Wakko's Wish
A direct-to-video Animaniacs film set in a fairy-tale world.
Wakko's Wish, also called *Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish* and initially titled *Wakko's Wakko Wish*, is a 1999 American direct-to-video animated film. It blends musical, comedy, adventure, and fantasy elements. Based on the 1993–1998 series *Animaniacs*, this movie serves as a standalone adventure rather than the show's finale, as the original series ended in 1998 and the 2020 revival is a separate continuation. The story moves all the *Animaniacs* characters into a fairy-tale world resembling the 19th century, where they compete to reach a wishing star.
In the town of Acme Falls, in the kingdom of Warnerstock, everyone lives happily under King William the Good. After his death, civil war erupts, and the neighboring kingdom of Ticktockia, ruled by King Salazar the Pushy, takes over. Heavy taxes make everyone poor and miserable. The Warner siblings—Yakko, Wakko, and Dot—are especially broke because Dot needs an operation. Wakko takes a job in another town, but Taxman Plotz takes his ha'penny wage for taxes. Desperate about Dot's illness, Wakko wishes on a star. A fairy falls from it, explaining it is the only wishing star in the sky. The star itself lands in the mountains, and whoever touches it gets one wish. The Warners tell the whole town, and everyone races toward the glow. King Salazar learns of the star and orders Plotz and Ralph to stop the Warners, while his troops secure it.
Plotz fails to stop the Warners, who reach the star alongside the townsfolk. However, the king's army has built a base and ice palace around it, capturing everyone so the king can wish alone. The Warners bluff that wishing is tricky. The king tortures them for information, then orders their execution, but Dot uses her cuteness to save them. As the king prepares to wish for the Warners to leave him alone, they appear, and he fires a cannon at them. The cannonball explodes, mortally wounding Dot—or so it seems. She asks Yakko to tell her birth story one last time, then appears to die. The townspeople and some soldiers cry. The Captain of the Guard angrily denounces the king. As everyone turns on Salazar, Dot reveals she was faking; she and Yakko were buying time for Wakko, who reaches the star and wishes for two ha'pennies. Everyone cheers. The Warners lead the townspeople back to fulfill their wishes.
Wakko uses one ha'penny to buy food and Lakers season tickets.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Liz Holzman · Rusty Mills · Tom Ruegger
- Screenplay
- Tom Ruegger · Nick DuBois · Earl Kress · Kevin Hopps · Charles M. Howell IV · Randy Rogel
- Story
- Tom Ruegger
- Based On
- Animaniacs · Tom Ruegger
- Narrator
- Tom Bodett
- Music
- Richard Stone · Steven Bernstein · Julie Bernstein · Gordon Goodwin · Tim Kelly
- Editing
- John Carnochan · Tim Hill
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Animation · Amblin Entertainment
- Distributor
- Warner Home Video
- Released
- 21 December 1999
- Runtime
- 80 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the town of Acme Falls within the kingdom of Warnerstock, all the people live happily together until the death of their beloved king, William the Good, leads to civil war. The neighboring kingdom of Ticktockia, led by King Salazar the Pushy, takes over and makes everyone poor and miserable due to overtaxing. Three siblings—Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner—are particularly broke, as Dot needs an operation. Wakko finds work but Taxman Plotz takes his pay for taxes. Saddened about Dot's illness, Wakko wishes upon a star, and a fairy explains that he had chosen the only wishing star in the sky.
Reader's Guide
Wakko's Wish is significant as the series finale of the original Animaniacs run, providing a narrative conclusion to the Warner siblings' story before the 2020 revival. The film was the first Animaniacs production to use digital ink and paint and the first direct-to-video film by Warner Bros. Animation to do so. It received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the animation, character appearances, and music, though some noted that the serious tone was a departure from the series' typical off-the-wall humor. The film was nominated for four Annie Awards in 2000, including Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production and multiple voice acting and music categories. Despite positive test screenings, Warner Bros. chose a direct-to-video release rather than a theatrical one. The film features 11 original songs and a majority of the original voice cast.
Did You Know?
- Wakko's Wish was originally slated for VHS release in November 1998 but was pushed to December 21, 1999.
- Chick Vennera's performance as Pesto in this film was his final before his retirement from acting in 2011 and death in 2021.
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