Ultimate Book of Spells

Ultimate Book of Spells is a 2001–2002 German children's animated television series produced by BKN International. It ran for 26 episodes. 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 UBOS), the three have to battle the evil wizard Zarlak, who's trying to steal all of the world's spells.

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 wizard who defeated and banished Zarlak  a wizard that is now disguised as UBOS. 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's life. Verne (voiced by Cathy Weseluck) he is a mortal wizard who has magical powers and can naturally mend electronic devices. 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 Verne is a descendent of Merlin and they share same surname Ambrocious. UBOS (voiced by Ron Halder): An elderly looking book that has the power to teleport the three to the centre of the world where they must stop Zarlak. 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. UBOS is also the title character of the series. Erbert (voiced by Michael Dobson) he is a prince who was cursed by Zarlack to look like a toy frog and confined at the magic school the Vonderland. He is the friend of the trio and UBOS. He stays with Gus and Verne in their room. Although he refuses at first he is seen travelling with them to defeat Zarlack in some episodes. Zarlak (voiced by Paul Dobson) an evil wizard and the main antagonist of the series; who seeks world domination. He desires to get his hands on UBOS; so that he will have enough power to not only escape his prison, but to destroy and rule the world. Rowce and Snerrot (voice by Don Brown and Colin Murdock) Zarlack's henchmen whom he often loses patience with. They have the power to combine to become a two headed dragon, but like most henchmen, are rather dimwitted.

Ilsa a 12 foot tall (3.7 m) giant girl whose father is a big man (literally) in Vonderland. She 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) the evil fraternal twins who try to make trouble for Cassy, Gus and Verne. Their father used to serve Zarlak, but defected before Zarlak's defeat, thus; avoiding punishment for his crimes. Crystalgazer (voiced by Patricia Drake) the headmistress of Vonderland. She can transform into a cat at will. She speaks with a German accent
Saysme another teacher of Vonderland; he is a young man with a top hat and teaches age regression magic. 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 Zarlack 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 (voiced by Michael Dobson) a dragon.

Ep. # Broadcast Date Title Written by Description112 September 2001Three Is A Charm (Pilot)Sean Catherine DerekA mortie named Verne arrives at a magic school. He meets Gus, a half elf second year junior wizard and Cassy, a third year junior witch. He also meets the evil twins, Lucretia and Borgia, and the headmistress Miss Crystalgazer. The talking book UBOS takes the three friends to the center of the Earth, where an evil wizard Zarlak is stealing magic from the outside world. 219 September 2001Man or MortieSean Catherine Derek Cassy, Gus and Verne need to come up with an antidote to stop winged beings from crashing into turrets of the castle. 326 September 2001He Who Laughs LastSean Roche The trio have to stop Zarlak's plan to take joy from the surface world.43 October 2001 Rootopia of All EvilJack &Carole MendelsohnZarlak plans to steal all the flowers (and the happiness) for himself.510 October 2001Time and AgainDennis HaleyMarcy BrownThe class goes back in time to Zarlak's trial, and Gus inadvertently takes a crystal that Cassy's great grandfather needed for his battle with Zarlak.617 October 2001Fire with FireBob ForwardGus discovers that the elves are losing their powers, because a huge dragon has stolen the "Elfin Stone".724 October 2001The New LibrarianDouglas GayetonProfessor Beagleboyce becomes the new librarian, and absorbs the contents of all of the library's books.831 October 2001 Shadow LandSean RocheVerne has to fight a shadow creature, who's taken Cassy and Gus' shadows.97 November 2001 Once in a Blue MoonSean RocheZarlak kidnaps the Charmlings, little elf like people who can grant any wish.1014 November 2001The Bind That TiesGlenn LeopoldZarlak has captured all the bookbinder gnomes, which makes all the books unglued and devastates UBOS. 1121 November 2001Coat of ArmsChristy MarxRandy LittlejohnCassy finds out that her great grandaunt Cassandra VII teamed up with Zarlak many years ago.1228 November 2001Out of ShapeGlenn LeopoldZarlak sends his dragon to steal the magic book, but kidnaps Verne and Gus instead. Cassy has to save the day, but she's having a hard time using her shape changing powers.135 December 2001The RiftDon GilliesScavenger imps use a portal to steal objects from the surface world, and two of the friends are in the hands of Zarlak.149 January 2002 What a Cut Up!Julia LewaldThe three friends fight Zarlak, who has turned everything dull.1516 January 2002 Multiple MayhemSean Catherine DerekCassy creates a duplicate of herself to get to all her classes, but the duplicate starts acting out in unpredictable ways.1623 January 2002 The Tear of MoolanaStevie SternGus and Cassy compete with Zarlack to obtain the Tear of Moolana, a gem that offers infinite power.17 30 January 2002Magical LogicalMichael EdensEverything is losing its logic video games, computers, wands and even Ubos and the trio has to find a way to bring it back.1810 February 2002Veil of IllusionGlenn LeopoldThe "Veil of Illusion" disappears from the school, which is now visible to morties. The trio has to retrieve the veil from a great wizard. 1917 February 2002 Dark ImageBob ForwardA magical artifact turns Verne into a dark wizard, and Cassy a dark sorceress. Gus has to stop them from destroying the earth and each other.2024 February 2002 Sleeping Beauty SchoolSean RocheCreatures from a land behind the grandfather clock came to Vonderland and cast a sleeping spell on everyone except the trio.213 March 2002EclipsedB. W. GlassAt the famous Festivus Solarus (the festival where all the witches and wizards at Vonderland get together to celebrate the time when the Moon eclipses the Sun), the Moon is frozen in front of the Sun and the temperature drops below zero.2210 March 2002Big Girls Don't CryNathan LongCassy's new roommate, a giant named Ilsa, is manipulated by Lucretia and gets kidnapped by Zarlak.2317 March 2002Lucky GusDon GilliesGus' sudden luck and popularity make Cassy and Verne jealous  just as Zarlak planned.2424 March 2002Magic QuestBob ForwardSitting in Merlin's magic chair, Cassy and Vern start to transform into new creatures. Verne has to find the ingredients for a spell to turn them back.2531 March 2002The LureSean Catherine DerekLori LibrarianWhen Gus fails his midterms, he goes on the high seas and gets everyone in trouble. 267 April 2002Solo SorceressDennis HaleyMarcy BrownSean Catherine DerekCassy sees Lucretia cheat during their scooter race contest, but nobody believes her. In the U. S. DVD release of this series, "Solo Sorceress" is not the final episode and occurs significantly earlier in the play order.

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. In 2021, the show started airing on London Live in the 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.

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.

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