Ultimate Book of Spells


Ultimate Book of Spells is a Canadian children's animated television series produced by BKN International. It first premiered on YTV Channel for kids in Canada.
Inspired by the popular Harry Potter book and movie series, the show presents a trio of "wizards-in-training" at an enchanted private school run by Miss Crystalgazer. Cassy is a junior witch, Gus is a half-elf/half-human junior wizard, and Verne is a promising "mortie", i.e. a non-magical human. With the guidance of the talking Ultimate Book of Spells, the three have to battle the evil wizard Zarlak, who's trying to steal all of the world's spells.

Characters

Main characters

  • Cassandra "Cassy" X - the leader of the trio, junior witch and the main protagonist of the series. She wants to become a sorceress, a class considered superior to witches. It is revealed that Cassy is the great-granddaughter of the supreme wizard who defeated and banished Zarlak to the center of the Earth, presumably sacrificing himself in the process.
  • Gus - he is half elf and half wizard. He is quite confident and sometimes acts childishly. Initially, he looks down on Verne; due to his "mortie" status, but Verne manages to redeem himself by saving Gus's life.
  • Verne Ambrosius Hardwig - he is a mortal wizard who has innate magical powers and can naturally mend electronic devices with touch alone. Because of his mortal status, he is called a "mortie". At some points, he is quite cowardly and is surprised by almost anything that involves magic. He is quite skilled in techno-magic, which is good for putting ordinary electronics or mechanical devices together to make useful gadgets. It is revealed that he, along with his mother, is a descendant of the mighty supreme wizard Merlin, as he resembles the ancient supreme wizard, which explains why he is the only one in his family to possess extraordinarily powerful magical gifts.
  • U.B.O.S. : The title character. He is large elderly-looking spellbook that has the power to teleport the destined "Power of Three" third-year witch and wizards to the center of the world, where they must stop Zarlak from draining all of the world's magic as well as keep U.B.O.S. out of his hands. He tends to be quite grumpy and hits the three on the head when he's scolding them. It is revealed throughout the series that he is Cassy's great-grandfather. U.B.O.S. is also the titular character of the series.
  • Prince Erbert - he is a prince who was cursed by Zarlak to look like a toy frog and confined at the magic school the Vonderland. He is the friend of the trio and U.B.O.S. He stays with Gus and Verne in their room. Although he refuses at first he is seen travelling with them to defeat Zarlak in some episodes.
  • Zarlak - an evil supreme wizard and the main antagonist of the series who seeks world domination upon his release from the center of the Earth. He desires to get his hands on U.B.O.S., so that he will have enough magical power to not only escape his prison, but to dominate all who opposes him. He was defeated by the renowned supreme wizard Gez, Cassandra's great-grandfather.
  • Rowce and Snerrot - Zarlak's dimwitted henchmen whom he often loses patience with. They have the power to combine to become a two-headed dragon.

    Supporting Characters

  • Ilsa - a 12-foot-tall giant girl whose father is a big man in Vonderland. She was roommates with Cassy for a short while. Due to her size, Ilsa had trouble fitting in.
  • Lucretia and Borgia - the arrogant and selfish fraternal twins who try to make trouble for Cassy, Gus and Verne. Their father used to serve under Zarlak, but defected before the former's defeat and imprisonment, thus avoiding punishment for his crimes.
  • Headmistress Crystalgazer - the headmistress of Vonderland. She can transform into a cat at will. She speaks with a German accent. It was she who had Verne's pet dog keep taps on him as his innate magical abilities developed, allowing her to recruit him as a freshman wizard at her school. Like the rest, she is blissfully oblivious to her three students' adventures to try and stop Zarlak.
  • Saysme - Another teacher of Vonderland; he is a young man with a top hat and teaches age regression magic.
  • Professor Beagleboyce - the librarian of Vonderland. Verne is suspicious of him in "The New Librarian."
  • Mayday - A ghost in charge of scoot-zoomer driving tests.
  • Scrimpy - an imp who calls out to the trio for help when Zarlak attacks his village.
  • Flaherty - a leprechaun who was forced into helping Lucretia cheat, by tinkering with Cassie's scoot-zoomer while racing, before he was freed.
  • Wingo and Jingo - the two mischievous gremlins who were cast into a cuckoo clock for 100 years after losing a battle with Vonderland's builders. They are allowed to come out once a century to play while the whole school is put under a sleeping spell.
  • Snap the Dragon - A dragon.

    Other voices

  • Tony Alcanter
  • Michael Benyaer
  • Don Brown
  • Jim Byrnes
  • Richard Cox
  • Paul Dobson
  • Patricia Drake
  • Brian Drummond
  • Andrew Francis
  • McKenzie Gray
  • Ron Halder
  • Phil Hayes
  • Saffron Henderson
  • Mark Hildreth
  • Matt Hill
  • Janyse Jaud
  • Ellie King
  • Terry Klassen
  • Michael Kopsa
  • Campbell Lane
  • Blu Mankuma
  • Kirby Morrow
  • Colin Murdock
  • Richard Newman
  • Pauline Newstone
  • Nicole Oliver
  • William Samples
  • Tabitha St. Germain
  • Sam Vincent
  • Cathy Weseluck
  • Colleen Wheeler
  • Alec Willows

    Crew

  • Susan Blu - Voice Director
  • Sean Catherine Derek - Story Editor

    Episodes

In the U.S. DVD release of this series, "Solo Sorceress" is not the final episode as the episode occurs significantly earlier in the play order.

Production

On 19 April 2001, BKN pre-sold the series to CBBC in the United Kingdom.
On 20 June 2002, Toon Disney purchased the North American broadcast rights for the series.

Home media

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Universal Pictures Video released two VHS volumes. The first - "Three is a Charm", was released in 2002, and the second: "Solo Sorceress" was released on 21 April 2003. A double-pack containing both tapes was also released.
"Three is a Charm" was later released on DVD by Universal on 10 May 2004.

United States

A VHS tape containing two episodes titled "The Mystic Gem" was released at an unknown date.
Budget distributor Digiview Entertainment released three DVDs each containing four episodes in 2007, titled "Three's a Charm", "Fire with Fire" and "Out of Shape".
Mill Creek Entertainment released a two-disc boxset containing all 26 episodes on 5 January 2010.

Cancelled Video Game

On 7 October 2001, TDK Mediactive announced they would produce a video game based on the series in 2002, although nothing was confirmed afterwards.