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Witches have always fascinated me. As a child, I was drawn to books and TV shows about witches, their magic and their, sort of, darker lives. I can certainly see why The Hub chose the character of Sabrina, the witchy teenager from Archie comics, to star in their newest cartoon series.

In Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch, Sabrina is half-human and half-witch, who is a witch princess, which forces her to travel between two different worlds.

I don't mean figuratively. In the '90s TV sitcom, Sabrina was a witch living in a human world, but in this cartoon series, she literally travels to another world where she is learning to use her powers. This witch-world is gorgeous, with a storybook design that is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. This world is so enchanting, I would rather spend more time here than at Sabrina's high school.

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch launched the career of Melissa Joan Hart. (Of course, it helped that her mother was the creator and executive producer.) That TV show captured the imaginations of viewers for seven years. The combination of supernatural powers, the trials of a high school social life, living with wacky aunts and the need for secrecy is a successful brew for any generation.

The ruler/teacher in the wich-world is named Enchantra. She is the most interesting character in the series (villains usually are). She is determined to ruin Sabrina's life in the human world so that the girl must remain in the magical one, where she would rule along with Enchantra's effeminate son, Shinji.

Enchantra is wonderful to look at, with facial markings and a to-die-for gown, and she is also given the best lines. Kathleen Barr plays her as elegant and sinister. The only downside from Enchantra is that she has only one mission, so her dialogue becomes repetitive.

Whenever I watch a new cartoon that stars female characters, one of the first visuals I evaluate is whether or not the girls look like real girls, Barbie or fanciful cartoon characters. The female characters on Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch are a combination of all of those looks. Sabrina herself is pencil thin, but certainly not sexualized, no plunging neckline that reveals a too-large bust. The slanted eyes of most of the characters, and lines that look more stylized for animation, give them an exaggerated look that a cartoon should have. Thankfully, I won't worry that my young daughter will get the idea that she should have won the genetic lottery.

Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch is animated with CGI. CGI gives the cartoon gorgeous color and fascinating shading, but 2D animation, made either with Flash or traditional cel animation, would help the action move much more quickly, and allow punchlines to have more, well, punch. Unless you have a budget like DreamWorks Animation's Dragons: Riders of Berk, your 3D CGI is going to look very stilted and slow. The characters move in a very puppet-like manner. In fact, the pace of the entire show is a little slow. The dialogue needs those pauses removed in editing, unless the lines are slower simply to match the action.

Although the cartoon can show off the magical element of Sabrina's life more than the live-action sitcom, one of the reasons the sitcom was a hit was the warm and cute personality of its leads. The dynamic between Melissa Joan Hart and her co-stars was relatable and fun to watch. The cartoon characters don't seem to interact well with each other, and wind up leaving a cold draft in their wake. Again, perhaps if the dialogue was quicker and snappier, like in the sitcom, those relationships would be more believable.

I'm really harping on the pace of the dialogue, but one more reason the pace should be faster is that the comedic talents of Ashley Tisdale are being wasted. As Candace on Phineas and Ferb, Ashley Tisdale is hilarious; her delivery and goofiness shines. Certainly Sabrina is not Candace, not nearly as much of a caricature of a teenage girl, but Sabrina needs more wit, more punchlines.

Overall, Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch is very entertaining. No doubt there are enough wonderful elements that the cartoon could be a hit for The Hub. Hopefully, with some fine-tuning, the series will prove to be as successful as their My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.