed in Miami, Florida, United States, becoming the first Nickelodeon Latin American series to be recorded out of Latin America, and also the first to be recorded on high definition. It premiered on Nickelodeon Latin America on May 2, 2011. A second season began airing on February 27, 2012 & a third and last season began airing from March 4 to May 10, 2013.
It is considered one of the 50 most talked about and cataloged series in Latin America, winning more than 47 awards. It also holds the record of being Latin American Nickelodeon's highest debut gaining 10.7 million viewers on its premiere in Mexico alone, surpassing the 6.8 million viewers that had the before record holder Big Time Rush.
The series follows the adventures of a teenage girl who, while adjusting to a new town, new school, rivalry, love and the everyday problems of being a teenager, discovers she has magical powers.
The series was dubbed in English and it premiered on Nickelodeon Philippines on January 16, 2012, season 2 aired from May 6, 2013, to September 11, 2013. Season 3 never aired in the Philippines even though it was a huge success, due to Nickelodeon Asia deciding to start airing the 2014 American remake, Every Witch Way. In the United States, Canada & United Kingdom season 1 aired from February 3 to May 15, 2014, in English & Spanish with SAP option through Azteca America. Grachi was also broadcast in English in Africa, Oceania and some European & Middle East countries.
Grachi holds the record for being the first Latin American teen TV series to premiere in Africa in 2012.
In 2014 it was remade as Every Witch Way, and in 2015 as W.I.T.S Academy, both series were co-produced by Nickelodeon U.S. & Nickelodeon Latin America, recorded at the same studios where Grachi was filmed and both were premiered on every Nickelodeon channel through the world, just as Grachi did.
Grachi also holds the record for being Nickelodeon's most distributed Latin TV series around the world, and the most re-broadcast in Nickelodeon Latin America.

Summary

Season 1

The season centers on Grachi, a witch and a new student in Escolarium. She deals with using her magic and trying to find out how to defeat the Principal. Grachi also deals with her rival, Matilda with whom she fights for the love of Daniel. At the end of the season, Matilda celebrates her 16th birthday at the night of the eclipse while the Principal and Sibilo plan to steal the powers of Matilda and Grachi. The two girls team up and fight the Principal, turning her into a dog, but losing their powers. Matilda finally realizes that Grachi and Daniel are meant to be together.

Season 2

A new witch named Mía arrives in town. Unfortunately, she falls in love with Daniel, Grachi's boyfriend. So she manipulates Grachi into a false friendship in order to win over Daniel.
Along with Mía comes the Witches' Council, who remind Grachi of her responsibilities. But one of them has evil intentions towards Grachi and wants to win the heart of Francisco, who is Matilda's mother along with Ursula. Matilda, for her part, enters into an intermittent relationship with Diego and wants her powers back.
At the end of the season, Grachi dreams of a mysterious boy to whom she seems close: Axel.

Season 3

Grachi's life is turned upside down the day she meets a young wizard: Axel Velez, who will become both her lover and her enemy. Grachi starts school at the wizards' college that Tony had told her about. There, Grachi learns much more about her role as a chosen one, while her heart is caught between her human and witch life, and her relationships with Daniel, her first love, and Axel, her newfound love.

Background

The show was produced by Nickelodeon Latin America and written by Venezuelan author Mariela Romero. Nickelodeon's Vice President of Programming and Creative Strategy, Tatiana Rodriguez commented that:
The series uses advanced production technology and 3D effects under the management of FX and animation production house Pixelhangar. Executive producers were Solange Rivero & Yuldor Gutierrez for Season 1 and José Vicente Scheuren for Season 2 and 3

