Wunschpunsch facts for kids

Wunschpunsch is a fun animated TV show from Germany, France, and Canada. It was made by SIP Animation and CinéGroupe. The show is based on a German book called The Night of Wishes by Michael Ende. It first aired in 1999 and has 52 episodes across two seasons.

The Story of Wunschpunsch

In each episode, two clumsy wizards, Bubonic and his aunt Tyrannia, try to cause trouble in their city. They must do this or face punishment from their boss, Maledictus T. Maggot. To cast their spells, they use an old magic paper. Once a spell is cast, it must be undone within seven hours. If not, the magic becomes permanent forever.

To stop the spells, Bubonic's cat, Mauricio di Mauro, and Tyrannia's raven, Jacob Scribble, must help. They visit Aunt Noah, a wise old turtle at the local zoo. Aunt Noah is the head of the Animal Council. She gives them a riddle that tells them how to reverse the spell. Mauricio and Jacob usually manage to undo the magic just in time.

One special episode, "Night of Wishes," is directly from the book. In this episode, the animals stop a big pollution spell. Maggot punishes Bubonic and Tyrannia by making their houses stick together. This means they have to live together, which they don't like! Bubonic and Tyrannia often mess up their own spells. When the spells are undone, they feel happy for a moment. But then Maggot shows up to punish them for failing.

Meet the Characters

Here are the main characters you'll see in Wunschpunsch:

• Mauricio di Mauro: He is Bubonic's pet cat. Mauricio is a bit chubby and loves to eat. He likes to talk about his old family history. He is cheerful and happy, but also very smart. Mauricio carries a small red pocket watch. He uses it to keep track of how much time is left before a spell becomes permanent. He is voiced by Rick Jones.

• Jacob Scribble: He is Tyrannia's pet raven. Jacob is an older bird who often complains about his rheumatism (joint pain). He can be serious, sarcastic, and a bit proud. But deep down, he is kind and truly cares for Mauricio. Jacob is good at many things, like playing the cello and ice skating. He is voiced by Harry Hill.

• Bubonic Preposteror: He is an old, grumpy wizard. Bubonic prefers old ways and doesn't like modern technology. He lives in a messy tower, just like a classic medieval wizard. He enjoys playing his cello, even though he's terrible at it. He also likes gardening, but his garden is full of dangerous, meat-eating plants! He is voiced by Rick Jones.

• Tyrannia Vamperl: She is Bubonic's aunt. Even though she's older, Tyrannia loves modern technology and fashion. She often calls Bubonic old-fashioned. She also likes loud music, which annoys Bubonic. Tyrannia wears a different outfit in almost every episode. She is voiced by Kathleen Fee.

• Maledictus T. Maggot: He is the powerful wizard who supervises Bubonic and Tyrannia. Maggot looks like a mix between a bug and a frog. At the start of most episodes, he tells the wizards they must cast an evil curse. If they fail, the consequences will be bad. When Mauricio and Jacob stop the spells, Maggot punishes the wizards. He often turns them into something silly related to the failed spell. Even though he is evil, he is happily married. He is voiced by Vlasta Vrána.

• Auntie Noah: She is a very wise old tortoise who lives at the Megalopolis Zoo. Auntie Noah helps Mauricio and Jacob by giving them clues to break the curses. Her advice always comes in the form of a riddle. She has some magic powers too. For example, she visited Mauricio and Jacob in a dream once. She is voiced by Joanna Noyes.

• The Cozy family: They are the wizards' neighbors. Mauricio is good friends with their son, Kip. This family often shows how the wizards' spells affect the city.

• Mayor Plaga: He is the mayor of Megalopolis. He is a bit overweight and often thinks only of himself. He isn't always the best at his job, but he does care about his city.

• Chief Hydrant: He is the local firefighter. He and the Mayor often argue.

• Barbara Blabber: She is the local news reporter. She thinks very highly of herself. Bubonic likes her.

• The Animal Council: This group includes a lioness, a goat, a pig, and a monkey. They work with Auntie Noah.

