What Makes the Magic: Successful Worldbuilding in Fantasy Fiction
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Creative Writing
Minor
Spanish
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Gwendolyn Paradice
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
The main purpose of this thesis is determining what is “successful” worldbuilding in a fictional fantasy setting, with close regard to culture and magic within the story. This will be achieved first through discussing the history of fantasy as a sub-genre, the differences between a believable story and a realistic story, and dissecting compelling aspects of current fictional worlds. I plan on analyzing the worldbuilding of Diana Wynne Jones’s novel Howl’s Moving Castle and the manga Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama along with the accompanying anime produced by Bug Films and directed by Ayumu Watanabe.
Fall Scholars Week 2026
English and Philosophy Panel
What Makes the Magic: Successful Worldbuilding in Fantasy Fiction
The main purpose of this thesis is determining what is “successful” worldbuilding in a fictional fantasy setting, with close regard to culture and magic within the story. This will be achieved first through discussing the history of fantasy as a sub-genre, the differences between a believable story and a realistic story, and dissecting compelling aspects of current fictional worlds. I plan on analyzing the worldbuilding of Diana Wynne Jones’s novel Howl’s Moving Castle and the manga Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama along with the accompanying anime produced by Bug Films and directed by Ayumu Watanabe.