Wunschpunsch

“Wunschpunsch” is a French-Canadian animated series that follows the adventures of two wizards, Bubonic Preposteror and Tyrannia Vampirella. In each episode, Bubonic and his aunt, Tyrannia, must create chaos in their city or face punishment from their supervisor, Maledictus T. Maggot, a very powerful wizard.

To achieve this, they utilize a magical parchment with the power to activate spells that must be reversed within seven hours; otherwise, the effects become permanent. In order to reverse the spells, Bubonic and Tyrannia’s pets, Mauricio di Mauro and Jacob Scribble, must seek the counsel of Aunt Noah, an elderly turtle who heads the Animal Council at the local zoo. Their antics often bring trouble upon themselves, and the temporary relief they feel when the spells are undone is short-lived, as Maggot is quick to punish them for their failure.

One episode, “Night of Wishes,” takes inspiration from the book as the animals thwart the spell by dropping a bell sound into the potion cauldron. Maggot punishes Bubonic and Tyrannia by forcing them to live together after attaching their homes, in what appears to be a permanent punishment that has lasted for at least five years. The pair’s clumsiness often leads to their downfall, and their struggles to complete their missions provide valuable life lessons for viewers.