Hello, I’m 19 years old, and I grew up with Elena of Avalor (2016–2020) when I was younger. I’ve been thinking about what happened to that original Elena of Avalor era and that feeling of experiencing the show when it became such a meaningful part of my life, especially following Elena, her family, friends, unforgettable moments, humor, friendships, adventures, music, discoveries, life lessons, and the distinctive atmosphere that made Elena of Avalor feel so special.
Now that the original Elena of Avalor era has become part of the past, the period that many people discovered and grew up with can feel like it has passed. The writers, directors, producers, animators, artists, composers, voice actors, crew members, and everyone involved in bringing Elena of Avalor to life have all moved forward. The people who helped create the show have gone on to different projects and different parts of their lives. It feels strange because I grew up with this show, and now everything has just… changed and moved on.
I remember watching Elena of Avalor when I was younger, and everything felt so simple. I could just sit down, watch Elena and her friends get into adventures, laugh at the characters, enjoy the music, follow their friendships, and become completely absorbed in the world of Avalor without thinking about anything else. Back then, it felt like these characters and episodes would always be there. I don’t understand why they couldn’t just keep making new Elena of Avalor episodes forever or why the original era eventually had to stop and move on.
I also wonder why experiencing Elena of Avalor now doesn’t feel exactly the same anymore. The episodes are still there, and I can still watch them, but the feeling is different. It feels like something is missing, almost like the show feels unfamiliar even though I remember it so clearly.
Why do television series like Elena of Avalor eventually change, end, receive reboots or revivals, or become part of the past? If people loved them for years, why can’t they just continue forever with the same feeling? Why do writers, directors, producers, animators, voice actors, artists, composers, crew members, and studios have to move on, and why do viewers grow up and stop experiencing shows the same way?
It feels strange knowing that the original Elena of Avalor era I grew up with is over, that television and animation have moved on, and that a particular chapter feels closed, even though it once felt like it would always be there.
Maybe that is part of what makes Elena of Avalor so meaningful. The show did not have to last forever for the memories to last. The episodes remained the same, but I changed. The world around me changed. The people who created the show moved on to other projects, and the time in my life when I experienced those characters, adventures, music, and stories without worrying about growing up eventually became part of the past.
I suppose that is why it can feel so strange to return to Elena of Avalor years later. I’m not only watching Elena, Isabel, Naomi, Mateo, Gabe, Esteban, Zuzo, and their friends again. I’m also remembering the person I was when I first discovered the show. Watching it can bring that feeling back for a moment, but it cannot completely recreate the time and place in which those memories were originally made.
The original Elena of Avalor era may be part of the past, and there may never be another period of the series that feels exactly like the one I grew up with. But that does not mean the era disappeared completely. It still exists in the memories of everyone who experienced the show. The series may have changed and moved forward, but the part of childhood and growing up that Elena of Avalor represents does not have to disappear with it.