Cast

Main

Isabella Castillo as Graciela "Grachi" Alonso – A new 16-year-old student at Escolarium, she is a very powerful witch who has inherited her powers from her late mother. At the beginning of season one, she moves to a new neighborhood with her father Francisco, who is the new math professor at Escolarium. Her best friend is Mecha, while she is in love with Daniel. During the second season, Grachi gets a new enemy named Mía, a witch who is determined to steal Daniel's love from her. At the end of the second season, Grachi's powers get stronger, enough to defeat Mía. During the third season, she has a new love interest who is also her enemy, Axel. She is the Latin counterpart of Emma Alonso from Every Witch Way.
Andrés Mercado as Daniel Esquivel – The leader of the swimming team "The Sharks" at Escolarium. He's Chema's cousin and best friend. Daniel's parents are Cristina and Ricardo, and he has three siblings: Melanie, Luis and Roberto. He's introduced as Matilda's boyfriend and the most popular boy in the school, who every girl wants to be with. He and Grachi start a relationship during the first season's last episodes. In season two, he and Leo become enemies, because both want to be with Grachi. During the third season, Daniel befriends Leo, as he faces a new enemy, Axel. He is the Latin counterpart of Daniel Miller from Every Witch Way.
Kimberly Dos Ramos as Matilda Román – She's the main antagonist of the first season and was the most popular girl at Escolarium before Grachi's arrival. She is also a witch but uses her powers to do bad. She is the leader of the "Red Panthers", a group of girls who dance and respond to all of Matilda's manipulations. Matilda is Daniel's ex-girlfriend, and she is determined to win his love back and destroy Grachi. During the second season, she began dating a new guy named Diego. She and Grachi developed a slight friendship during the season and became stepsisters at the end due to Ursula and Francisco's wedding. Matilda doesn't return for the third season. She is the Latin counterpart of Maddie Van Pelt from Every Witch Way.
Rafael de la Fuente as Diego Forlán – Part of "The Sharks", Matilda's boyfriend in season two and a Kanay, a person who can manipulate the four elements. He was a minor character during the first season and got a prominent role during the following ones. In the third season, he falls in love with Axel's sister, Amaya, and she becomes his girlfriend at the end of the third season. He is the Latin counterpart of Diego Rueda from Every Witch Way.
Mauricio Henao as Antonio "Tony" Gordillo – A highly intelligent and nerdy boy who falls in love with Grachi, but his affections aren't reciprocated. He joins the swimming team "The Sharks". At the end of the first season, Tony wins a scholarship to study at a better school and leaves Escolarium in search of new opportunities. He returns for the second and third season as a guest star, revealing he's a wizard. During the second season, he doesn't wear his glasses anymore, and has a more mature look. During the third season, he becomes an antagonist, trying to destroy Grachi for not loving him back, but he is locked up in a magical powder box by Axel. He is the Latin counterpart of Tony Myers from Every Witch Way.
Sol Rodríguez as Mercedes "Mecha" Estevez – Grachi's best friend, daughter of Lolo. She hates Matilda, but is stuck living in the same house as her because Lolo works for Ursula, Matilda's mother. Mecha is in love with Chema. In season 2, she moves out of Matilda's mansion with her mother. She also dislikes Mía but becomes her guardian after finding out that the evil witches are the ones who have guardians, while the good witches only have magical tutors to guide them. In the third season, she falls in love with Manú. She is the Latin counterpart of Andi Cruz from Every Witch Way.
Lance Dos Ramos as José María "Chema" Esquivel – Daniel's cousin and best friend, part of "The Sharks". Chema's parents are artists who tour most of the time, so Chema lives with his uncle Ricardo and aunt Cristina and his four cousins. He is in love with Mecha. He doesn't appear in the third season.
Maria Gabriela de Faría as Mía Novoa – The new witch at Escolarium and Grachi's enemy in the second season. She falls in love with Daniel right away, but her love is not reciprocated. In the last episode of the second season, she tries to destroy Grachi's father and Matilda's mother wedding for revenge. She is later enchanted and loses her memory. During season three, she takes her memory back and tries to take revenge, but in the end she befriends Grachi. She is the Latin counterpart of Mia Black from Every Witch Way.
Willy Martin as Leonardo "Leo" Martinez – An intelligent and creative guy who uses science to create his own magic. He has a crush on Grachi and hates Daniel. During the third season, he befriends Daniel and starts a relationship with his best friend Valeria.
Danilo Carrera as Axel Vélez – A wizard at the school of witchcraft, he is Amaya's brother, Erick's son and Mía's ex-boyfriend. He's the villain of the third season and uses his power to do misdeeds. He is sent to the past in the season's last episode by Daniel through the collar. He is the Latin counterpart of Jax Novoa from Every Witch Way.
Jesús Neyra as Manú – used to be Axel's best friend and sidekick. He falls in love with Mecha, and later becomes part of the heroes and Mecha's boyfriend. He is the Latin counterpart of Luke Archer.
Katie Barberi as Úrsula – Matilda's mother and Francisco's wife. She accidentally obtained Matilda's powers during the final episode of the first season and the first ones of the second one. She gets closer to Grachi and Francisco during the second season. She marries Francisco at the end of the season. Note: Barberi also played Ursula in Every Witch Way.
Ramiro Fumazoni as Francisco Alonso – Grachi's father and, later, new principal of the Escolarium and Úrsula's husband.
Sharlene Taulé as Katty – Co-leader of the "Red Panthers" and Matilda's sidekick. Dotty and Betty's best friend. She is the Latin counterpart of Katie Rice from Every Witch Way.
María del Pilar Pérez as Dotty – Member of the "Red Panthers" and Matilda's sidekick. Katty and Betty's. She is the Latin counterpart of Sophie Johnson from Every Witch Way.
Carlo Arrechea as Sebastian – Member of "The Sharks", the popular swimming team from Escolarium. He's funny and likes to be the center of attention, burps all the time specially on season 3. His nickname is "El Tiburón Peligroso". He always wants to be the best. His best friend is Carlos. He is intelligent, naive and a good athlete.
Alexandra Pomales as Betty – Member of the "Red Panthers" and Matilda's sidekick. Betty transfers to a different school during the first season.
Cristian Campocasso as Luis Esquivel – Daniel's younger brother. He is the Latin counterpart of Tommy Miller.
Evaluna Montaner as Melanie Esquivel – Daniel's younger sister. Like her brothers, she likes Grachi and wants her to be Daniel's girlfriend. She is the Latin counterpart of Melanie Miller
Andrés Cotrino as Roberto Esquivel – Daniel's younger brother. He is the Latin counterpart of Robert Miller.
Liannet Borrego as Cussy Canosa – Julio's girlfriend, secretary in Escolarium and Grachi's magic tutor. She is the Latin counterpart of Lily from Every Witch Way.
Lino Martone as Julio Vallas – Cussy's boyfriend, and the son of the Principal. He used to be "The Sharks" team coach, but later resigned during the second season. He has the same name as his American counterpart.