• Meathead: He is Bubonic's pet plant that eats meat.

• Oak Foot: He is Chief Hydrant's pet dog. Oak Foot sometimes helps Mauricio and Jacob on their missions.

• Mrs. Maggot: She is Maggot's wife. She loves her husband very much. She is not evil like him, but she gently tells him what to do. In the last episode, she took over as the wizards' supervisor when Maggot was sick.

Episode Adventures

Here are some of the exciting adventures from Wunschpunsch:

Season 1

• 01. Plant Panic: Plants grow wild and become evil.
• 02. Double Trouble: Mirrors create copies of people.
• 03. Worst Noel: Christmas toys come alive and cause mischief.
• 04. Terrible Toddlers: Everyone turns into a child.
• 05. Colorless Chaos: The city loses all its colors.
• 06. Off the Walls: Paintings come to life.
• 07. Prehistorical Populace: People turn into cavemen.
• 08. Big Feet: Everyone's feet grow huge.
• 09. The King's Aunt: The city goes back to the Middle Ages.
• 10. Appliance Alliance: Electrical appliances come alive.
• 11. Invasion of the Giant Insects: Insects become huge and scary.
• 12. Wishful Thinking: Wishes come true, but often cause problems.
• 13. The Beastie Brew: Everyone turns into animals.
• 14. Once Upon a Potion: Fairy tale characters appear in real life.
• 15. Car Wars: People turn into cars.
• 16. The Wild Wild Pets: Pets become wild animals.
• 17. Wacky Weather: The weather changes wildly.
• 18. Lost Spell: Everyone's things get lost.
• 19. Poubelle and Back: Garbage doubles and returns to its owner.
• 20. Sand Witch: The city turns into a desert.
• 21. Bubonic Plague: Men turn into Bubonic, women into Tyrannia.
• 22. Ghost Town: The city becomes full of ghosts.
• 23. You Must Be Joking: Everyone becomes a prankster.
• 24. By a Hair's Breadth: Hair grows everywhere but on heads.
• 25. Goin' Garbanzo: People's heads turn into plants.
• 26. Night of Wishes: This episode shows how Mauricio and Jacob first met.

Season 2

• 27. Life with Maggot: Maggot takes Mauricio and Jacob to his house.
• 28. Let's Break a Deal: Bubonic gets new powers from a mysterious wizard.
• 29. Slowly But Surely: Everyone becomes very slow.
• 30. Gloom With a View: Everyone becomes very sad.
• 31. Mayor For a Day: Bubonic and Mayor Plaga switch bodies.
• 32. Good For Nothing: Everyone becomes useless at helpful tasks.
• 33. Fancy Footwork: Shoes dance on their own.
• 34. Shadow of a Doubt: People turn into shadows in sunlight.
• 35. Nice Wizards: Bubonic and Tyrannia become too nice.
• 36. Inspector Maggot: Maggot controls everyone in the city.
• 37. Vanity Spell: Adults become very self-centered.
• 38. Drop Me a Line: Queues become endless.
• 39. Money Can't Buy Happiness: Money multiplies, making people greedy.
• 40. Happy Valentine: Lovers turn against each other on Valentine's Day.
• 41. Simply Irresistible: Tyrannia becomes irresistible to men.
• 42. Ty-me Travel: They travel back to the Middle Ages.
• 43. The Great Escape: Walls become see-through.
• 44. Two Cute: Arguing people get glued together.
• 45. Quiz the Wizard: The city turns into game shows.
• 46. Achoo!: Everyone sneezes constantly.
• 47. The Big Shrinking Spell: People shrink when they touch water.
• 48. Abominable Behavior: Snowmen come alive and are mean.
• 49. The Pinocchio Syndrome: People's noses grow when they lie.
• 50. Perchance to Dream - Not: Dreams turn into real nightmares.
• 51. It's a Dog's Life: Everyone turns into dogs.
• 52. The War of the Sex: Men and women in the city turn against each other.