Cartoon
Ultimate Book of Spells
The story
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 (aka U.B.O.S.), the three have to defeat the evil wizard Zarlak from escaping the center of the earth.
Main characters
Cassandra "Cassy" (voiced by Janyse Jaud) - 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 (voiced by Andrew Francis) - 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' life.
Verne Ambrosius Hardwig (voiced by Cathy Weseluck) - 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, explaining why he is the only one in his family to possess extraordinarily powerful magical gifts.
U.B.O.S. (voiced by Ron Halder) - A living spellbook that has the power to teleport the destined "Power of Three" to the center of the earth, 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 (mostly when Cassy stuffs him in her backpack) 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.
Prince Erbert (voiced by Michael Dobson) - A prince who was cursed by a witch to look like a toy frog and confined at 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 (voiced by Paul Dobson) - An evil 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 oppose him. He was defeated by the renowned supreme wizard Gez, Cassandra's great-grandfather.
Rowce and Snerrot (voiced by Don Brown and Colin Murdock) - 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 (3.7 m) giant girl who was roommates with Cassy for a short while. Due to her size, Ilsa had trouble fitting in.
Lucretia and Borgia (both voiced by Cathy Weseluck) - Lucretia and Borgia are 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 (voiced by Patricia Drake) - The headmistress of Vonderland. She can transform into a cat at will. 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.
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 - 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 (voiced by Michael Dobson) - A dragon.
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
BKN International originally began developing the project in 2000 under the working title, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” based on Jules Verne’s book by the same name. Said title was filed at May 25th, 2000. However, the title was changed for an unknown reason.
On 19 April 2001, BKN pre-sold the series (originally planned to have 52 episodes), to CBBC in the United Kingdom.
On 20 June 2002, Toon Disney purchased the North American broadcast rights for the series.
Certain episodes had different working titles:
“Multiple Mayhem” was originally called “Double, double, We're in Trouble!”
“Once in a Blue Moon” was originally called “Blue Moon Mania”
“Shadowland” was originally called “Escape Shadowland”.
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 platformer video game based on the series in 2002, however it was quietly cancelled.